UPPER CANADA DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

UCDSB Online Learning

The Upper Canada District School Board is pleased to offer a variety of online learning opportunities to high school students who live within the boundaries of our school board.  

Please note, UCDSB does not offer a fully online learning program for Elementary or Secondary students.  Online learning courses are accessed as part of a Secondary student’s in-person learning experience.

Students and families are encouraged to speak with their guidance teacher and home school principal about the range of online learning options available to them.  

We live in an increasingly digital world and online learning provides students with flexibility, choice, and the opportunity to develop digital skills.  Employers are looking for people who understand the importance of technology and can use it in ways to help their businesses thrive in a competitive, globally connected economy.  Online learning is one important way that students can develop these skills and become lifelong learners.  

A Note About D2L

D2L Brightspace is an online learning platform provided by the Ministry of Education to all Ontario School Boards.  All online learning in the UCDSB is hosted within this platform, which allows students and teachers to access course content, assignments, discussions, and grading, and is designed to be personalized and accessible across various devices. 

Secondary Online Learning Options

All online learning at UCDSB is delivered as part of a strategic and personal student pathway plan.  Courses are taught by qualified Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) educators who design, assess, and support learning, just as they would in a face-to-face classroom.

Day-School eLearning

Day school eLearning courses are full-credit secondary courses that students take as part of their regular school timetable, but the learning happens entirely online through our secure learning platform. These courses are teacher-led and follow the same Ontario curriculum expectations and assessment standards as in-person classes.  They run on the same semester timelines as all other day-school courses. 

To ensure students have access to the widest range of online courses, UCDSB works with the Ontario eLearning Consortium (OeLC).


The OeLC (Ontario eLearning Consortium) is a partnership of 55 Ontario school boards, that have agreed to open their online courses to students across all member boards at no cost. The Consortium includes both Public and Catholic boards serving students in metropolitan and rural areas and is supported by dedicated leadership and technical staff.

The OeLC works to:

• increase eLearning opportunities for students
• share and co-develop best practices, procedures, workflows, resources, and tools
• support eLearning staff and administrators through professional development and consultation
• enhance the quality and efficiency of eLearning programs
• provide quality assurance

Correspondence Online

Correspondence courses are designed for adult learners or Secondary students needing credits not otherwise available in their in-person timetable.  These online courses are a form of independent study and are supported by teacher-markers.  These courses do not follow the typical timelines to regular day-school courses, offering additional flexibility for students.  

Summer Semester Online 

This program helps students earn additional credits towards their OSSD outside of the regular school year.   Students may complete one summer semester online course during the month of July.  These online courses are a form of independent study and are supported by teacher-markers.  Students taking online courses in the summer should have strong work habits, motivation, and available time to dedicate to completing their course. 

Online Learning Graduation Requirement and Opt-Out Process

Graduation Requirement: Online Learning Credits

Under Policy/Program Memorandum 167 (PPM 167) from the Ontario Ministry of Education, current students are required to earn a minimum of two online-learning credits as part of their requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). 

Opt-out / Exemption Process & What It Means

Through their schools, families are provided the option to opt-out of the mandatory online-learning graduation requirement. Opting out does not penalize the student academically. They still can graduate with an OSSD without the two online-learning credits. Even if a student is opted-out of the mandated requirement, they remain able to take online courses should it be a strategic part of their pathway to graduation.

Contact Information:

Inquires about how online learning supports an individual student’s pathway to graduation should be made through the mainstream school.  This includes the planning and registration process.  

For general inquiries, please email [email protected].