Policy/Program Memorandum No. 146


Date of Issue: November 19, 2007 Effective: Until revoked or modified
Subject: REVISIONS TO CREDIT REQUIREMENTS TO SUPPORT STUDENT SUCCESS AND LEARNING TO 18
Application: Directors of Education
Secretary-Treasurers and Supervisory Officers of School Authorities
Program Superintendents
Principals of Elementary Schools
Principals of Secondary Schools
Principals of Provincial and Demonstration Schools
Principals of Inspected Private Schools
Principal of the Independent Learning Centre
Reference: Ontario Secondary Schools, Grades 9 to 12: Program and Diploma Requirements, 1999, sections 3 and 7 and Appendix 5.
The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 and 10: Health and Physical Education, 1999 and The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12: Health and Physical Education, 2000.

Introduction

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide direction to school boards1 and schools regarding changes to Ontario Secondary Schools, Grades 9 to 12: Program and Diploma Requirements, 1999 (OSS) and to the curriculum policy documents for health and physical education for Grades 9 to 12. These revisions to secondary school program and curriculum requirements increase the flexibility and options for students, so that they can create personalized pathways based on their interests and needs within graduation requirements that continue to maintain high expectations and standards for all students.

The requirements outlined in this memorandum will apply in the 2007–08 school year and in subsequent years.

Revisions To OSS Requirements2

Compulsory Credit Requirements

Section 3.1.1 (“Compulsory Credits (total of 18)”) and Appendix 5 (“Compulsory Credits”) have been revised to include other courses that may be used to meet the “additional compulsory credit requirements” for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma. These revisions are described separately below for English-language and French-language schools.

English-Language Schools

Group 1. The term “a third language” no longer applies. Instead, the additional compulsory credit requirement for group 1 may also be met with one credit earned through successful completion of one of the following courses:

  • any course in French as a second language in The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 and 10: French As a Second Language – Core, Extended, and Immersion French, 1999 or in The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12: French As a Second Language – Core, Extended, and Immersion French, 2000
  • any course in a Native language in The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 and 10: Native Languages, 1999 or in The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12: Native Languages, 2000
  • any course in a classical or an international language in The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 and 10: Classical and International Languages, 1999 or in The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12: Classical Studies and International Languages, 2000

French-Language Schools

Group 1. “A third language” has been removed from group 1 and has been replaced by “a classical or an international language”, which has been moved to group 3. In addition to the remaining choices in group 1, the additional compulsory credit requirement for group 1 may be met with one credit earned through successful completion of one of the following courses:

  • any course in a Native language in Le curriculum de l'Ontario, 9e et 10e année – Langues autochtones, 1999 or in Le curriculum de l'Ontario, 11e et 12e année – Langues autochtones, 2000

Group 2. The additional compulsory credit requirement for group 2 may also be met with one credit earned through successful completion of one of the following courses:

  • any course in English in Le curriculum de l'Ontario, 9e et 10e année – English, 2007 or in Le curriculum de l'Ontario, 11e et 12e année – English, 2007

Group 3. The additional compulsory credit requirement for group 3 may also be met with one credit earned through successful completion of one of the following courses:

  • any course in English in Le curriculum de l'Ontario, 9e et 10e année – English, 2007 or in Le curriculum de l'Ontario, 11e et 12e année – English, 2007
  • any course in a classical or an international language in Le curriculum de l'Ontario, 9e et 10e année – Langues classiques et langues internationales, 1999 or in Le curriculum de l'Ontario, 11e et 12e année – Études classiques et langues internationales, 2000

In French-language schools, a maximum of two of the three additional compulsory credit requirements for groups 1, 2, and 3 may be met with credits in English, one of which may be earned for group 1 and the second for either group 2 or group 3. Through this revision, the maximum number of credits in English that a student in a French-language school may count towards the 18 compulsory credits has been raised from two to three.

Credits Earned in Language-Support Programs

The revisions to section 7 are described separately below for English-language and French-language schools.

English-Language Schools

Section 7.3.1.1 (“Support Programs in the Language of Instruction”) has been revised. Students may continue to count a maximum of three credits in English as a second language (ESL) or English literacy development (ELD) towards the four compulsory credits in English, but must now earn the fourth compulsory credit in English at the Grade 12 level instead of having the choice of earning it at either the Grade 11 or the Grade 12 level. (Students graduating in the 2007–08 school year are exempt from this requirement.) The courses that meet the compulsory credit requirement in Grade 12 are ENG4U, ENG4C, and ENG4E.

This revision aligns the policy for English-language schools with the compulsory credit requirements listed in section 3.1.1 of OSS, the policy for French-language schools, and the new policy for English language learners (see English Language Learners – ESL and ELD Programs and Services: Policies and Procedures for Ontario Elementary and Secondary Schools, Kindergarten to Grade 12, 2007).

French-Language Schools

As stated in section 7.3.2.1 (“English et anglais pour débutants”), a student may count one credit in anglais pour débutants as the compulsory credit in English. The revised requirement now allows a student to count a maximum of two further credits in anglais pour débutants as additional compulsory credits in English in group 1 and either in group 2 or in group 3.

Revisions To Credit Requirements In Health And Physical Education

Current ministry policy allows schools to offer more than one Healthy Active Living Education course in Grades 10, 11, and 12, but a student may take only one of those courses in each grade for credit. The revised policy gives students the flexibility to take more than one Healthy Active Living Education course for credit in each of Grades 10, 11, and 12.

In addition, schools may now offer more than one Grade 9 Healthy Active Living Education course, and a student may take one or more of those courses for credit. The groupings for Grade 9 are the same as those listed for Grade 10 in the curriculum policy document for Grades 9 and 10. The course codes for the Grade 9 courses are as follows:

  • Personal and Fitness Activities – PAF1O
  • Large-Group Activities – PAL1O
  • Individual and Small-Group Activities – PAI1O
  • Aquatics – PAQ1O
  • Rhythm and Movement – PAR1O
  • Outdoor Activities – PAD1O

1 The terms school board and board are used in this document to refer to district school boards and to those school authorities that offer secondary school courses.

2 2. For ease of reference, an outline of the diploma requirements that reflects the revisions given in this memorandum can be found in the chart called “What do you need to graduate?”. The chart accompanies this memorandum and is also available on the ministry's website, at http://www.edu.gov.on.ca.