More support needed for neurodiverse children in P.E.I. schools, says child advocate

P.E.I.'s child and youth advocate is calling on the provincial government to take action to make schools more suitable for neurodiverse students.

Marv Bernsteinsaid in advisory statement issued Fridaythat some students with neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism have been removed from school.

Bernstein callsfor immediate action, including better tracking of how often students with complex needs are absent, and why.

"We don't know in how many situations this is occurring. What is the scope of this?" Bernstein said in an interview with CBCNews.

"We see a number of cases coming to our office, but what is really happening out there in terms of the number of cases, the kind of situations where this is arising?"

Back in July, Bernstein told CBC News that he'dheardfrom a growing number of parentswhose children have autism and other complex needs who aren't attendingschool full time, or at all, for weeks or months at a time. He said some parents reluctantly pulled their childrenfrom school.

In other cases, Bernstein said, school officials have made the decision after running into challenges managing students' behaviour.

Friday, Bernstein's reportoutlinedthree scenarios in which some students with neurodevelopmental conditions are being removed from classes:

• An administrator or educator removes a student from school.
• An educator moves the studentfrom a traditional classroom to a seclusion room.
• Parents remove a studentbecause they feel there is a lack of in-school supports.

"These situations continue to occur while we are waiting for some larger direction to take hold," Bernstein said."And we've heard from parents and students that this is very difficult. They need some assistance and guidance."

In some cases, thestudents aren't offered alternative education plans, Bernstein said.

"Some of the students ...are kind of sitting at home in limbo and not really receiving any guidance in terms of education resources, support, structure," he said.

Bernstein said he hasspoken to a single motherwhose child has autism and was removed from school. When she couldn't get her childback into school quickly, the motherquit her job to start homeschooling.

"Now she's trying to figure out homeschooling, but she is not trained," he said. "We've heard, certainly, from some of the families that they're overwhelmed because they don't know where to turn, they don't know what the resources are."

Appeal process recommended

P.E.I.'sDepartment of Education and Early Yearsis in the process of developing and implementing an inclusive education action plan, but that is expected to take three years.

Bernstein said immediate action is needed to support students and their families. His advisory Friday suggests the department take action on several recommendations by the end of February 2025.

Besides better tracking of absenteeism, Bernstein said an appeal process should be createdfor parents so they can challenge decisions to remove students from class.

He also wants to see an appeal process that students themselves canuseto challenge a decision by administrators or educatorsto remove them from class.

No one from the Department of Education or the Public Schools Branch was made available for an interview, but provincial officials did provide a joint response by email.

"The Department of Education and Early Years and school authorities are carefully reviewing the release, the report and the recommendations," the statement reads.

"As this review is underway to determine what recommendations can be actioned, the department can confirm that staff are already working on various initiatives to enhance supports for students needing additional help."

The statement said some of that work includes improving data tracking on absences, reviewing practices and policies to better support students with complex needs,and working with parents to find solutions with the goal of returning students to the classroom.