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Bill 108, Education Statute Law Amendment Act (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder), 2023

Hsu, Ted

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Acts affected

Original

Bill 108 Original (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

The

Bill requires boards of education to develop policies and guidelines with

respect to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

Teachers’

colleges and early childhood education programs shall be required to provide

training with respect to FASD.

Bill 108 2023

Act in relation to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

Preamble

There

is a high prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) among children

in Ontario, and the combination of deficits children with FASD face can make

attending school a difficult and often traumatic experience. Despite this, many

school boards have no specific strategy for addressing this issue, and

educators often lack awareness of FASD.

is therefore important that each school board be required to develop a policy

addressing FASD, and that teachers and early childhood educators be taught

about the signs and symptoms of FASD, as well as how to appropriately

accommodate these children in the classroom.

Implementing

these changes is expected to result in better academic performance and an

improved school experience for children with FASD and their peers, and to

contribute to many other positive social outcomes for children with FASD.

Therefore,

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of

the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Early

Childhood Educators Act, 2007

Section 43 of the Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007

is amended by adding the following subsection:

Fetal

Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

(1.1) A

regulation made under paragraph 1.1 of subsection (1) shall provide that a

program in early childhood education shall only be accredited if it provides

for training with respect to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), including,

(

a) awareness

of the signs and symptoms of FASD; and

(

b) strategies

to accommodate the needs of children who have diagnosed or suspected FASD.

Education

Act

The Education Act is amended by adding the

following Part:

Part

XIII.2

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

FASD

policies and guidelines

(1) Every

board shall establish policies and guidelines respecting Fetal Alcohol Spectrum

Disorder (FASD).

Same

(2) The

policies and guidelines must,

(

a) promote

awareness and understanding of FASD;

(

b) require

training for educational assistants to increase their awareness and

understanding of FASD;

(

c) include

established and emerging best practices to support pupils who have diagnosed or

suspected FASD; and

(

d) identify

strategies for the identification of pupils who have diagnosed or suspected

FASD and for providing accommodation for those pupils.

Collaboration

(3) Every

board shall facilitate collaboration with parents and FASD Support Groups in

undertaking the promotion of awareness and understanding of FASD.

Ontario

College of Teachers Act, 1996

Section 40 of the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996

is amended by adding the following subsection:

Fetal

Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

(1.1) A

regulation made under paragraph 19 of subsection (1) shall provide that a

teacher education program shall only be accredited if it provides for training

with respect to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), including,

(

a) awareness

of the signs and symptoms of FASD; and

(

b) strategies

to accommodate the needs of students who have diagnosed or suspected FASD.

Commencement

and

Short Title

Commencement

This Act comes into force on the second September 1 after the day it receives

Royal Assent.

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Education Statute Law Amendment Act (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum

Disorder), 2023 .

Date Bill stage Event Outcome Committee

May 17, 2023

First Reading

Ordered for Second Reading

May 17, 2023

First Reading

Vote

Carried

First Reading

May 17, 2023

Carried