Section 2.1: School Related Operations

Approved: November 20, 2012

Revised: June 2026

SUPERVISED ALTERNATIVE LEARNING (SAL)

1.0             Rationale

The Supervised Alternative Learning (SAL) policy provides a flexible, accountable framework to re-engage students aged 14 to 17 who are at risk of leaving school before graduation. Designed as a final intervention when traditional retention strategies have failed, SAL allows for a temporary excusal from regular attendance to help students resolve personal barriers while remaining connected to the education system. By prioritizing the student’s best interests and individual goals, the policy ensures a consistent approach to supporting a small, vulnerable segment of the population in their eventual return to school or successful completion of their studies.

2.0             Definitions

Barriers to learning: Any obstacles or challenges that prevent an individual from fully engaging in or benefiting from an educational program some examples include: ancestry, culture, ethnicity, gender identity, language, physical ability, intellectual ability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socio economic status, and any other dimensions of diversity and/or their intersection. 

Board SAL Committee: The group of individuals responsible for the program, comprised of a Supervisory Officer, the Student Success & Pathways Lead, one Trustee, three Attendance Counsellors, a community partner, and the Board Lead for Mental Health & Well-Being. 

Primary Contact: person directly responsible for monitoring a Supervised Alternative Learning Plan (SALP) (e.g., student success teacher, guidance teacher).

Parents: refers to parent(s) and guardian(s).

SAL: Supervised Alternative Learning.

SAL Committee: refers to all members of the School SAL Committee and Board SAL committee.

School SAL Committee: The group of individuals responsible for the program at the school level, comprised of the school principal, attendance counsellor, student success administrator, Student Success Teacher, Indigenous Student Advisor, Special Education Resource Teachers, and primary contact.

SALP: Supervised Alternative Learning Plan.

3.0             Policy

Ontario Regulation 374/10 enables the Supervised Alternative Learning Committee of a board to excuse students aged 14 to 17 years of age from attending school while they continue to participate in learning under the supervision of the board or a school of the board. The goal is to maintain a connection to learning for these students and to support their continued progress towards graduation or achievement of other educational and personal goals. The student and the parent(s), unless the student is at least 16 years of age and has withdrawn from parental control, must agree to participation in SAL.