October 14th, 2021
As a reminder, over the past two years, our Grade 10 students have not been able to write the literacy test due to the pandemic. The Ministry of Education is restarting the literacy test again this year, for Grade 10, 11 and non-graduating Grade 12 students.
Literacy Graduation Requirement in the 2021-2022 School Year
Graduating students are required to have a literacy requirement completed in order to graduate.
For Grade 12 students
The Ministry of Education has waived this requirement for graduates in 2020, 2021 and 2022. This means current graduating Grade 12 students do not have to write the literacy test, or take the literacy course in order to graduate this year.
For Grade 10, 11 and non-graduating Grade 12 students
For our Grade 10, 11 and non-graduating Grade 12 students, the literacy requirement is once again being expected. Students in these grades earn their literacy requirement through writing the literacy test (Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test or OSSLT), taking the Grade 12 literacy course or being successful in a process called adjudication before the student graduates.
Opportunities for Fulfilling the Literacy Requirement
The chart below outlines the opportunities students will be provided with to fulfill their literacy graduation requirement:
| Student Grade | Remote Learning Student | In-Person Student |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 10 |
|
|
| Grade 11 Non-graduating Grade 12 |
|
|
In Person Literacy Requirement Opportunities in 2021-2022
For the 2021-22 school year, Grade 10, 11 and non-graduating Grade 12 students learning in person will be provided with the opportunity to fulfill their literacy graduation requirement.
For Students Learning In Person
Secondary schools are currently planning for this year’s online OSSLT and considering which students will write the test, take the literacy course, or enter the adjudication process. The test will be offered two times this year, with a Grade 11 and 12 focus in the fall, and a Grade 10, 11 and 12 focus in the spring. Grade 11 and 12 students may write the test up to two times this year. Each school will select their own dates and students and their families will be getting their school specific information from their School Day account, school website or from their classroom teachers.
If there are any questions or concerns after this information is released by your school, please contact your school administrator and school guidance counsellor.
Remote Student Literacy Requirement Opportunities in 2021-2022
Students enrolled in the Secondary Remote Learning Program (SRLP) will not be writing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) this year. It is the Ministry of Education’s expectation that students who are writing the OSSLT must do so in-person; therefore, students in SRLP will be offered other opportunities to fulfill the literacy graduation requirement.
For Students Learning Remotely
Grade 11 and non-graduating Grade 12 students in SRLP will either take the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OLC4OI) or participate in the adjudication process. Remote learning Grade 10 students will be deferred for this year and given opportunities to fulfill this requirement next year.
The remote learning students will receive direct information from their teachers, guidance counselors or remote learning administrators in the next few weeks. Please connect with these staff if you have questions or a unique concern about your student.
WRDSB Secondary schools are tracking our student’s progress and choices carefully. We are committed to ensuring that all WRDSB students achieve their literacy requirement for graduation.
If families or caregivers have any concerns about their student’s literacy requirement they should contact their student’s guidance counsellor or vice principal.
