Online Learning Graduation Requirement
The ministry has announced that effective February 1, 2022 and beginning with the cohort of students entering Grade 9 in the 2020-21 school year, all students must earn a minimum of two online learning credits as part of the graduation requirements for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
The ministry recognizes the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and will recognize up to one secondary school credit completed by Grade 9 students in the 2020-21 school year towards this graduation requirement.
Benefits of Online Learning
Students are encouraged to enroll in online learning as part of their secondary school program in order to support the development of digital literacy and other important transferable skills that will help prepare them for success after graduation, and in all aspects of their lives. Online learning is one important way students can develop skills and become lifelong learners.
Eligible and Ineligible Credits
Online learning credits that count towards the graduation requirement include teacher-led courses where students complete their coursework asynchronously with the support of a certified Ontario educator, and rely primarily on communication between students and educators through the internet or another digital platform.
Credits obtained through Wellington Catholic’s Online Learning course offerings are examples of online learning credits that are eligible towards the graduation requirement.
Ineligible credits that will not count toward the online graduation requirement include:
- in-person learning, in which students are physically present with other students in the same course and their educator in the school environment;
- blended learning, in which digital learning resources are used in an in-person learning setting, or in which students are taught part of the time in person in the school environment and part of the time online;
- remote learning, characterized by minimum synchronous learning requirements and other requirements as defined in Policy/Program Memorandum 164
Online learning credits towards the graduation requirement may be earned at any time during the student’s secondary program, with most course offerings being provided at the Grade 11 and 12 level.
Opt-Out Process
Meeting the online learning graduation requirement should not pose a barrier to graduation for students. Parents/guardians may choose to opt their children out of the mandatory online learning credits required for graduation.
To opt out, a parent/guardian must submit an opt-out form to the school. Students 18 years of age or older, or who are 16 or 17 years of age and have withdrawn from parental control, can also opt out of the graduation requirement by submitting an opt-out form to the school.
Opt-out forms for the online learning graduation requirement are available for download on this site as well as from the Guidance Departments at each of our secondary school sites. Please see the form below: