Other Board Supports

Alternative Education Chart

Alternative Education is rooted in the uniqueness of each student and their community and based on relationship with others.  It serves students who require or seek a non-traditional educational route to achieve their highest potential. 

The variety of programs within Alternative Education best evolves from each school community focusing on the individual learning styles, social-emotional needs, and spiritual growth of the students.  Effective programs will reflect a shared partnership among student, family, school, school board, church and the broader community.  These programs deliver Ministry-approved secondary school credits to students who are pursuing an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or Ontario Secondary School Certificate in an alternative setting.  

Alternative Education Programs provide viable learning opportunities which foster renewed hope for successful transitions from elementary through secondary to multiple post-secondary destinations.

 Alternative Education Programs are designed for students who have demonstrated difficulty succeeding in a traditional classroom or school environment. These programs may provide flexible timetabling, with a focus on credit accumulation through a variety of strategies and resources. Alternative Education Programs may be located on-site (within a school) or off-site (satellite campus settings) and are offered at the school and district level.

Archbishop Romero Catholic Secondary School

Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board offers alternatives to school, career and post-secondary destination through satellite campus settings. The District Alternative Secondary programs are designed for students who require a non-pathways traditional approach to learning with varied program delivery options. It is intended for students who are behind in credit acquisition or who are seeking re-entry back to school after a period of interruption. These learning environments focus on employability skills in the context of Catholic Education. An assortment of varied compulsory and optional courses, credit recovery elements, project-based learning, work experience programs, expanded self-study opportunities, and computer assisted learning modules are offered on a rotation basis. Students must be 16 years of age or older. Students accessing Special Education programs may be accepted if alternative programs are able to address individual learning needs. Eligible students include those who have experienced an interruption in learning, are behind in credit acquisition, or who have a personal situation that require a flexible educational setting. Referral to this program is through the guidance counselor or vice-principal, followed by a program interview.

Archbishop Romero Catholic Secondary School

Sheridan Davis Campus: Transition to College Pathway

Program Overview

A partnership agreement between the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and Sheridan College is a School-to-College initiative that hosts a secondary school alternative classroom at a college campus.  This joint venture enables senior secondary students to attend a full-time alternative program for the equivalent of three to four 110 hour credit courses delivered in a post-secondary setting with a secondary teacher to complete secondary school diploma requirements. This enables secondary school students to test the potential of success in a college environment while experiencing integration in selected general arts and science college courses. Students are eligible to earn an additional college credit course per semester towards a college diploma with pre-qualification to college program entrance by way of a Dual Credit Program. Course expectations for secondary school requirements are aligned with the General Education and College Preparatory courses offered. This mutually beneficial arrangement provides the school district with an off-site satellite alternative learning environment while enabling the College to receive better prepared post-secondary students for subsequent years of study.