Ontario First Nations use an intervention-based approach to high-cost Special Education, whereby funding is determined by formula. A benefit of this approach is that formal assessments are not required before intervention strategies are introduced. The federal High-Cost Special Education (HCSE) covers services for students whose moderate to profound needs cannot be met through the low-cost allocation included in the Interim Funding Formula.

The Ontario First Nation Special Education Working Group (OFNSEWG) is a joint technical and advisory body of the Chiefs of Ontario and Indigenous Services Canada established in 2005. The OFNSEWG is mandated by the Chiefs and Technical Committee on Languages and Learning (CTCLL) to provide recommendations on issues and specific strategies for political review and/or approval for action. OFNSEWG membership includes representation from:

• Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians (AIAI)
• Anishinabek Nation (AN)
• Grand Council Treaty #3 (GCT3)
• Independent First Nations (IFN)
• Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN)
• Mushkegowuck Council
• Mohawk Council of Akwesasne
• Six Nations of the Grand River Territory
• Other unaffiliated First Nations (if interested)
• Indigenous Service Canada-Ontario Region

The OFNSEWG has been mandated through various COO Resolutions to continue to gather data for the development of recommendations on program improvements and reform. Based on these mandates, the OFNSEWG continues to collect and analyze pertinent data and work with First Nation recipients to develop ways to enhance the current funding mechanism (program, formula, and funding levels).

Federal Budget 2016 provided an increase in High-Cost Special Education (HCSE) funding levels from 2016-17 through 2020-21. COO Resolution 20/16 mandates the OFNSEWG to administer a HCSE needs-based process to ensure HCSE recipients receive adequate funding levels to deliver the required special education services for First Nation students. COO Resolution 27/19 supports First Nations in Ontario to receive HCSE funding through the Interim Funding Formula Approach (IFA) as part of their core education budget. This resolution also calls for supplementary funding outside of core IFA to ensure no First Nation receives less HCSE funding than they did in the Education Transformation benchmark year 2017/2018. The 2017/18 HCSE allocations were generated by using the COO High-Cost Special Education allocation methodology.

For more information, please contact Patrik Lowen at Patrik.Lowen@coo.org