What is ACSES?

Every school board in Quebec must have an advisory committee on services for handicapped students and students with social maladjustments or learning disabilities. At the EMSB this committee is called the Advisory Committee on Special Education Services (ACSES) and is composed of elected members.  The majority of members are parents of the students concerned, and the remainder is composed of the director general or her representative, teachers, support staff, professional staff and one principal.

How are members elected to ACSES?

The committee shall be composed of;

1. Parents of the students concerned, designated by the parents' committee;
2. Representatives of the teachers, of the members of the non-teaching professional staff and of the members of the support staff, designated by the associations which represent them in their dealings with the school board and elected from among the persons who provide services to the students concerned;
3. Representatives of bodies which provide services to handicapped students or to students with social maladjustments or learning disabilities, designated by the council of commissioners after consulting with those bodies;
4. A school principal designated by the director general. 

The director general or his representative shall take part in the sittings of the committee but he is not entitled to vote.

The council of commissioners shall determine the number of representatives from each group.

The representatives of the parents shall constitute the majority of the members of the committee.

(EA, s. 185)

What does the ACSES do?

The functions of the advisory committee on services for handicapped students and students with social maladjustments or learning disabilities as outlined in Section 187 of the Education Act, are:

1.  To advise the school board on a policy for the organization of educational services to handicapped students and students with social maladjustments or learning disabilities;
2.  To advise the school board on the allocation of financial resources to the services intended for those students.

The committee may also advise the school board on the implementation of an individualized education plan for a handicapped student or a student with social maladjustments or learning disabilities.

Each year, the school board shall inform the advisory committee on services for handicapped students and students with social maladjustments or learning disabilities of the amount of the financial resources available for services intended for those students and of the allocation of those resources in light of the policies defined by the Minister.

The school board shall report each year to the committee and the Minister on requests for reconsideration made under section 9 relating to services for handicapped students and students with social maladjustments or learning disabilities.

What does ACSES do?

The primary function of ACSES is to advise the school board on policy and allocation of financial resources for the organization of educational services to students with physical or learning disabilities, social maladjustments and other difficulties which require special needs. The committee may also advise the school board on the implementation of an individualized education plan for these students.

Annually, the school board informs ACSES on the services and financial resources available as defined by the Ministry and must report to the committee and the Ministry on requests for reconsideration made under Section 9 of the Education Act.