Literacy Diploma Requirement

The standard method for assessing the literacy skills for students in Ontario for purposes of meeting the literacy requirement for graduation is the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT), implemented in the 2001-2002 school year. The test is administered by the EQAO (Education Quality and Accountability Office) to Grade 10 students. A student who fails the test will be permitted to try it again at a later date.

A student who is unsuccessful may take the Grade 12 Literacy course (OSSLC). This course is not offered at our school, but arrangements can be made for the student to take the course at another school in the area. The OSSLC has been developed to provide students who have been unsuccessful on the test with intensive support in achieving the required reading and writing competencies, and with an alternative means of demonstrating their literacy skills.