Shortened Days
OVERVIEW
This is the 1st of 4 videos in our short series on Shortened Days, in collaboration with ARCH Disability Law Centre.
This video introduces what a shortened school day is and why it can raise concerns for students with disabilities.
You will learn:
when a shortened day may be considered
what schools are expected to do before reducing a student’s time at school
why full participation in the school day should remain the goal
why shortened days can become harmful when they reduce access to learning, peers, and support
You can find the transcription for this video here (including visual descriptions for the video).
Refer to our glossary if you’re having trouble understanding any of the terms in this series.
What is a shortened day?
A shortened day is when a student only goes to school for part of the day. The law allows it if the student has unique needs and is in a special education program. However, shortened days can be a problem if they limit a student’s access to education or isolate them. This is why schools should put supports in place so that the student can attend the full day. If shortened days are used, schools have to make sure that it is used to meet the student's needs, not for other reasons.