Ottawa parents voice concerns about possible phase out of some OCDSB special needs classes

Parents worried about OCDSB program review The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board new model could cut 39 programs, including special needs classes. CTV’s Katelyn Wilson reports.

Eastern Ontario's largest school board is making some major changes to how elementary students will learn in both English and French, but the new model could also mean the end of nearly 40 specialized classes, including special needs programs.

It's a process the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) started last spring when the school board launched a program review of its elementary programs. Some parents say they're skeptical if students with special needs will be adequately supported in a mainstream classroom.

Parents like Tia Wathra say after struggling in kindergarten, her daughter Zara is now thriving in Grade 1 thanks to a specialized classroom that supports her needs.

"She has a rare disease and a lot of needs in different areas, so this was the first year that she met other children like her," Wathra said.

"They're getting help with various like simple things that maybe other kids her age could already do but she needs a lot of help with."

Her daughter is in one of 39 specialized program classes that could soon be phased out while the OCDSB works to address a financial shortfall.

It's a move that could impact roughly 400 students.

"We watched her have seizure after seizure and get injured. She's been in ambulances nonstop and now it's like you finally get an opportunity for her to be in a class with some friends and it's just taken away," Wathra said.

In a report, the board says the classes that would be phased out are not in line with the approach of other boards across the province, saying most districts have significantly fewer specialized classes and a greater emphasis on inclusionary practices.

"Inclusion without support is actually abandonment," said Wathra. "There is no way for them to function in a class where all the material is above their learning ability and then have no support."

"Zara really does need someone to be around her the entire day, or in a small environment where she is right now. If she's in a big class, then she needs help because we don't know when she's going to have a seizure."

Under the plan, the OCDSB will phase out the following specialized program classes:

• General Learning Program – Junior (6 classes, 16 students/class)

• Gifted – Primary (1 class; up to 20 students/class)

• Language Learning Disabilities Program – Primary and Junior (11 classes, 10 students/class)

• Learning Disabilities Semi-Integrated Program – Junior and Intermediate (14 classes; 8 students/class)

• Primary Special Needs Program (7 classes; 10 students/class)

The board says the proposed program model will reduce grade configurations, improve transitions between feeder schools and re-balance enrolments where possible to provide "more stability for low enrolment schools and their communities."

School board trustee Lyra Evans says special needs students will still get the support they need.

"Just because we are looking at removing some of the specialized classes does not mean we're going to end tier three interventions in general and it does not mean we're not going to provide additional supports to students in their home school," Evans said.

Approximately 42 teachers and 13 educational assistants will be moved into general classroom support as the specialized program classes are phased out. The specialized program classes continuing include the Autism Spectrum Disorder Program, Behaviour Intervention Program, Gifted for Junior/Intermediate and the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Program.

"We currently offer a tiered intervention method when it comes to students or special education needs. So, if a child has some needs but not a significant amount of needs, we can provide supports to the classroom teacher to support that child in their home classroom," Evans said.

Evans adds the plan is about finding a better way to serve students at their local schools instead of sending them outside their community.

Wathra says she's less concerned about where her child goes to school and worries more about whether her daughter will receive the proper support.

"The amount of support that she would require in a class like that to do her work or to do any kind of work or just play safely is not the amount of support that I am convinced they have," Wathra said.

"I think any parent that has a child in a classroom environment where their child's needs are getting met, distance is not an issue for that."

Trustees are expected to vote on the changes in the spring with them coming into effect in September 2026.

With files from CTV News Ottawa's Josh Pringle