Welcome

The Ontario Special Education Tribunals are independent adjudicative agencies that hear appeals regarding the identification of exceptional pupils and/or the placement of exceptional pupils in special education programs and render decisions.

The Ontario Special Education (English) Tribunal hears appeals for pupils enrolled in English public or Roman Catholic separate schools. The Tribunal de l'enfance en difficulté de l'Ontario hears appeals for pupils enrolled in French public or Roman Catholic separate schools.

The Tribunals each have their own chair and members appointed by Order-in-Council by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. The two Tribunals operate under the same Rules of Procedure in conducting their hearing.

Regulation 181/98: Identification and Placement of Exceptional Pupils sets out the process for identification and placement of exceptional students. In circumstances where parents, guardians or adult pupils (age 18 or over) cannot reach agreement with school boards, they are encouraged to use non-adversarial dispute resolution methods wherever possible. The Ministry of Education provides a resource about Resolving Identification and Placement Issues.

Once all rights of appeal have been exhausted, an appeal may be made to the Tribunal. A tribunal hearing is more formal than a meeting with an Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) or a Special Education Appeal Board (SEAB), but is less formal than a hearing in a court of law. Certain Rules of Procedure apply to a tribunal hearing. These rules are meant to ensure that all parties are able to present the relevant facts of their case to the Tribunal and have the opportunity to respond to the other party's case. Persons considering making an appeal are encouraged to read the Information for Parties which clarifies this process. Having initiated an appeal parties are required to complete certain forms.

Further information about other appeal bodies, special education in Ontario or about legislation and regulations governing special education and the tribunals may be found on a number of other websites listed in the Links section.

The Tribunals encourage feedback from persons who have appeared before them, from users of this website and from anyone who has a comment which may assist the Tribunals to improve their services.

The Tribunals will update this website as new information is available.