Student Services

Resources for School Divisions

Process for Level 2 and Level 3 Support

Process for Special Needs Low Incidence Level 2 and Level 3 Funding
The process for determining eligibility of students for Level 2 and 3 funding requires the Student Services Unit Funding Review Team to consider student-specific applications on an individual basis. The components of the process, relative areas of responsibility, and funding forms are identified below.

Determination of Eligibility for Funding and the Application Process

  1. The Student Services Administrator (SSA) or Funded Independent School representative (FISR) together with school teams identify those students requiring exceptional supports who may meet the Criteria for Level 2 or 3 funding support.
  2. Once the funding review team receives the applications each application is reviewed, based on the Criteria for Level 2 or 3 funding support. The funding team members complete a funding decision form to document the decision-making process. The funding decision form aligns with the information provided on the funding application, as well as the Criteria for Level 2 or 3 funding support and annotated descriptors.
  3. Additional Information Requests: Additional information is requested if funding reviewers require information that has not been provided or communicated in sufficient detail to determine eligibility for funding. If needed, Additional Information Requests are sent to SSA or FISR, who review them and gather the necessary information from school teams. This additional information is then forwarded to the funding review team. The additional information is combined with the original application and funding review team members review the entire application, based on the criteria for level 2 or 3 funding support.
  4. Upon completion of the entire school's/division's applications, including those applications for which additional information is requested, the final funding results are provided in written format to the SSA or FISR.
  5. Re-Read Process: If the SSA or FISR, along with the school team, has additional information not contained in the original application, they may request a re-read from the Funding Review Team.
    • Re-read requests must be submitted within 10 working days after receipt of funding results by the school division.
    • When requesting a re-read on an application, new information not contained in the original application must be provided to support the application.
    • The re-read request is submitted on 1 or more sheets of 8 1/2 x 11 paper, or the form provided.
    • Note: Please do not re-submit the original application or information contained in the original application.

    Portability of Funding: Students whose funding is approved through the student specific funding process for one or more years, and then move to a different school division or funded independent school where supports are provided through the student-specific funding process, will automatically be granted funding in the receiving school division or funded independent school. A new funding application is not required. Funding is retroactive to the date that the student begins regular attendance (start date) in the new school. Students who were being provided with supports through the formula funding model will require a student-specific funding application if they move to a school situation where supports are provided through the student-specific funding process..

    The SSA and FISR from both the sending and receiving schools/divisions will report such changes to the funding review team using Special Needs Summary and Transfer Notification Forms, if applicable.

    Funding Periods
    There are four periods in each school year during which funding applications are processed for special needs low incidence levels 2 and 3 funding. The SSA or FISR will record new applications, additions and deletions, as appropriate, using the Levels 2 and 3 Divisional Summary and Transfer Notification Forms, if applicable.

    Spring:

    • Review Special Needs Funding Level 2/3 Pupils report to determine:
      •  Which students have experienced changes such that this level of support is no longer appropriate (i.e. students who have shown significant growth; students whose attendance or length of school day has decreased)
        • Begin adding these names to the deletions list for the fall or contact one of the co-leads of the Funding Review Team to discuss how to proceed
      • Which students for whom you will submit level 2/3 funding applications for the following school year, based on Special Needs Funding Guidelines
    • Applications only. (The spring funding period is a preliminary funding period when the funding review team accepts and reviews applications for the following school year.)
    • Please do not report Additions with Transfer Notification form or Deletions during the spring preliminary funding period

    Fall:

    • New applications
      • Students who entered your school division since the spring preliminary applications were submitted
    • Additions with Transfer Notification form (students previously approved for level 2 or 3 funding, who have transferred into your school/division between July 1 – September 30)
    • Deletions (students previously approved for level 2 or 3 funding, who have transferred out of your school/division or left school between January 1 – September 30)

    January:

    • New applications
      • Students who entered your school/division between
        October 1 – December 31
      • Students who were enrolled in your school/division before October 1 who experienced a serious event (give written indication of event) which had a significant impact on their education and occurred between October 1 and December 31 of the current year.
      • Students who are of Kindergarten age and who the school team was unable to determine if funding was appropriate in September
    • Additions with Transfer Notification form (students previously approved for level 2 or 3 funding, who have transferred into your school/division between October 1 – December 31)
    • Deletions (students previously approved for level 2 or 3 funding, who have transferred out of your school/division or left school between
      October 1 – December 31)

    June:

    • New applications
      • Students who entered your school/division between January 1 – June 30
      • Students who were enrolled in your school/division before January 1 who experienced a serious event (give written indication of event) which had a significant impact on their education and occurred between
        January 1 – June 30 of the current year
    • Additions with Transfer Notification form (students previously approved for level 2 or 3 funding, who have transferred into your school/division between January 1 – June 30)
    • Please do not report deletions in June

(Note: Applications for EBD3 and URIS Group A support can be submitted at any time.)