You Have Got Options

You Have Got Options

There are lots of ways you can go back to school. This site will help you build a plan for your education goals. Together with your Family and Children Services (F&CS) worker and other adults in your life, you can get the schooling you need for the job or career you want.

This document has been written to support youth over 16 who are

  • Connected with Family & Children’s Services Guelph Wellington or Family & Children’s Services Waterloo Region; and
  • Looking for options to graduate high school or start learning at college or university.
I AM A YOUTH

This site will help you

  • Explore ways to get your high school diploma
  • Get credit for past schooling or work
  • Apply to a post-secondary program at college or university

This is a 3-step guide for you and your worker.

Step 1: You and your worker will gather your school information and story together. The more you can share about your education goals, the more options you may have.

Step 2: Your worker will talk with someone at F&CS to find options that fit your life and goals.

Step 3: You and your worker will build a plan together.

I WORK AT F&CS

This site will help you

  • Support youth to help them continue their education
  • Better understand how to navigate the education system on their behalf

This is a 3-step guide for the youth you work with.

Step 1: Together, you both will collect their educational background and story.

Step 2: You will take the information from Step 1 and connect with your agency Educational Liaison to understand the options that make the most sense

Step 3: You will support the youth as they begin to put a plan in place

I AM AN ADULT SUPPORTING A YOUTH

This site will help you support a youth you care about as they plan for next steps in their education.

As you help them to re-engage with the education system, it is good to remember:

  • Youth need to hear they have options regardless of their current credit or education status
  • Learning in any capacity is valid and important. You can celebrate all the skills they have acquired from life experience and acknowledge they will be an important step in this process.
  • Their strengths may naturally align with some education options
  • Validating all experiences, emotions and hopes and fears builds trust
  • There is no one right path to get a high school diploma

This is a 3-step guide focused on the needs of the youth you want to support. You will need a worker at F&CS to help you with this process. Ask the youth you are supporting who their worker is and if you can connect with them on their behalf.

Step 1: Together, you and the youth will collect their educational background and story

Step 2: A youth worker will share that information with an Education Liaison at F&CS to learn about the options that make the most sense for them and their goals

Step 3: In partnership with the youth, you and the youth worker can build a plan to help them navigate the education system.

3 Steps To Build Your School Plan

Step 1: Gather Your Story & Information

The people in the education system want to help you find the best learning options for your goals. In order to do that, they will need to know a little about your story and hopes for school and the future. Answers to these questions will help them understand how best to support you.

About Your Life

  • Where are you living now?
  • Are you currently employed? What jobs have you had in the past? What did you like or not like about them?
  • What are the major challenges in your life right now?
  • What are you most proud of?
  • Who are the important people connections in your life?
  • What technology do you have access to?
  • What transportation do you have access to?
  • What other resources can you access to support your goals?

About Education

  • What are your goals for school? What is motivating you to finish high school?
  • Where did you last attend school?
  • Have you tried online learning? How did it go?
  • What part of school do you excel at?
  • How much school do you want to take on right now (full-time, part-time, independent)
  • Do you have any specific learning needs that you have been identified with? Have you taken any learning assessments in the past that would help us now?
  • Have you used career exploration resources like My Blueprint? Was it helpful? If not, can we try using one now?

Data Checklist

This is the information that will be required by school boards to help you build a plan for the schooling you want. Before connecting with any school board or post-secondary school make sure you have this information ready to share.

If you attended a school outside of these boards or if you are over 18 and looking for adult high school options connect with the team at St. Louis Adult Education Centre. They will help you find the information you need. You can find their full contact information here or 519.745.1201 | stlouis@wcdsb.ca

If you are not sure who to talk with at your last school, ask for the Student Success Teacher or someone from Guidance. If you are uncomfortable calling your previous school, ask your F&CS worker to call for you.

An important note about your personal data: To help the school boards and F&CS support your education goals, you may need to sign a Consent For Information Sharing form. This is a legal document that says you give permission to the board and your F&CS agency to share information like your name, date of birth and school experience. This will make it easier and faster for the board and agency to work together. If you need to sign it, your worker will ask you early in this process.

Step 2: Explore Options with an Education Liaison

With your story and information ready to share, it’s time to understand the options you have. An Educational Liaison or Education Consultant at F&CS are professionals who understand the child welfare and education systems. They will help your worker understand the different ways you can reach your goals.

If you are a youth, ask your worker to take the information from Step 1 to a meeting with an Educational Liaison at the agency.

If you work at F&CS, you can take the information from Step 1 directly to the Education Liaison at your agency. Share this information with them and explore options focused on the youth’s needs. You will take this information back to your youth.

If you are an adult supporting a youth, you will need to have someone at F&CS take this information to an Educational Liaison. Have the youth you are supporting connect with their worker to arrange a meeting with an Education Liaison. 

The Educational Liaison will be able to help you with questions like

  • What do I need to graduate high school?
  • Where can I find information about college programs that interest me?
  • What accommodations can be made for youth? For adults? How do I apply for them?
  • How do I qualify for funding?

The Education Liaison may need a few meetings with your worker to build a list of options and do some research. This process may take two or three weeks to complete. 

You Have Options: A high school diploma is not the only option you have to graduate. Youth can complete their high school in a range of ways. This chart is an overview of the options that may be available to you. If this doesn’t make sense, that is OK! After talking with an Educational Liaison, your worker will help you understand which of these options might be best for you.

These options may be different for you, depending on your age. For example, some of these options are for those over 18. The person supporting you in this process will help you find the best options for you.

  • Academic Upgrading: A free program offered by colleges that help you earn courses that can be applied to a specific College program. Learn more here.
  • Apprenticeship: A combination of learning and working that lets you learn a trade like auto technician, plumbing or electrical. Learn more here.
  • Dual Credit: Dual credit programs allow high school students to take college or apprenticeship courses that also count towards their high school diploma. You can learn more at the School College Work initiative. Parents and foster parents may be interested in OntarioColleges.ca.
  • CAEC (Canadian Adult Education Credential): A certificate for adults who have not completed high school. A CAEC is often recognized by colleges, universities and employers the same as a high school diploma. Learn more here.
  • High school diploma or OSSD (Ontario Secondary School Diploma): This is the diploma students receive when graduating from high school. Learn more about the OSSD in section 6.1 of this doc.
  • OSSC (Ontario Secondary School Certificate): Given to youth over 18 who are leaving high school without an OSSD. Learn more about OSSC in section 6.3 of this doc (PDF).
  • PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition) for Mature Students: A way to earn high school or college credits based on your school, work and life experiences. Learn more about PLAR in section 7.2.5 of this doc (PDF).
  • TVO ILC credits: A wide range of online courses you can take to help earn credits. Learn more here.

Are you looking for a copy of your Academic transcript? You can find this information with the guidance department at your last school.

Step 3: Build a Plan

After your worker talks with your Education Liaison, they will share what options can help you reach your goals. Now, it is time to start working on a plan with your school board. Below is board-specific information that can be used to develop your next steps. You and your worker can reach out to these individuals who will be happy to help bring your plan to life!

Upper Grand District School Board

500 Victoria Road North Guelph ON N1E 6K2
519.822.4420 | ugdsb.ca

Secondary School List

The board has a detailed overview of their Continuing Education, SAL, Dual credits and specialty programs for Guelph & Wellington. Click here to see this chart which includes details about the program and who to contact to learn more.

Wellington Catholic District School Board

75 Woolwich Street Guelph ON N1H 6N6
519.821.4600 | wellingtoncdsb.ca

Secondary School List

Waterloo Region District School Board

51 Ardelt Avenue Kitchener, ON N2C 2R5
519.570.0003 | wrdsb.ca

Secondary School List

Waterloo Catholic District School Board

35 Weber St. W. Unit A Kitchener, ON, Canada N2H 3Z1
519-578-3660 | wcdsb.ca

Secondary School List

Do you live in Guelph or Wellington and are not sure where to start your back-to-school journey?

Contact the Upper Grand Continuing Education Department. You can find their full contact information here.

519.836.7280 | continuing.ed@ugdsb.on.ca

Do you live in Waterloo and are not sure where to start your back-to-school journey?

Contact the St Louis Adult Education Centre. You can find their full contact information here. 519.745.1201 | stlouis@wcdsb.ca