Policy/Program Memorandum No. 134
Date of Issue: March 8, 2010
Effective: Until revoked or modified
Subject: INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF LOCALLY DEVELOPED COMPULSORY CREDIT COURSES
Application: Directors of Education
Secretaries 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: This memorandum replaces Policy/Program Memorandum No. 134, September 13, 2004, and provides further revisions to section 7.1.2, Locally Developed Courses, of Ontario Secondary Schools, Grades 9 to 12: Program and Diploma Requirements, 1999.
Introduction
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide details for school boards and schools of further revisions to section 7.1.2, Locally Developed Courses, of Ontario Secondary Schools, Grades 9 to 12: Program and Diploma Requirements, 1999 (OSS) that increase the number of locally developed compulsory credit courses that boards may develop and that students may take to meet the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) and the Ontario Secondary School Certificate (OSSC).
A new requirement outlined in this memorandum applies to the offering and taking of a locally developed compulsory credit course in French as a second language in English-language boards.
All requirements outlined in this memorandum will apply in the 2009–10 school year and in subsequent years. Compulsory credits will not be granted retroactively for successfully completed locally developed optional credit courses.
For policy on the development and approval of locally developed courses, refer to the document Guide to Locally Developed Courses, Grades 9 to 12: Development and Approval Procedures, 2004.
Revised Requirements
English-language boards may develop locally and offer one Grade 9 course in English, in mathematics, in science, and in French as a second language and one Grade 10 course in English, in mathematics, in science, and in Canadian history that can be counted as a compulsory credit in that discipline. A student in an English-language board may count no more than seven such locally developed courses as compulsory credits. Students who successfully complete eight locally developed compulsory credit courses may count the eighth course as an optional credit.
French-language boards may develop locally and offer one Grade 9 course in français, in mathematics, in science, and in English and one Grade 10 course in français, in mathematics, in science, and in Canadian history that can be counted as a compulsory credit in that discipline. A student in a French-language board may count no more than seven such locally developed courses as compulsory credits. Students who successfully complete eight locally developed compulsory credit courses may count the eighth course as an optional credit.
Locally developed compulsory credit courses may only be used to meet the compulsory credit requirements that they have been designed to meet. They may not be used as substitutions for any courses that meet any other compulsory credit requirements (see OSS, section 3.2, Substitutions for Compulsory Courses).
