P.E.I. parents, advocacy groups say some children being denied right to an education

10-year-old Xavier is supposed to be in elementary school in Summerside, P.E.I., from September to June. Instead, he has been home with this mother, Shirley-Ann Muncey, every day since January.

After years of battling to get him to go to school each morning, constant calls to come pick him up, and failed requests for more in-school supports for her son, Muncey gave up.  

"There's just a lot of gaps in the system, and it feels like the school system is broken and people like my son fall through the cracks," she said.

"Honestly, it's been the most frustrating struggle of our lives to get him the education he deserves."

Xavier was diagnosed with autism earlier this year. He also has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety.

The assessment, made by a clinical psychologist, said Xavier would benefit in school from "individual support by an educational assistant (EA) or youth worker."

Muncey said there is a shared EA in his classroom of 24 students, but he hasn't been able to get a one-on-one worker.

"They've made it clear there is no EA for him," Muncey said. "There's no way he could get the support he needs."

P.E.I.'s child and youth advocate, Marvin Bernstein, said he's been hearing similar stories from a growing number of parents whose children have autism and other complex needs and who aren't attending school full time, or at all, for weeks or months at a time.  

Bernstein said some parents, like Muncey, have reluctantly pulled their children from school. 

In other cases, Bernstein said, school officials have made the decision after running into challenges managing students' behaviour. 

"What we're hearing is that there isn't any clear indication as to the justification for removing these students," Bernstein said.

"Some of the explanations that have been reported to us are 'well, there needs to be a cooling-off period.' Or 'there aren't enough adult staff members,' or 'there are safety considerations.' Or there may be some statement to the parent — 'can you develop a plan for your child that brings forward something that's manageable?' 

"Surely the onus should be on the school authority to develop a plan that will be able to accommodate that student."