Education Guide
Education30 credits (18 compulsory + 12 optional)
OSSD credit requirement
Ontario Ministry of Education
Mandatory in IEP for students 14 and older
Transition plan requirement
Ontario Ministry of Education, PPM 156
Students may attend until age 21 (until June of the school year they turn 21)
Extended high school option
Ontario Education Act, Section 49.1
14 credits (7 compulsory + 7 optional)
OSSC alternative credential
Ontario Ministry of Education
Ontario high schools offer courses at three levels: academic (university preparation), applied (college preparation), and locally developed (workplace preparation). Students can move between pathways, but planning ahead prevents unnecessary barriers. Work with the guidance counsellor to select courses that align with your teen's strengths, interests, and post-secondary goals.
For students who may not pursue the standard OSSD, Ontario offers the Ontario Secondary School Certificate (OSSC) requiring 14 credits and the Certificate of Accomplishment for students who complete individual learning goals. These alternative credentials are legitimate pathways and should not be viewed as lesser — they represent the diversity of student needs and aspirations.
Your teen's IEP should evolve each year to reflect changing needs. In high school, accommodations may include: extended time on tests and assignments, use of technology (laptops, speech-to-text software), modified group work expectations, alternative formats for demonstrating knowledge, reduced course load spread over five years, and a home-base room for sensory regulation.
As teens develop self-awareness, involve them in IEP discussions. Understanding their own accommodation needs and being able to articulate them is a critical life skill — especially for those heading to post-secondary education, where they will manage accommodations independently. Start building this self-advocacy in Grade 9.
Ontario requires schools to include a transition plan in the IEP for students 14 and older. This plan should address post-secondary education, employment, and community living goals. For autistic students, transition planning should begin in Grade 9 and become increasingly specific each year.
Key transition actions include: visiting post-secondary campuses and employment sites, participating in co-operative education or volunteer placements, developing life skills (banking, cooking, transit use, self-care), connecting with adult service providers before aging out of child services, and applying to Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) by age 16. See our transition-to-adult-services guide for detailed steps.
Ontario Ministry of Education
Ontario Schools, Kindergarten to Grade 12: Policy and Program Requirements (ontario.ca/education)
Ontario Ministry of Education
Policy/Program Memorandum 156: Transition Planning for Students with IEPs
Commitment to Accuracy: Our data is verified against official government reports (FAO, MCCSS), peer-reviewed scientific literature, and accessible public records. Last updated: March 24, 2026.
Verified Facts
Under the Ontario Education Act, every student with special needs is entitled to an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and access to an Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC)
88,175, children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
1 in 50, According to the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, about children and youth aged 1 to 17 in Canada had an autism diagnosis
23.4%, Only 20,666 children have active funding agreements () — less than one in four
WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism — timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement