A student's OSR resides at their home school. If a student takes a Reach Ahead or Make-up course with York High School, when the course is finished, we will send official copies of the final report card back to the home school where the credit will be added to the ongoing transcript for that student.

The Ontario Student Record (OSR) is a physical file folder containing the official school records for a student. An OSR must exist for every student registered in an Ontario School. The contents of the OSR are protected by the Education Act and Freedom of Information legislation for the Province of Ontario.

If a student is no longer registered with their school, but wishes to take a course or courses with York High School then the OSR must be moved to York High School.

A student who has not previously attended a public, a Catholic, an inspected Ontario private school or an Ontario International School will not have an OSR and an OSR will have to be established. York High School will be responsible for establishing the OSR and issuing an Ontario Education Number (OEN) to the student.

OSR Transfer

If the student transfers to another Ontario school prior to earning their diploma with York High School, the OSR must follow them. York High School will be required to send the OSR and all its associated documents to the new school.

The Ontario Student Transcript (OST) is an official document issued by public, Catholic, and inspected private schools in Ontario or Ontario International Schools. The OST contains a list of the courses completed (successfully or unsuccessfully), withdrawals from courses occurring 5 days or longer after the midterm report card has been issued, repeated courses in Grades 11 and 12, and equivalent credits granted for work in non-inspected Ontario private schools or schools outside of Ontario. The OST is stored in the OSR and retained for 55 years after a student retires from school.

A student may transfer from one course to another within the first three months of registration. If a student requests a transfer, an administrative fee will be required. A fee of $75 will apply if the student has not completed any of the assessments. A fee of $150 will apply if the student has completed no more than three assessments. The decision of York High School Principal is final in all cases involving refund requests and course transfers.

There is no set schedule for the student to complete the course or to complete assignments. The student can start the course within 24 hours of registration and move through the course at his or her own pace. The only restriction placed on the student is that the student must complete the course within 18 months. The student will be unenrolled from the course if he or she takes longer than 18 months to complete the course.

The Ministry of Education has legislated that students taking grade 11 and 12 courses are subject to a Full Disclosure Policy. This policy states that all grade 11 and 12 courses attempted by students must be recorded on Ontario Student Transcripts. This means that any course completed, dropped, failed, taken at day school, night school or summer school will appear on a student’s transcript along with the marks earned in the programme. There are time lines to be followed. Withdrawals occurring within 5 days of the issuing of the first report card from our school 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.

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) is the formal evaluation and credit granting process whereby students may obtain credits for prior learning. Prior learning includes the knowledge and skills that you have acquired, in both formal and informal ways, outside of secondary school. You may have your knowledge and skills evaluated against the expectations outlined in provincial curriculum policy documents in order to earn credits towards the secondary school diploma. All credits granted through the PLAR process must represent the same standards of achievement as credits granted to students who have taken the courses.

Request for a PLAR Assessment

You may ask for an assessment of your diploma requirements after you have successfully completed one course with York High School and submitted an original student transcript.

If you have completed the eligibility requirements outlined on the PLAR Fact Sheet, you will be asked to complete the PLAR Application Package.

If you entered Grade 9 in September 1999 or later and are working toward an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), you must write the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). Students enrolled in York High School seeking an Ontario Secondary School Diploma will take the Secondary School Literacy Test in Grade 10. Students must pass the test in order to graduate, and their result is recorded on their Ontario School Transcript.

The Ontario Ministry of Education has mandated that the OSSLT be given to grade 10 students province-wide to determine if they can successfully demonstrate the reading and writing skills that apply to all subject areas in the provincial curriculum up to the end of grade 9.

The OSSLT is administered annually in the spring and is 2.5 hours in length. The OSSLT is designed, and its implementation is supervised by the Ontario Education and Accountability Office (EQAO).

Receiving an Ontario Secondary School Diploma depends on passing the OSSLT. Students who are not successful on the test are able to attempt it again, in a future administration, or enroll in the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course OLC40.

Students with special needs may be permitted accommodations provided they have an Individual Education Plan (IEP). Students enrolled in ESL/ELD programs may be permitted special provisions or they may be deferred so that they write the OSSLT once they have a reasonable chance of success. Policies and guidelines regarding accommodations, deferrals, and exemptions are established and provided by EQAO.

Click here to go to the EQAO website for more information. The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is the usual method for assessing the literacy skills of students in Ontario for the purpose of determining whether they meet the provincial secondary school literacy requirement for graduation. The test thus identifies students who have demonstrated the required skills in literacy as well as those who have not demonstrated the required skills and will need to do further work. The test identifies the specific areas in which these latter students need remediation. The test is scheduled by and administered through the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) once each year, usually in the spring. Students will usually take the OSSLT in the school year following the school year in which they enter Grade 9. Students who do not successfully complete the OSSLT will have opportunities to retake the test in subsequent years, on dates scheduled by the EQAO.

To earn a high school diploma in Ontario, students must:

earn 18 compulsory credits

earn 12 optional credits

pass the literacy requirement

complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement activities

earn at least two online learning credits: Introducing the Online Learning Graduation Requirement! Starting with the Grade 9 students of the 202-2021 school year, all individuals must complete a minimum of two online learning credits to obtain their Ontario Secondary School Diploma, unless they have chosen to opt-out or are exempted. So, What exactly are online courses or credits? Also known as "eLearning" courses or credits, these are credit courses for Grades 9-12 that are entirely delivered online. They eliminate the need for physical presence among students and educators, except for instances like examinations, final evaluations, or accessing internet connectivity, learning devices, or other school-based supports. Let's delve further into online courses or credits. These courses primarily rely on online communication between students and educators. Physical attendance is generally not required, except for assessments or occasional meetings. Online learning allows students to understand how this mode of learning can support their pathway goals and enhance their digital literacy. It can also prepare them for future online post-secondary courses. Furthermore, online courses offer flexibility as they don't demand students to be present in class at specific times every day. However, they do require strong time-management skills and the ability to work independently, as they involve more self-directed learning compared to traditional face-to-face classes. Now, how can you determine if online learning is suitable for your child? Take into account the following factors: How can online courses contribute to your child's pathway goals and equip them with skills for their future in apprenticeship, college, university, or the workplace? How does your child's chosen pathway destination (apprenticeship, college, or university) value online courses for admissions? How can online learning align with your child's preferred learning style, such as asynchronous and/or synchronous learning? Moreover, gauge your child's ability to independently manage time, schedule assignments, and work autonomously. By considering these questions, you can make an informed decision about whether online learning is a good fit for your child. If you require additional information or have any uncertainties, please reach out to York High School for further guidance.