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Psych-ed assessment wait ~i Iist 15 months, board says By Dominik Kurek METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP Parents of students at local public sebools can expect to wait up to two years for a psy- cho-educational assessment for iheir child, according to a report presented to Halton District Scbool Board trustees. The staff report was presented by David Boag, superiiîtendenî of education, at a recent board meeting. His report stated the average wait unie tut assess studenîs, who are struggling in thecir classrooms, is 1 5 monîbs, but sorne studenîs can waiî as long as îwo years dcpending on the prtority level. An assessrnent recoîmmiien- dation can belp tdentify learning sltîiaîegies for studcnts, sucb as entry inîo special cdu- caion classcs. Tbis information c.arne to tbe irotices afier ice previous buoard al sacI iotîtîon t \tt.tîxth liegront I lt ý1idc tî.ut lo grain in Grades 1 and 2. Pio tot ut ltB, the car- liest age group of studenîx enîerîrig the gîlîi jsrograrnt sas in ("radc 4. 'Tbis y car is particularîs n îtblciiatic lor tbc primiary gilted As. reong Y c dIo pbase-one of tbat proces,. \s\c ,re acttuaîs doing mo u grades at onfce ibis s ca, Senor Kinidcrgarteît and G1rade 1. Sîî ie bave c mou gradIes iii the pbasc aîîd ti c î sic \\i î bave one grade so ibose niumbers wll INe reduced by baif,- Boag told irustees. Board staff began working to assess 360 primary students for tbe gîfted programi tbis year, plus its assessing anotber 140 Grade 3s for tbe Grade 4 gifted prograrn and anotber 45 to 50 primary language class assessments. However, another r<iugbly 700 students wbo are struggling in tbeir classroonss are leit on the waitîng lisi. At tbe current rate, Boag said be expecîs about 250 of those stu- dents to be assessed by tbe end of lune. Tbe gifted program screening process is îaking place tbrougb February and Nlarcb, and Boag said tbese assessrnents are tinte sensitive becarîse tbe students basve iii be identified for ibe start tof class ini September "We re in a bit of a pinch riglit nox but bîî)peiulyý a tesi years down tbe fine weIbe in a bit better sbiape,' Ne saîd. lie added tbat in a lesi vears, the need to assess stulenîs loir the (rade 4 gîltced prît kelîs Ainîs guise a nîotitc îl mottîionîî, iIi wîill retrn t Ile frîic-or a s at ai t: ic\i ittcciing I[lie îiloiioi wi l asl< loi a1 ircpot oit sîbht p tî tlctutlis ual b e ao îo redoe îllet ,vait tsi, atnd ilte cîttî, s ,oc iai cdl wxi th ie as iîtrl. i axx \clI as hoss ii avîtîr sit. b a boig xxait luii Ilîtt elptitgiuî Il passcd, tit repotix o\old( bc pi cseîtliId It Ille boad and ii i tîî ial I dîsaiioi \disors C.oioitiiiec loi inptpo Dr Ann gheh D*s Dr UzaKan eýfT0 - FIND PERFECi ?B01i Toyota Camiy LIE $17,950 PLUS FiST à UICENSE M.E STKFiSSF2 4 d sedan 2St.it.pl auto totmet daiy rental uery wel eouppeo with Trier Seat tou ne tiesAM/FM"CT ABS at tSe cuse keyfeeus ntt Tr Il 0 titosc mir s tl tcononioi &more uT tameta ?iiBO Toecy"a BaVA f AS POTi SUA PiLUS WSI &UCERNF TIi067 fyg,e,,anens .t"OS PLUtKS UCM E.SX77 4 r.4ol18 auooe88 e 111 USUS wiio sil rieti MMipd kyls Ol WHEtL BRtIV sI15 $17,988 PLUS FiT à LICIENSE PIEE SiK#ti55Bi Tr4ý t urx 2 L at n AC a i r ils 0o 1J1 $15,988 PLUS EST & AICENSE FEE. STEEBSEAtE suntotfAC. aiioys AMFM CI) to i keyless entty uni muCrL(lM' r ~at~it~ VTOUR MATCH' 4 d Sedan, 1t 5Lcy auto former datty renta Il WrtOOows/iot.i AM/PM/CT MP3 Spit fotOno teat Seat ABS & mnuch more Plu ST &BC~ PIE 988 gg~ 4 ornaCta,-, 1 8L4iy auto One oWner une Testiab "p Pk aîcuPmuooot T, ,, e ,,e lightso t ss wln(IOWS5'c mittots onie PLUaS NIT & i CEFOBE FIE- STI(0127B g 1 tk 2 AT 4 i Ftasison t ow e & VERY Wel pqupopew systen] 3rd ro, Seatoq. A C aiiuyo CD, nuSe tug igOits tePiess entry p Winttows iOCIKSmirroo, tilt &much more' THE 4MMMEIj= PEACE 01F MIND GUARANTrEE S AI - îF A CT 1 ) pflC E- M EC H A N C AL O>(NO TERNI rCdIARAN1FEED CIIARANTED GLJARANTEE GUIARANTFE 30 DAY / 2500 KM 7 DAY 30 DAY 100% 6 MONTH / 10,000 KM EXCHANGE PRICE MECHANICAL POWERTRAIN POLICY PROTECTION WARRANTY WARRANTY (iltpontovota 1-888-790-6329 1245 Steeles Avenue (Corner of James Snow Pkwy & Steeles Ave.)