Five TDSB learning options that students have probably never heard of

The pandemic has introduced all TDSB students to new forms of learning. Over the last two years, students have attended in-person learning, online learning, virtual schools, hybrid learning, and more. However, many students are unaware that the TDSB offers unique programs that have been in existence for years before COVID. The following programs are open to secondary students and are not associated with any specific school or field of study. 

• E-Learning Day School

E-Learning Day School consists of online courses added to a student’s regular timetable once per semester. The course material and content modules are designed by the Ministry of Education and delivered via the Brightspace platform. The learning is mostly completed independently and asynchronously, but a TDSB teacher supervises each class and provides limited synchronous instruction. Many courses offered in standard day school are available as e-learning courses. Registration for Semester 2 courses is currently open and will close on February 17, 2022.

For more information, visit: https://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/elearning/e-Learning-Day-School

• Co-op

Co-op, also known as Experiential Learning, is a course option where students can earn two or four secondary school credits in a semester by completing a combination of classes, certifications, and work experience hours. An application and interview are required to enter the program. Students can be assigned a placement or find their own, as long as the workplace is approved. Students can work in almost any field, and there are even opportunities for paid co-ops.

For more information, visit: https://www.tdsb.on.ca/high-school/your-school-day/curriculum/experiential-learning

• Dual-Credit

Dual-credit programs allow high school students to take college or apprenticeship courses that count towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) and a post-secondary degree, diploma, Certificate of Apprenticeship, etc. Typically, students attend afternoon college classes once a week for around 15 weeks. The program aims to help students achieve their OSSD and help facilitate a successful transition to college or apprenticeship programs. As such, it is open to students who meet specific criteria. The TDSB has partnerships with Centennial College, Humber College, Seneca College and George Brown College.

For more information, visit: https://www.tdsb.on.ca/High-School/Going-to-High-School/Specialized-Schools-and-Programs/Dual-Credits

• Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP)

OYAP is a program that introduces grade eleven and twelve students to apprenticeship-based careers in skilled trades relating to more than 140 different fields. It is affiliated with co-op programs as students work on-location with an employer to gain work experience and high school credits. In addition, students can work half days to earn two credits or full days to earn four credits within a semester. However, OYAP is distinctive because it prepares students to enter a paid apprenticeship program upon graduation. The apprenticeship pathway allows graduates to start earning right away. Typically apprentices spend ten months on-the-job and two months in a classroom repeating this process two or three times and can be paid up to $100,000. 

For more information, visit: https://oyap.com

• School Within a College (SWAC)

The SWAC program aims to serve disengaged or underachieving students between seventeen and twenty. The program gives these individuals the opportunity to succeed in an adult learning environment. The program runs full-time each semester and allows students to earn high school and college credits at an accelerated rate. The program provides many supports and services for participants like free tuition, access to college services, CPR & first aid training, and more. The partner colleges are Centennial, George Brown, Humber and Seneca College. 

For more information, visit: https://sites.google.com/tdsb.on.ca/experiencecollege/swac/for-students