Ontario students

Free Founding Student Cohort

A small group of Ontario students in Grades 9–11 will receive structured, teacher-led online learning at no cost while COLA establishes its operations and completes the Ministry process.

Read this before expressing interest

This course is being offered during COLA's initial Ministry inspection process. Canadian Online Learning Academy is not currently authorized to grant OSSD credits and cannot guarantee, grant or record an OSSD credit unless and until the Principal receives written credit-granting authority following a successful inspection. If authority is received, families will be informed in writing how the student's enrolment and completed work will be treated in accordance with Ministry direction. No tuition or fee to submit an expression of interest will be charged.

Who it is for

Ontario students in Grades 9–11, whether they currently attend an Ontario school or learn at home. Priority will be given to a coherent grade and course group that COLA can teach and support well. A parent or guardian must participate in the expression-of-interest and enrolment process for a minor.

What students receive

Organized modules in Google Classroom, instruction from an Ontario Certified Teacher, scheduled live contact, feedback, progress updates, and accessible parent or guardian visibility into learning progress.

Cost and timing

Tuition and the fee to submit an expression of interest are $0. The cohort will begin only when COLA confirms at least five eligible students, the schedule, student readiness, and required administrative arrangements.

Student and family commitments

Scheduled participation

Attend required teacher contact and complete assigned learning on school days according to the written cohort schedule.

Authentic work

Submit the student's own work and participate in identity checks, conferences, and supervised assessments where required.

Regular engagement

Meet milestones, respond to teacher communication, and tell the school promptly about absences or barriers to participation.

Parent partnership

For minors, a parent or guardian signs consent documents, provides accurate records, and participates in progress communication.

What families will need

Identity and age

Documentation confirming the student's legal name and date of birth.

Ontario residence

A current Ontario address and family contact details for this Ontario student cohort.

Learning background

Recent report cards, transcripts, homeschool records, portfolio samples, or another reasonable record of prior learning.

Technology

A computer or tablet, reliable internet, a webcam and microphone. Students use an individually verified Google account approved for course access. Account ownership, privacy, identity verification and acceptable-use requirements are documented during enrolment.

Attendance, learning evidence and records

Documented participation

COLA will maintain enrolment, attendance, teacher-contact, assignment, assessment, feedback, and progress records. Online attendance is based on verified participation and learning evidence, not merely logging in.

No credit record before authorization

While authorization is pending, COLA will not grant or record an OSSD credit or represent that a credit has been earned. Before enrolment is finalized, COLA will document prerequisite, OSR, OST and reporting responsibilities. Any credit decision will be made only after written authority is received and Ministry requirements are satisfied.

A homeschool applicant does not need to name a current records-holding school merely to express interest. The required OSR, OST and reporting arrangement will be confirmed in writing before formal enrolment. Student work and school records may be reviewed by a Ministry inspector as part of COLA's inspection.

Interested in one of the founding places?

Submit an expression of interest. COLA will review the student's age, learning background, availability, technology access, and fit with the selected cohort. Submitting the form does not guarantee selection or enrolment.

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