Parents in Leduc, Alta., are angry their children with special learning needs are now being integrated into mainstream classrooms because of a new provincial policy. "He needs that classroom where there's quiet, small individual attention for him to be able to remember and retain what he's supposed to learn," said Bonnie Brunken of her 10-year-old son, Duncan, who experiences learning delays.

Last year, the boy attended an assisted academic program (AAP) all day "He gets AAP in the morning ... and then he goes into the Grade 5 class in the afternoon with no support," Brunken said. The change is not due to funding cuts, school officials said. Instead, they are complying with a new provincial policy that has schools integrating special needs students with their peers.

"Basically, we are working with existing programming and trying to align it with the Alberta Education setting the direction," said Norman Yanitski, the superintendent of the Black Gold School Division. "So, specifically, … that vision is one inclusive education system."