What is an IPRC?

An IPRC is an Identification Placement and Review Committee.  This process formally identifies your child as exceptional as defined by the Ontario Ministry of Education.  The Ontario Ministry of Education has 5 broad categories for exceptional students:

• Behaviour
• Communication
• Gifted
• Mild Intellectual Disability
• Multiple Exceptionalities 

Either a parent or a teacher can request an IPRC.  Often it is a joint decision and the meeting is formally requested by the school.  The purpose of the IPRC is to formally decide if your child should be identified as exceptional and to identify the child's area of exceptionality.  Additionally, the IPRC identifies a child's strengths and areas of need along with deciding the appropriate placement for a child.  Placement refers to how much time a child spends in a regular class, a special education class, if they have withdraw assistance or indirect or direct support within their classroom environment.  After your initial IPRC meeting, you will meet at least once per year with the IPRC to review identification and placement.

The IPRC usually consists of:

• Parent (and a support person)
• Student (usually if 16 years or older)
• Classroom teacher
• Principal or Vice Principal
• A Board employee who's expertise is useful to the process and can share information such as a Special Education Resource Teacher (SERT)

The following websites are great resources for navigating the IPRC meeting:

http://www.peopleforeducation.ca/

http://ldadr.on.ca/iprc.htm

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/speced.html