Beginning with students that entered Grade 9 in the 2020-21 school year, students must earn at least two online learning credits to get their Ontario Secondary School Diploma, out of the total 30 required credits.
The online learning graduation requirement also applies to adult learners that will be entering the Ontario secondary school system starting in 2023-24 school year.
The RRDSB is part of the Ontario e-Learning Consortium (OeLC), giving its students access to a wide range of online courses from grades 9 through 12 to meet their interests and academic needs. To get an idea of the range of courses available, visit the OeLC site at:
https://ontario.prismsis.com/oelc
Parents who wish to opt out or exempt their child from the online graduation requirement must complete the opt-out form available from their child’s school board. Exemption from the online learning graduation requirements may be requested by:
- the parent or guardian of the secondary student
- students who are 18 years of age or older
- students who are 16 or 17 years of age and have withdrawn from parental control
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All secondary school students must meet the literacy graduation requirement to earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). The requirement is based on the expectations for reading and writing throughout the Ontario Curriculum up to and including Grade 9. Its purpose is to ensure students have the reading and writing skills they will need to succeed in school, at work and in daily life.
Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)
Students who are working towards the OSSD will normally take the OSSLT when they are in Grade 10. Once students have successfully completed the OSSLT, they may not retake it.Students not taking this literacy test in Grade 10 will require a deferral granted on the basis of Ministry policy as determined by the school.
Students who do not successfully complete the literacy test will have opportunities to retake the test in Grade 11 and Grade 12, or may be eligible to take the OSSLC (Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course) to meet their graduation requirements. For students retaking the test remedial assistance will be provided to help students become better prepared to successfully complete the test.
Students whose Individual Education Plan (IEP) indicates that the student is not working towards the attainment of the OSSD may, with parental consent and the approval of the principal, be exempted from writing the OSSLT or taking the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OLC3O/4O).
For students with special education needs, accommodations specified in the student’s IEP must be available on the day of the test.
Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC)
Students qualify to enrol in the OSSLC when they have written the OSSLT test, and have been unsuccessful at least once. This means that students are eligible to enrol in the OSSLC before they have had their second opportunity to take the test. The reading and writing competencies required by the OSSLT form the instructional and assessment core of this course. Students who pass the course are considered to have met the literacy graduation requirement.
The OSSLC can be used to fulfil the compulsory English requirement for either Grade 11 or Grade 12, although it may not be accepted as the Grade 12 English entrance requirement for university or college programs. For students who started in grade 9 in 2023-24 or earlier, the credit may also be used to meet the group 1 compulsory credit requirement for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
Adjudication process
In rare cases, a student might have, through no fault of his/her own, not been able to take advantage of the normal opportunities to write the OSSLT and/or have not been able to enroll in or complete the OSSLC, owing to unforeseen circumstances. If such a student would otherwise be eligible to graduate in June, he/she would be granted this additional opportunity to meet the literacy graduation requirement. Similarly, students with an IEP who did not have access to the documented accommodations when taking the OSSLT are also eligible for the adjudication process. This process establishes a Board adjudication panel at the end of the school year to review samples of the student’s work to determine if they provide evidence that the student has met the literacy requirements for graduation.
More information on the Literacy Requirement, including the OSSLT, OSSLC, accommodations, special provisions, deferrals, exemptions, and the adjudication process can me found in Ontario Schools: Kindergarten to Grade 12, Policy and Program Requirements, section 6.1.3, available on the Ministry website at:
https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-schools-kindergarten-grade-12-policy-and-program-requirements-2024
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Students are required to complete a minimum 40 hours of community involvement activities as part of the requirements for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Students working towards their OSSD should make sure they meet these graduation requirements in time for their graduating year.
Students can start accumulating their community involvement hours in the summer before entering Grade 9.
It is important that students and their families know if an activity is eligible for community involvement hours before participating.
Students who are looking for opportunities should:
- make sure they know which activities qualify for the community involvement requirement
- check the school board’s website (here) for a list of eligible and ineligible activities, as well as procedures and forms to help them record hours and find volunteer activities
- ask their principal or guidance counsellor for more information
Students under 18 years old should consult with their parents to plan and select their community involvement activities, according to
Ministry guidelines.
Students should also speak to their guidance counsellor or principal about other ways their school could allow them to earn community involvement hours this year.
The community involvement requirement is designed to provide students with the opportunity to develop awareness and understanding about civic responsibility. By being involved in their communities and serving others, students can develop transferable skills and explore different sectors and potential career opportunities as well as deepening their understanding of their role in society.
This is part of the new OSSD requirements, applying to students entering grade 9 in fall of 2024 or later.
Starting in September 2025, students enrolled in a Grade 10 mathematics course must successfully complete a financial literacy graduation requirement as part of the course.
They will need to achieve a mark of 70% or higher to pass this new requirement and earn their high school diploma.
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