Beginning with every student who entered grade 9 in the 2020–2021 school year, students must earn two online learning (eLearning) credits to graduate from secondary school. This 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 they will need for success after secondary school, including in post-secondary education and the workplace.
The exception is for students who were in grade 9 during the province-wide school closures (from April 2021 to June 2021). Up to one secondary school credit completed at this time may be counted towards the graduation requirement in recognition of the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. This cohort of students will only require one additional eLearning credit. There is a process for parents who wish to opt out or exempt their child from the online graduation requirement that includes submitting the KPDSB eLearning Student Opt-Out form.
KPDSB is well-positioned to support students to meet the graduation requirement and be successful. A technology-enabled learning teacher supports eTeacher professional learning and other technical needs eTeachers have. In addition, KPDSB is a member of the Ontario eLearning Consortium, a collective of 55 Ontario school boards that opens their eLearning courses to all students throughout member boards without a course fee. This affords our students a significant menu of learning programs they wouldn’t otherwise have access to at their home school.
