Eligibility and Remaining Diploma Requirements

1. Determining Eligibility for PLAR for Mature Students

Determine if the student qualifies as a mature student according to the following definition.
(PPM 127: effective September 1, 2008)

A “mature student” is a student who:

is at least eighteen years of age on or before December 31 of the school year in which he or she registers in an Ontario secondary school program;
was not enrolled as a regular day school student7 for a period of at least one school year immediately preceding his or her registration in a secondary program;
is enrolled in a secondary program for the purpose of obtaining an OSSD.
a “regular day school student” is a student who is enrolled in a regular day school program. A student enrolled only in continuing education, e-learning, and/or distance learning is not considered a regular day school student.
a “school year” for the purpose of this definition is a period of no less than ten consecutive months immediately preceding the student’s return to school.

2. Determining Remaining Diploma Requirements

A: DETERMINING WHICH DIPLOMA

Mature students in Ontario secondary schools will work towards their diploma in accordance with the requirements in effect when they first enrolled in the Ontario secondary school system. When the student was placed in Grade 9 in a jurisdiction outside of Ontario is not relevant. The student’s entry point into an Ontario secondary school is what is significant.

Students may work towards one of the following diplomas:

OSSD under OSS, for students who entered the Ontario secondary school system and were placed in Grade 9 in 1999-2000 or later, Grade 10 in 2000-2001 or later, Grade 11 in 2001-02 or later, or Grade 12 in 2002-03 or later (see What do you need to graduate? and Ministry Policies on Program and Diploma Requirements for Mature Students)
OSSD under OS:IS, for students who entered the Ontario secondary school system and were placed in Grade 9 before 1999-2000, Grade 10 before 2000-2001, Grade 11 before 2001-02, or Grade 12 before 2002-03 (see OS:IS – Requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) under OS:IS, 1984-99)
SSGD under Circular H.S.1, 1979-81 for students who entered an Ontario secondary school program before September 1, 1984 (see HS1 - Appendix 3: Summary of Diploma Requirement)

Mature students returning to school, who are otherwise eligible for OS:IS or HS1 diploma requirements, may choose to undergo the PLAR for Mature Students process. If they opt for the PLAR for Mature Students process, they must complete the OSS diploma requirements.

Refer to the PLAR vs. Mature Student Assessment – A Comparison Guideline, included , which defines each of the four groups of mature learners and the assessment procedure to be used for them when evaluating credit equivalency.

Refer also to Counselling OS:IS HS1 Eligible Students who May Opt for PLAR for Mature Students, also included.

B: DETERMINING GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Mature students may be granted a maximum of 26 equivalent and/or challenge credits through the PLAR for Mature Students process (up to 16 Grade 9/10 and up to 10 Grade 11/12).
Mature students who have previously accumulated the equivalent of 26 or more credits towards an OSSD under OSS or under OS:IS must successfully complete the required number of courses to bring their total number of credits up to 30 before they will be eligible to receive the OSSD.
A mature student working towards an OSSD under OSS is required to successfully complete the following four compulsory Grade 11 and 12 credits.
- One Grade 11 English credit (ENG3C, ENG3E, ENG3U, NBE3C, NBE3E, or NBE3U), by taking the course, challenging for the credit, or providing evidence to be granted an equivalent credit. No substitution is permitted. A student may also successfully complete ESL Level 4 or 5 to meet the Grade 11 compulsory English requirement.
- One Grade 12 English credit (ENG4C, ENG4E, ENG4U, or OLC4O) by taking the course. No substitution is permitted.
- One Grade 11 or 12 mathematics credit by taking the course, challenging for the credit, or providing evidence to be granted an equivalent credit. A student may be allowed to substitute any Grade 11 or 12 course that meets a compulsory credit requirement for the OSSD.
- One Grade 11 or 12 science credit, or one Grade 9 – 12 technological education credit, or one Grade 10-12 computer studies credit. A student may be allowed to substitute any Grade 9 – 12 course that meets a compulsory credit requirement for the OSSD.
Students who have met any of the prescribed compulsory credit requirements by providing appropriate secondary school documentation from outside Ontario, or through previous study in an Ontario school may complete any other Grade 11 or 12 credit in lieu of the required credit.
Students who have successfully challenged for credit any of the prescribed compulsory credits may complete any other Grade 11 or 12 credit in lieu of the required credit.
A mature student working towards an OSSD under OSS must also complete the literacy graduation requirement through successful completion of the OSSLT, the OSSLC, or – under unusual circumstances beyond the student’s control – an adjudication process. The adjudication process is designed for students who, through no fault of their own, have not been able to take advantage of the normal opportunities to write the OSSLT and/or have not been able to enrol in or complete the OSSLC, owing to unforeseen circumstances (see the summary of PPM 127, included).
A mature student working towards an OSSD under OSS may also be required to meet the Community Involvement requirement. The principal will determine the number of hours that the student is required to complete.
The principal will determine which compulsory credit requirements (if any) must still be completed by a mature student working towards an OSSD under OS:IS. Requirements are outlined in sections 4.10 and 6.14 and Appendix D of OS:IS.
A mature student who entered an Ontario secondary school program before September 1, 1984, may continue to work towards the SSGD (27 credits). The process for assessing equivalent credit
allowances and granting credits that is described in Appendix E of OS:IS will apply to mature students working towards the SSGD.

3. Program Planning for Mature Students

Once the student’s status has been determined in the three categories (criteria for a mature student, diploma to be pursued, and graduation requirements still outstanding) then the student needs to be informed of the various options open to him/her to earn the remaining credits required.

There are a variety of ways for students to earn credits.

A student may choose to take courses:
- through a day school program, where available;
- through continuing education programs offered at night or during the summer;
- through the Independent Learning Centre (ILC http://www.ilc.org/index.php);
- as part of an e-learning program or other type of distance learning program offered by a board of education; or
- by accessing a dual credit program (where available).
A student may be recognized for credit for external credentials in music.
Maturity credits are an option for some students (OS:IS or HS1 only)
A student may participate in PLAR:
- equivalent credit assessment; and/or
- challenge for credit process.

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