Online Learning Graduation Requirement

New! Online Learning Graduation Requirement

The Ministry of Education has introduced an additional Graduation requirement for all students, beginning with every student who entered Grade 9 in the 2020-21 school year. The addition is that students will be required to earn two online learning credits to graduate from secondary school.  This requirement is in addition to the Community Service hours and Literacy requirements currently in place. 

The graduation requirement is intended to support students in developing familiarity and comfort with learning and working in a fully online environment, as well as developing digital literacy and other important transferable skills that they will need for success after secondary school, including in post-secondary education and the workplace.

Definition of “online learning” for this graduation requirement

• Online learning credits that count towards the requirement are earned through courses that rely primarily on communication between students and educators through the internet or another digital platform.

• Online learning credits that count do not generally require students to be physically present with one another or with their educator in the school. Students in publicly funded schools complete their online coursework with the support of a certified Ontario educator with whom they communicate, and who provides instruction, ongoing feedback, assessment, evaluation and reporting as needed, including implementing any accommodations and/or modifications identified in the student’s Individual Education Plan.

*There is one exception that a credit earned by Grade 9 students during the province-wide school closures (from April 2021 to June 2021) may be counted towards the graduation requirement in recognition of the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID‑19 pandemic. Your Guidance Counselor is aware of this exception and can assist you in planning. 

Parents/guardians may choose to opt their children out of the online learning graduation requirement credits required for graduation. Parents/guardians and students should be aware that opting out of this requirement does not mean that students cannot access eLearning should they choose. in order to take courses of interest, or that are required for their pathway or post-secondary destination.  It only means that the two online learning courses are not a requirement for graduation, 30 credits will still be required to graduate with an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

Opt-out forms are available at your secondary school.