D-07
Third Party Provision of Student Support Services By External Providers

The District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) is committed to the provision of appropriate in-school support services for students. The students who will receive this support, as well as the extent and scheduling of this support, are determined by the DSBN and Ministry regulations.

Consistent with the DSBN's duty to provide appropriate and equitable services for students, parents/guardians are not permitted to purchase or otherwise provide in-school or in-classroom student assistance, including personal support workers or other in-school professional services. Direct therapy to students is provided in the classroom only when delivered by Ontario Health at Home, as outlined in PPM 81. 

There are some circumstances which allow for the involvement of external providers:

• The DSBN works co-operatively with other approved publicly funded and regulated community agencies, providing services in-school and/or in-classroom. In partnership with the parent/guardian, these services supplement but not duplicate the programs and services provided for students by school personnel and Board staff, thereby allowing the student to participate more fully and more successfully in the instructional program of the school.
• Other supplemental support services provided by external providers may include observation, demonstration, assessment, treatment, counselling, and/or therapy activities that are distinct from activities implemented by DSBN staff. All third party external partnerships must respect the Board’s collective agreements. Supplemental support 
  services provided by external partners should complement, rather than replicate, DSBN staff work.

The DSBN Protocol for Agreement with External Agencies or Providers for the Provision of Services by Regulated Health Professionals, Regulated Social Services Professionals and Paraprofessionals provides the approval framework for establishing and implementing agreements with external agencies and providers.

Access and provision of personal information regarding a student from personnel employed as in-school support funded by a third party, shall be at the discretion of the School Administrator(s) acting in accordance with the Education Act and the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

The approval, denial or termination of supplemental support services provided or funded by third party external providers shall, at all times, be at the sole discretion and direction of the Superintendent responsible for Third Party Services.