Will a change in special needs funding improve inclusive education in Manitoba?

Abstract

The department of education in the province of Manitoba has recently changed the way in which schools are funded to assist in meeting the needs of students who live with special needs. The change was the result of a task force that examined different funding models and made recommendations to the Minister of Education in November 2015. The change was deemed necessary because the application based system was detrimental to the inclusive education movement that the province has been promoting for several years. Labelling students and viewing them through a deficit model goes against inclusion and the Task Force felt this practice must change. Six student services administrators from across the province were interviewed to glean insight as to how some school divisions in Manitoba were reacting to the change in special needs funding and if there is potential to improve inclusive education in the province. Comparing the findings of this study to the literature about inclusive education it was determined that a change in funding by itself will not improve inclusive education in the province, but rather school divisions might consider using this change in funding as an opportunity to examine their own practices and begin the work of creating more inclusive schools for all.