Download a pdf version of our 2023-2024 Student Handbook

Toronto eLearning School
School Calendar 2023-2024 – Student Handbook

Table of Contents

1.Our Mission

2.Program Overview

3.Student Registration

4.Course Prerequisites

5.Tests and Assignments

6.Final Exam

7.Attendance and Code of Conduct

8.Reports

9.Assessment Rubric for Online Collaboration

10.Parental Role

11.Hardware and Software Requirements

12.Guidance Support

13.Plagiarism

14.Appropriate Use of Technology

15.Program and Planning

16.Types of Secondary School Courses

17.Ontario Secondary School Diploma Requirements

18.What is a Credit?

19.Substitutions for Compulsory Courses

20.Community Involvement Requirement

21.Grade 10 Literacy Requirement

22. Online learning graduation requirement

23.Ontario Secondary School Certificate

24.Certificate of Accomplishment

25.Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)

26.Assessment and Evaluation

27.The Achievement Chart

28.Reporting on Student Achievement

29.Ontario Student Transcript (OST)

30.Course Withdrawal

31.Ontario Student Record (OSR)

32.Access to OSR

33.Courses available at Toronto eLearning School

34. Programs for Exceptional Studies

35. Reaching Ahead

36. the Ontario Curriculum Guidelines and Policy Links

37. Forms

1.  Our Mission

To provide top quality, highly interactive and engaging online learning experiences for Ontario High School students. Toronto eLearning School recognizes the value and importance of completing a secondary education and is committed to providing an equitable and accessible learning  platform  that maximizes each student’s chances for success in their secondary school experience.

2.  Program Overview

Toronto eLearning School offers students the opportunity to earn Ontario High School credits online using a combination of online video instruction, online assessments and evaluations, regular personal teacher-student support, and a variety of opportunities for student-student interactions. Our school seeks to maximize the flexibility of our students’ learning using the most modern and report effective learning technology and resources available, while carefully ensuring that all the expectations and policies of the Ontario Ministry of Education are completely met.

Students can enroll in one or more courses at any time of the year and can move through the material as slowly or as quickly as they like. The course instructor guides students through the curriculum using well designed and professionally presented online instructional videos and multimedia resources. Learning is asynchronous lessons, activities, assignments and tests can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Students are strongly advised to complete a course within 4 months of starting it. Students who have not completed a course within 4 months need to apply to the principal to have their time extended and will be asked to provide reasons for the request. The school reserves the right to not extend the deadline for a course.

Instructors provide valuable feedback through assignments, regular weekly online conferencing sessions, discussion forums, and direct email. students interact and learn with one another through open conferencing times, discussion forums, peer reviews and assessments, and collaborative assignments and presentations. Students have direct access to their marks and can easily track their own progress.

All course material is online, no textbook is required. Assignments are submitted electronically. Tests are completed online at a time convenient for the student, and every course ends in a final exam which the student writes under the supervision of a proctor approved by Toronto eLearning School at a predetermined time and place. The final mark and report card are then forwarded to the student’s home school.

Students must achieve the Ministry of Education learning expectations of a course and complete 110 hours of planned learning activities, both online and offline, in order to earn a course credit.

The chart below indicates some general examples of online and offline activities, but each course will involve different specific activities.

Students must keep a learning log throughout their course which outlines the activities they have completed and their total learning hours.

Students are expected to access and participate actively in course work and course forums on a regular and frequent basis. This interaction with other students is a major component of every course and there are minimum requirements for student communication and contribution. 

Toronto eLearning School online courses require planning, self-discipline and mature organizational and time-management skills. These essential learning skills, developed through successful online study, will provide students with definite advantages in their future academic and professional lives.

3.  Student Registration

Student enrolment in TES is open and continuous. Registration is available online 24 hours a day through www.TorontoeSchool.com. Proof of Ontario residency in the form of an OEN number, birth certificate, transcript, or report card from an Ontario School is required to complete registration.

If the student has an existing IEP (Individual Education Plan), then a copy of this IEP must accompany registration. The school will then attempt to address these learning expectations through appropriate accommodations within the online course.

4.  Course Prerequisites

Students must submit proof that they have successfully completed the prerequisite for any course in which they intend to enroll after they have registered.

Students that do not have a course prerequisite yet can provide reasonable evidence of prior equivalent study or work experiences may apply for a prerequisite exemption or obtain a Letter of Permission to Waive Prerequisite from their local school. Students will be required to submit their school grades and all relevant work/school experience before their request is reviewed.

5.  Tests and Assignments

The number of tests and assignments within a course can vary, but all together will always constitute 70% of a student’s final mark. As well, the type of tests assignments vary and may include labs, projects, discussion board participation, short answer questions as well as essays, audio recordings and video presentations. Assignments can be uploaded online or scanned and attached as an email.  Video presentations by students will be uploaded to the private TES YouTube channel.

Students are given suggested timelines in each of their courses to help them complete the course credit in a reasonable amount of time. However, students may establish their own schedule for regularly submitting assignments and writing tests.  Course instructors return assignments with
grades and comments consistent with the assessment and evaluation policies of the Ontario Ministry of Education.

6.  Final Exam

All courses will have a final examination or evaluation worth 30% or a student’s final mark, unless otherwise agreed to by the Principal.

Ten days prior to the preferred examination date, students will submit a supervisor approval form. The selected supervisor must be approved by TES before their exam date can be finalized.
Examinations must take place in a professional environment, they may not be held at a private residence. Acceptable supervisors require a work email address and may be asked to produce a copy of their diploma or certificate of qualification or practicing license in order to validate an exam application.

Acceptable supervisors include Ontario Certified Teacher, lawyer, registered family physician, registered nurse, government social worker, registered psychologist and professional registered counsellor. Relatives, supervisors without a professional email address and hired tutors will not be approved to proctor a student exam. The approved supervisor is sent a password that is to be entered at the time of the exam allowing the student access. The supervisor ensures the security and integrity of the exam process.

Students who have not submitted acceptable proof of prerequisite can not take the exam. After the exam has been written no assignments can be submitted and no tests can be taken, and all outstanding work will receive a mark of zero.

7.  Attendance

Student participation and online attendance is monitored by each course instructor and the learning management software. It is important that students spend regular and significant amounts of time logged into their courses if they wish to be successful in their courses. Toronto eLearning School expects students to log into their course at least three times per week. Students who have not logged into their courses at least three times per week will be contacted by the course instructor for an explanation. In the case where the student has not logged in to their course for over one month both student and parent will be contacted.  Continued absence from the course will result in a credit not being awarded and the student removed from the course.

Code of Conduct

Toronto eLearning School is a place of learning and as such, there must be an atmosphere based on mutual respect. Students are expected to be courteous and to respect the personal rights and feelings of others. Insults, disrespect, and other hurtful acts disrupt learning and teaching in a school community. Toronto eLearning School is committed to the protection and well-being of all students and staff. As part of this commitment, our school has a zero tolerance policy on harassment, intimidation, threatening behaviors (verbal or otherwise) and/or conduct injurious to the moral tone of the school. Profanity, harassment or aggressive behaviors are not acceptable and may result in student suspension or expulsion. Threats, distasteful remarks, abuse of any kind or harassment by any individual which impairs the health and welfare of any student or staff member is to be reported to the Principal immediately.

Any use of any Learning Management System (LMS) tool within course for any other purpose other than the intended educational purpose
is prohibited. If the LMS is used inappropriately or in a prohibited manner, the Principal reserves the right to terminate the registration or suspend the user. There is the possibility of further disciplinary action including legal prosecution, if the appropriate laws, regulations, or contracts deem it necessary. The security of the online environment is only as effective as the practices of its users. Therefore, it is important that the student user never attempt to access unauthorized material or to impersonate another user. Any attempt to vandalize, harm or destroy data of another user is prohibited. Any attempt to vandalize the data of the course or school is also prohibited.

8.  Reports

Students receive a midterm report when approximately 50% of the course material has been completed. Teachers at TES use criterion-referenced assessment and evaluation; student work is assessed and evaluated in a balanced manner with reference to established criteria for the four levels of achievement that are standard across Ontario, rather than by comparison with work done by other students, or through the ranking of student performance.

9.  Assessment Rubrics for Online Collaboration, Discourse, and Knowledge Building

Communication and discussion are essential for successful learning across all disciplines. TES courses provide for a variety of assessment
strategies over the duration of the course that may include:

• Contributions to online discussion groups
• Completion of online assignments
• Portfolio submissions
• Projects and video presentations
• Peer review of student submissions or presentations

Instructors use the Assessment Rubric for Online  Collaboration presented below as a reference to help them guide the learning, assessment and evaluation of their students.

Indicators	Demonstrates Exemplary Progress/Performance	Displays Strong Progress/Performance	Demonstrates Adequate Progress/Performance	Lacks Adequate Progress – Needs Practice/Support
Contribution (New Notes)	Timely, thoughtful, insightful. Initiates extended thinking or original ideas on a regular basis (i.e. almost daily). Builds toward the knowledge acquisition and learning of the greater community. http://www.bostonballet.org/swanlake/	Fairy timely and thoughtful. Initiates some new ideas for discussion on a regular basis (i.e. 2-3x/wk). Often builds toward the advancement of the community.	Thoughtful responses to mostly existing discussions.  Sometimes initiates new ideas on a more sporadic basis (i.e. 1-2x/wk). Sometimes builds toward the advancement of the community.	Few thoughtful contributions to existing discussions. Rarely to never initiates new ideas. Contributes less frequently, may lurk too often, contributes irregularly.
Interaction (Build-Ons/ New Notes) Methodology may vary- deconstruction, critique, exemplars, research, opinion, experience, probing…	Regular interaction with peers and builds-on ideas to advance thought or deepen the knowledge. Listens to varied views and provides reflective, constructive and/or meaningful i.e. John your reflection seemed to show…	Usually interacts with peers and builds-on by extending ideas while listening. Always constructive, reflective and meaningful.i.e. John, I had a similar situation…	Usually interacts with peers by responding to questions posed or when prompted. Somewhat reflective and constructive or meaningful.i.e. Good Job John…	Rarely interacts with peers or responds to questions posed. Limited involvement with questions or ideas. May lurk too often.i.e. Logs in to read note
Inquiry (Build-Ons/New Notes)	Asks questions that reflect and extend thinking on the topic or learning for self and the community.	Asks questions which reflect and/or clarify. Sometimes extends thoughts for self and the community.	Asks relevant questions which enhance the learning of self and others.	Seldom asks relevant questions.
Connecting  Theory with Resources and/or Personal Experiences	Refers and elaborates on required readings. Provides links and connects theory to other resources/research as well as personal experiences	Often refers and elaborates on required readings. Often provides links and connects theory to other resources and/or personal experiences	Often refers to required reading. Less often connects theory with other resources and/or personal experiences.	Seldom refers to required reading and little effort to connect theory with other resources or personal experiences.
Understanding Core Course Concepts and Content	Thorough understanding of course content and concepts. Responses reflect detailed, comprehensive and broad shape comments on material and processes.	Good understanding of content and key course concepts. Responses reflect comprehensive comments on material and processes.	Some understanding of content and key course concepts. Responses tend to reflect broad approach to material and processes.	Limited understanding of content and key course concepts.
Social Skills	Always encouraging, positive, sensitive, friendly tones. Feedback, views and opinions are constructive, meaningful and collaborative. Netiquette applied	Usually encouraging, positive, sensitive, friendly tones. Feedback, views and opinions are constructive, meaningful and collaborative. Netiquette applied.	Fairly encouraging, positive, sensitive, friendly tones but may struggle with meaningful and constructive comments or feedback at times.	Little effort to be sensitive, positive and encouraging and/or allow for meaningful or constructive feedback. May verge on the border of inappropriate commentary.
Language	Almost always clear, precise, relevant, organized, free of major language errors	Usually clear, precise, relevant, organized, free of major errors	Fairly clear, precise, relevant, organized, some language errors on a consistent basis	Often unclear, or unorganized, may be irrelevant to topic at hand and/or responses regularly contain language errors.
Support and Contribution to the Collective	On a continuous basis, will quickly support and/or offer time to help the learning community with extra curricular items (i.e. technical help, humor, building rapport)	Regularly supports and/or offers time to help the learning community with issues and items that come up.	Sometimes supports the learning community with issues and items that come up.	Rarely or never offers support to learning community with issues and items that come up.

10. Parental Role

Parents are encouraged to monitor and support the learning of their children by helping them create a studying schedule, and checking on assignment completion and submission. Parents are free to contact the school with any comments or concerns.

11.  Hardware and Software Requirements

Students should have access to a stable high-quality internet connection and an up to date laptop or desktop computer with a microphone and video camera.

Recommended software includes Adobe Acrobat Reader and word processor and spreadsheet applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel.

Students will need a Gmail account to access Google+ Hangouts for video conferencing and whiteboard applications.

Students registered in Mathematics courses may need access to a scanner or camera to submit assignments with complex mathematical notion.

12.  Guidance Support

TES students are encouraged to direct any specific questions regarding course selection, marks or general guidance support questions through email.

The Guidance Department is dedicated to the success and well-being of every student at Toronto eLearning School. Guidance and career education can help you find the right path for a successful experience in high school and post secondary school.

13.  Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a serious academic offence. Students must acknowledge visual or written sources when using the words or the ideas of any other person, or group of persons, for any assignment or project. The first offence of any work that is concluded as being plagiarized will result in an academic warning. The teacher will notify the office of the offence and the work will be redone by the student. Upon a second offence, the work will be given a mark of zero. A third offence will result in a zero for the submitted work and an academic review by the principal which may result in removal from the course without refund. The parents/guardians will be notified.

Plagiarism includes presenting the work of other students as your own.

14.  Appropriate Use of Technology

In the case that a student is found to use technology in an unacceptable manner, the student and parent (if under the age of 18) will be contacted. The consequences of such actions may result in the removal of the student from the course without refund. Unacceptable behaviors may include, but may not be limited to the following:

• creation and transmission of offensive, obscene, or indecent document or images;
• creation and transmission of material which is designed to cause annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety;
• creation of defamatory material;
• creation and transmission that infringes copyright of another person;
• transmission of unsolicited commercial or advertising material and deliberate unauthorized access to other services accessible using the connection to the network/Internet.;
• causing technical staff to troubleshoot a problem for which the user is the cause, corrupting or destroying other user’s data;
• violating the privacy of others online;
• using the network in such a way that it denies the service to others;
• continuing to use software or other system for which the user has already been warned about using;
• and any other misuse of the network such as introduction of viruses;

15.  Program and Planning

In Ontario, students are required to stay in secondary school until they reach the age of eighteen or until they obtain an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). TES understands the importance and value of completing a secondary education and is committed to reaching every student and helping them achieve a successful outcome form their secondary school experience.

Below is a summary and discussion of the relevant policies set out in Ontario Schools, Kindergarten to Grade 12: Policies and Program Requirements, 2011 (OS) as set out by the Ministry of Education.

16.  Types of Secondary School Courses

The curriculum is organized into several types of courses, intended to enable students to choose courses suited to their strengths, interests, and goals. In Grades 9 and 10, three types of courses are offered: academic, applied, and open. Courses in Grades 11 and 12 are designed to prepare  students for a postsecondary destination which may include university, college, apprenticeship training, or the workplace. A credit is granted by the Principal on behalf of the Ministry of Education in recognition of the successful completion of the expectations of a 110-hour course that has
been developed or approved by the Ministry of Education.

The common course code of all courses consists both of a five code character and a course title component, as designated by the Ministry of Education and Training in Ontario:

For example: MPM2D Principles of Mathematics

Outlines of Courses of Study for all courses offered at Toronto eLearning School can be found online at https://torontoelearningschool.com/courses/all-courses/

Grades 9 and 10

Destreamed “W”: A new de-streamed math course, which replaces the Grade 9 academic and applied courses, is being taught in Ontario’s publicly funded schools beginning in September 2021.

It is designed to provide a learning experience for all students to engage in rich complex mathematics, including new areas like coding, data literacy, and financial literacy. This course also emphasizes connections among mathematical concepts, real-life applications and students’ lived experiences.

Academic “D”: Academic courses develop a student’s knowledge base and skills through the study of theory and abstract problems. These courses focus on the essential concepts of a subject and explore related concepts as well. They incorporate practical applications as appropriate.

Applied “P”: Applied courses focus on the essential concepts of a subject, and develop a student’s knowledge base and skills through practical applications and concrete examples. Familiar situations are used to illustrate ideas, and students are given more opportunities to experience hands-on applications of the concepts and theories they study.

Open “O”: Open courses are the only type of course offered in most subjects other than those listed above. They are designed to prepare students for further study in a subject, and to enrich their education generally. Open courses comprise a set of expectations that are appropriate for all students.

Students in Grades 9 and 10 will make the choice between destreamed, academic, applied and open courses primarily on the basis of their strengths, interests, and needs. Their parents or guardians, the Principal and teachers, will help them make their choices, which will be reflected in their Annual Education Plan. Grade 10 academic courses prepare students for Grade 11 University or College preparation courses; Grade 10 applied courses prepare students for Grade 11 College or Workplace preparation courses.

Changing Course types: Students who are successful in any academic or applied course in Grade 9 will have the opportunity to enter either the academic or applied course in the same subject in Grade 10. Additional preparation may be required and will be determined by the Principal. In the case of Mathematics, students who wish to change from Grade 9 Applied Mathematics to Grade 10 Academic Mathematics may do so only by taking  Grade 9 Academic Mathematics or completing the designated transfer course.

Grades 11 and 12 Courses

In Grades 11 and 12, students will choose from among destination-related course types: university preparation, university/college preparation, college preparation, workplace preparation, and open courses. Students will make their choices based on their interest, achievement, and career goals. Prerequisites are specified for many of the courses offered in Grades 11 and 12. These prerequisites are identified in the Course of Study document for each course.

University preparation “U” courses are designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to meet the entrance requirements for university programs.

University/College preparation “M” courses are designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to meet the entrance requirements for specific programs offered at universities and colleges.

College preparation “C” courses are designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to meet the requirements for entrance to most college programs or for admission to apprenticeship or other training programs.

Workplace preparation “E” courses are designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to meet the expectations of employers, if they plan to enter the workplace directly after graduation, or the requirements for admission to certain apprenticeship or other training programs.

Open “O” courses are designed to broaden students’ knowledge and skills in subjects that reflect their interests and to prepare them for active and rewarding participation in society. They are not designed with the specific requirements of universities, colleges, or the workplace.

Changing Course types:
Changing course types in grades 11 and 12 will require the completion of the appropriate prerequisite. In some cases the student my request that the Principal waive the prerequisite.  The decision to waive the prerequisite will be made by the Principal in consultation with the student and parents.

Mathematics Transfer course from Grade 9 Applied to Academic (MPM1H) 0.5 Credit.

This transfer course will provide students who have successfully completed Foundations of Mathematics, Grade 9, Applied with an opportunity to achieve the expectations not covered in that course but included in Principles of Mathematics, Grade 9, Academic. On successful completion of this transfer course, students may proceed to Principles of Mathematics, Grade 10, Academic (MPM2D).

Cooperative Education and Other Workplace Experiences

Cooperative education programs allow students to earn secondary school credits while completing a work placement in the community.
These programs complement students’ academic programs and are valuable for all students, whatever their postsecondary destination. A cooperative education program comprises, at a minimum, one cooperative education course and its related course, on which the cooperative education course is based. Any course from an Ontario curriculum policy document or any ministry-approved locally developed course may serve as the related course for a cooperative education program.

Toronto eLearning School does not operate a Cooperative Education Program at this time.

17.  Ontario Secondary School Diploma Requirements

• 18 compulsory credits- 4 English (1 credit per grade)*
  – 3 Mathematics (at least 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)
  – 2 Science
  – 1 French as a Second Language
  – 1 Canadian History
  – 1 Canadian Geography
  – 1 The Arts
  – 1 Health and Physical Education
  – 0.5 Civics
  – 0.5 Career Studies
  – Plus ONE credit from each of these three groups:

Group 1: 1 additional credit in English or French as a Second Language**, or a Native language, or a classical or an international language, or social sciences and the humanities (family studies, philosophy, world religions), or Canadian and world studies, or guidance and career education, or  cooperative education***

Group 2: 1 additional credit in health and physical education, or the arts, or business studies, or French as a Second Language**, or cooperative education***

Group 3: 1 additional credit in science (Grade 11 or 12) or technological education (Grades 9 to 12), or French as a Second Language**, or computer studies, or cooperative education***

In addition to the compulsory credits, students must:

• earn 12 optional credits (courses you get to choose) †
• earn at least two online learning credits †
• complete 40 hours of community involvement activities
• complete the provincial literacy requirement

*A maximum of 3 credits in English as a Second Language (ESL) or English literacy development (ELD) may be counted towards the 4 compulsory credits in English, but the fourth must be a credit earned for a Grade 12 compulsory English course.
**In groups 1, 2, and 3, a maximum of 2 credits in French as a Second Language can count as compulsory credits, one from group 1 and one from either group 2 or group 3.
***A maximum of 2 credits in cooperative education can count as compulsory credits.
† The 12 optional credits may include up to 4 credits earned through approved dual credit courses.

Students first enrolled in Grade 9 before September 1, 1999 should contact the school for information on OSIS Diploma Requirements.

18.  What is a credit?

A credit is granted in recognition of the successful completion of a course that has been scheduled for a minimum of 110 hours. Credits are granted by the principal on behalf of the Minister of Education and Training for courses that have been developed or approved by the ministry. A half-credit may be granted for each 55-hour part of a 110-hour ministry developed course. Half-credit courses must comply with ministry requirements as outlined in the curriculum policy documents. 

TES students’ learning is self directed so the number of hours scheduled for the course will be determined by logging  the number of hours the student is logged on to the learning site and the number of  hours spent on course work, discussion, assignments, tests, projects and presentations.

19.  Substitution for Compulsory Courses

In order to allow flexibility in designing a student’s program and to ensure that all students can qualify for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), substitutions may be made for a limited number of compulsory credit courses. The school principal may replace up to three compulsory courses (or the equivalent in half courses) with courses from the remainder of those that meet the compulsory credit requirements. In all cases, however, the sum of compulsory and optional credits will not be less than thirty for students aiming to earn the OSSD and not less than fourteen for
those aiming to earn the Ontario Secondary School Certificate. Substitutions will be made to promote and enhance student learning or to meet special needs and interests.

The decision to make a substitution for a student will be made only if the student’s educational interests are best served by such substitution. If a parent or an adult student requests a substitution, the principal will determine whether or not a substitution should be made. The principal may also initiate consideration of whether a substitution should be made. The principal will make his or her decision in consultation with the parent or adult student and appropriate school staff. Each substitution will be noted on the student’s Ontario Student Transcript. See the end of this document to view a sample form.

20.  Community Involvement Requirement

Students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement activities as part of the diploma requirements. The purpose of this requirement is to encourage students to develop an awareness and understanding of civic responsibility and of the role they can play and the
contributions they can make in supporting and strengthening their communities. Students will plan and select their community involvement activities in consultation with their parents. For mature students, the principal will determine the number of hours of community involvement activities required. See the end of this document to view a sample form.

21.  Grade 10 Literacy Requirement

All students are required to meet the secondary school literacy graduation requirement in order 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. The
purpose of the secondary school literacy graduation requirement is to determine whether students have the skills in reading and writing that they will need to succeed in school, at work, and in daily life. The test is scheduled by and administered through the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) once each year, usually in the spring Students must pass the test in order to graduate, and their result is recorded on their Ontario School Transcript (OST)..To meet this requirement, students are expected to take and successfully complete the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) in Grade 10. Once students have successfully completed the OSSLT, they may not retake it.

If a student has had two opportunities to take the OSSLT and has failed it at least once, the student is eligible to enroll in the OSSLC. Students who pass the course will be considered to have met the literacy graduation requirement.

Students who are receiving special education programs and services and who have an Individual Education Plan may receive the accommodations set out in the student’s IEP. The EQAO website provides answers to frequently asked questions and also provides preparation materials that parents and students can access at home to help prepare for the test.

22.Online learning graduation requirement

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.

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.

Credits earned during COVID-19

Students can count one secondary school credit that was earned during the province wide school closures (from April 2021 to June 2021) towards the two online learning credits that they need to graduate. This applies to all Grade 9 students who were learning remotely due to the province wide school closures.

23. The Ontario Secondary School Certificate

The Ontario Secondary School Certificate (OSSC) will be granted, on request,

to students who are leaving secondary school upon reaching the age of eighteen without having met the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

To be granted an OSSC, a student must have earned a minimum of 14 credits, distributed as follows.

7 required compulsory credits

• 2 credits in English
• 1 credit in mathematics
• 1 credit in science
• 1 credit in Canadian history or Canadian geography
• 1 credit in health and physical education
• 1 credit in the arts, computer studies, or technological education

7 required optional credits

• 7 credits selected by the student from available courses.

The provisions for making substitutions for compulsory credits also apply to the Ontario Secondary School Certificate.

24.  Certificate of Accomplishment

Students who are leaving secondary school upon reaching the age of eighteen without having met the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma or the Ontario Secondary School Certificate may be granted a Certificate of Accomplishment. The Certificate of Accomplishment may be a useful means of recognizing achievement for students who plan to take certain kinds of further training, or who plan to find employment directly after leaving school.

25. Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)

Prior learning includes the knowledge and skills that students have acquired, in both formal and informal ways, outside secondary school. Where such learning has occurred outside Ontario classrooms, students may have their skills and knowledge evaluated against the expectations outlined in provincial curriculum policy documents in order to earn credits towards the secondary school diploma. This formal evaluation and accreditation process is known as Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). PLAR procedures are carried out under the direction of the school principal, who grants credits. A student may “Challenge” a specific course for credit or obtain credits through the “equivalency” process if they have credentials from schools outside Ontario. 

The PLAR process involves two components: challenge and equivalency. The challenge process refers to the process whereby students’ prior learning is assessed for the purpose of granting credit for a course developed from a provincial curriculum policy document. Assessment instruments for this process must include formal tests (70 per cent of the final mark) and a variety of other assessment strategies appropriate to the particular course (30 per cent of the final mark). Determining equivalency involves the assessment of credentials from other jurisdictions. See the end of this document to view a sample form.

Equivalent Credit Assessment

Equivalent Credit Assessment for regular day school students transferring from home schooling, a non-inspected private school, or a school outside Ontario, the principal will grant equivalency credits for placement purposes through the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) process. Determining equivalency involves the assessment of the student credentials from other jurisdictions, as shown on their transcripts and/or report cards.

The principal of TES will determine the total credit equivalency, as well as the number of compulsory and optional credits remaining to be completed in accordance with Ontario Schools.

PLAR for regular day school students

For regular day school students, a maximum of 4 credits may be granted through the challenge process for Grade 10, 11 and 12 courses, or for Levels 1, 2, and 3 in classical language courses; for Levels 2, 2, and 4 in international language courses; and for Levels 3, 4, and 5 in Native language courses. No more than 2 of these credits may be granted on one discipline.

For students who are transferring from home schooling, a non-inspected private school, or a school outside Ontario, the principal will grant equivalency credits for placement purposes base on their evaluation of the student’s previous learning.

PLAR procedures must also be available to exceptional students.  Assessment strategies must be adapted for this group in keeping with their special needs; for example, extra time might be allowed for the completion of work, or a quiet environment might be provided for activities. While PLAR may be of benefit to some gifted students, it is not intended to be used as a replacement for or alternative to enriched or other special programs for gifted students.

PLAR for Mature Students

A mature student is a student who is at least eighteen years of age on or before December 31 of the school year in which he or she registers on an Ontario secondary school program; who was not enrolled as a regular day school students for a period of at least one school year immediately preceding his or her registration in a secondary school program ( for mature students, a school year is a period of no less than ten consecutive months immediately preceding the student’s return to school); and who is enrolled in a secondary program for the purpose of obtaining an OSSD.

Because of the broader life experience of mature students, the requirements concerning the application of PLAR procedures are different for them tan for regular day school students. The principal will determine  the number of credits, including compulsory credits that a mature student needs in order to meet the credit requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). At the discretion of the principal, up to 16 Grade 9 and 10 equivalency credits may be granted to a mature student following an individual assessment.

Mature students may earn 10 of the 14 remaining Grade 11 and 12s needed to meet diploma requirements in three ways:

• whey may demonstrate achievement of the required secondary school curriculum expectations and receive credit through the challenge process;
• they may present education and/or training credentials for assessment through the equivalency process;
• or they may take the course

It should be noted that Levels 2 and 3 in classical languages are equivalent to Grade 11 and 12, respectively; that Levels 3 and 4 in international languages are equivalent to Grade 11 and 12 respectively; and that Levels 4 and 5 in Native language are equivalent to Grade 11 and 12, respectively.

Mature students must earn a minimum of 4 Grade 11 and 12 credits by taking the course at a secondary school ( or through any of the options in section 10). Mature students who have previously accumulated 26 or more credits towards the diploma must successfully complete the required number of courses to bring their total number of credits up to 30 before they will be eligible to receive the OSSD. Mature students working towards the OSSD under OS/OSS must also satisfy the diploma requirements with regard to the provincial secondary school literacy requirement. The principal will determine the number of hours of community involvement activities that a mature student will have to complete.

26.  Assessment and Evaluation

Assessment and evaluation of student learning at TES is conducted in accordance with the Ontario Ministry of Education (2010) “Growing Success: Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting in Ontario Schools” seven fundamental principles:

• are fair, transparent, and equitable for all students;
• support all students, including those with special education needs, those who are learning the language of instruction (English or French), and those who are First Nation, Métis, or Inuit;
• are carefully planned to relate to the curriculum expectations and learning goals and, as much as possible, to the interests, learning styles, preferences, needs, and experiences of all students;
• are communicated clearly to students at the beginning of each course; 
• are ongoing, varied in nature, and administered over a period of time to provide multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate the full range of their learning;
• provide ongoing descriptive feedback that is clear, specific, meaningful, and timely to support improved learning and achievement;
• develop students’ self-assessment skills to enable them to assess their own learning, set specific goals, and plan next steps for their learning.

Assessment

Assessment is the process of gathering information from a variety of sources (including assignments, demonstrations, projects, performances, and tests) that accurately reflect how well a student is achieving the curriculum expectations in a subject or course. The primary purpose of assessment is to improve student learning. Assessment for the purpose of improving student learning is seen as both “assessment for learning” and  “assessment as learning”. Information gathered through assessment helps teachers to determine students’ strengths and weaknesses in their
achievement of the overall curriculum expectations in each course. This information also serves to guide teachers in adapting curriculum and
instructional approaches to students’ needs and in assessing the overall effectiveness of programs and classroom practices.

As part of assessment for learning, teachers provide students with descriptive feedback that guides their efforts towards improvement. Descriptive feedback helps students learn by providing them with specific information about what they are doing well, what needs improvement, and what specific steps they can take to improve. Multiple opportunities for feedback and follow-up are provided during a student’s course to allow for improvement in learning prior to assessment of learning (evaluation).

Evaluation

Evaluation refers to the process of judging the quality of student work on the basis of established criteria, and assigning a value to represent that quality. In Ontario secondary schools, the value assigned will be in the form of a percentage grade. Although all curriculum expectations in a course are accounted for in instruction, student evaluations focus solely on a student’s achievement of the overall curriculum expectations in his or her course. Evidence of student achievement for evaluation is collected over the duration of a course and is based on observations, conversations, and student products. Evaluation is based on assessment of learning that provides evidence of student achievement at strategic times throughout each course, typically at the end of a module of study.

Examples
of Strategies for Assessment and Evaluation of Student Performance

27.  The Achievement Chart

The achievement chart for each
course is included in the curriculum policy document for each discipline of
study/subject area. The chart provides a reference point for all assessment
practice and a framework by which to assess and evaluate student achievement.
Each chart is organized into four broad categories of knowledge and skills: Knowledge/Understanding, Thinking, Communication, and Application.

For example, here is the Achievement Chart for Mathematics:

The Achievement Chart also describes the levels of achievement of the curriculum expectations within each category. The descriptions associated with each level serve as a guide for gathering assessment information and enable teachers to make consistent judgments about the quality of student work and to provide clear and specific feedback to students and parents. The achievement chart provides a standard, province-wide method for teachers to use in assessing and evaluating their students’ achievement.

The following table provides a summary description of achievement in each percentage grade range and corresponding level of achievement:

Students who are achieving at level 3 are well prepared for work in the next grade or the next course. An evaluation of achievement of Level 4 does  not suggest that the student is achieving expectations beyond those specified for the course, but rather that he or she demonstrates a very high to outstanding level of achievement of the specified expectations, and a greater command of the requisite knowledge and skills than a student  achieving Level 3. A student whose achievement is below 50% at the end of the course will not obtain a credit for the course.

28.  Reporting on Student Achievement

Student achievement will be communicated formally to students and parents by means of a report card. The report card focuses on two distinct but related aspects of student achievement:

1. the achievement of curriculum expectations and
2. the development of learning skills.

To more clearly reflect these two aspects of student achievement, the report card contains separate sections for reporting on achievement of the curriculum expectations and for reporting on demonstrated skills required for effective learning. The report card also includes teachers’ comments on the student’s strengths, areas in which improvement is needed, and ways in which improvement might be achieved. Midterm report cards are issued once a student has completed the first 50% of their course. A final report card will be issued after the final exam.

Achievement of Curriculum Expectations

The report card provides a record of the student’s achievement of the curriculum expectations in every course, in the form of a percentage grade. The percentage grade represents the quality of the student’s overall achievement of the expectations for the course and reflects the corresponding level of achievement as described in the achievement chart for the discipline. A final grade is recorded for every course, and a credit is granted and recorded for every course in which the student’s grade is 50% or higher.

The final grade for each course in Grades 9-12 will be determined as follows:

• 70% of the grade will be based on evaluations conducted throughout the course. This portion of the grade should reflect the student’s most consistent level of achievement throughout the course, although special consideration should be given to more recent evidence of achievement.
• 30% of the grade will be based on a final evaluation in the form of an examination and or performance essay and/or other method of evaluation
  suitable to the course content and administered towards the end of the course.

While all curriculum expectations must be accounted for in instruction and assessment, the evaluation focuses on students’ achievement of the overall expectations. A student’s achievement of the overall expectation is evaluated on the basis of their achievement of related specific  expectations. Teachers will use their professional judgment to determine which specific expectations should be used to evaluate achievement of the overall expectations. Evidence of student achievement for evaluation is collected over time from three difference sources; observations, conversations and student products. Evaluation is the responsibility of the teacher and does not include the judgment of the student’s peers.

Demonstrated Learning Skills

The report card provides a record of the learning skills demonstrated by the student in every course, in the following five categories: Works Independently, Teamwork, Organization, Work Habits, and Initiative. The learning skills are evaluated using a four-point scale:

E = Excellent     G =Good    S = Satisfactory      N = Needs Improvement

29. Ontario Student Transcript (OST)

The Ontario Student Transcript (OST) is a comprehensive record of all coursework and diploma requirements achieved by a student. An OST must be
established for each student enrolled in an Ontario secondary school course, whether or not he or she is taking the course for credit. All information
recorded on the transcript must be kept up to date, either in print or electronic form, and must be copied onto an official OST form when a printed
copy is required. Upon the student’s graduation or retirement, a current and accurate copy of the student’s OST must be stored in the OSR folder. The transcript will include the following information: the student’s achievement in Grades 9 and 10, with percentage grades obtained and credits earned for successfully completed credit courses;

• a list of all Grade 11 and 12 courses completed or attempted by the student, with the percentage grades earned and the credits gained;
• confirmation that the student has completed the community involvement requirement;
• confirmation that the student has completed the provincial secondary school literacy requirement;
• confirmation that a student in a Specialist High Skills Major has completed all the requirements;
• The transcript may also contain special indicators such as identification of any course that has been substituted for one that is a diploma requirement and an indication of any extraordinary circumstances affecting the student’s achievement in a Grade 11 or 12 course.

30.  Course Withdrawal

Withdrawals occurring within 5 days of the issuing of the first report card from the TES course will result in the mark not being recorded on the OST. A withdrawal from a Grade 11 or 12 course after 5 days of the issuing of the first report card results in a “W” being entered in the “Credit” column of the OST along with the mark at the time of the withdrawal. Withdrawals at anytime from Grade 9 or 10 courses are not recorded on the OST If there are extraordinary circumstances relating to a student’s withdrawal from a course, an “S” may be entered in the “Note” column on the OST. Only one credit is earned if course is repeated. In Grades 11 and 12, an “R” appears on the student’s OST for the course with the lower mark

31.  Ontario Student Record (OSR)

The Ontario Student Record is the official school record for a student registered in a school in Ontario. Every Ontario school keeps an OSR for each student enrolled at that school. The OSR contains achievement results, credits earned and diploma requirements completed, and other information important to the education of the student. These records are protected by the Education Act and Freedom of Information legislation.

If the student is currently attending another school – public or private – and is simply taking a single course from the TES, then that student’s OSR will reside at the school where the student is attending. Where students registered in a publicly funded secondary school, earn a credit or credits with TES, the principal of the publicly funded secondary school is responsible for ensuring that the TES credit is recorded on the student’s OST. TES establishes or obtains the student OSR containing the OST, only if the student becomes the sole responsibility of Toronto eLearning School.

The OSR contains:

• an OSR folder in Form 1A or Form 1
• report cards
• an Ontario Student Transcript, where applicable
• a documentation file, where applicable
• an office index card
• additional information identified as being conducive to the improvement of the
• instruction of the student

Personal information in the OSR is maintained for at least one year after use. Report cards and

documentation files are maintained for five years after use. The OSR folder containing the OST and the Office Index Card will be maintained for fifty-five years after a student retires.

32.  Access to OSR

Every student has the right to have access to his or her Ontario Student Record (OSR). The parents of a student have the right to have access to the  student’s OSR, until the student becomes an adult (age eighteen). Under both the Children’s Law Reform Act and the Divorce Act, 1985, the legal right of a non-custodial parent to have access to a child includes the right to make inquiries and to be given information concerning the child’s health, education, and welfare. A student or authorized parent of a student who wishes to view the student’s OSR should send a written request to Toronto eLearning School. Identification will be requested on the scheduled viewing date.

33.  Courses available at Toronto eLearning School

34. Programs for Exceptional Students

Recognizing the needs of exceptional students and designing courses to meet those needs are important and challenging aspects of program planning. Students who have an existing Individual Education Plan will have that IEP honored at TES through the implementation of appropriate accommodations.

35. Reaching Ahead

Elementary school students may reach ahead and take high school credits. This may occur only after the Principal of the Toronto eLearning School consults with the student, the parents or guardian, and the Principal of the elementary school of the student. The Principal must ensure that the learning expectations of the Grade 8 course have been met. The Principal is also responsible for evaluating the student’s achievement of the expectations of the Toronto eLearning School course. Toronto eLearning School will issue the OSSD credit after student successfully completes the course.

36.  the Ontario Curriculum Guidelines and Policy Links:

Ontario
Schools, Kindergarten to Grade 12: Policy and Program Requirements, 2011

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/policy/os/ONSchools.pdf

Secondary
the Ontario Curriculum Guidelines

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/secondary/subjects.html

Growing Success: Assessment,
Evaluation and Reporting in Ontario Schools

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/policyfunding/growSuccess.pdf

Provincial Code of Conduct

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/128.pdf

Prior Learning
Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/129.html

Ontario Student Record (OSR)
Guideline

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/curricul/osr/osr.html

Ontario Student Transcript (OST)

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/elemsec/ost/ost2013.pdf

Ontario Community Involvement
Requirement

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/124a.html

Toronto eLearning School

August 2023

Dan Bowyer B.A, B Ed, OCT,
Principal