October 20th, 2021

The OSSLT for KCI Students

This year KCI students in grade 10, grade 11, and non-graduating grade 12 students will have opportunities to complete their literacy requirement by taking the OSSLT (Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test). As a reminder, successful completion of the literacy test or equivalent is a graduation requirement.  For the 2021-2022 school year, the Ministry of Education has exempted graduating grade 12 students from this requirement.

How will the test be administered?

The test is online this year. Students will use their board provided Chromebooks to write the OSSLT. The test has many features to support students including:

  • A help menu

  • A text-speech function that reads the text on the screen out loud

  • Zoom in and zoom out

  • A line reader that helps students focus on one line of text at a time

  • A high-contrast view

  • Annotation tools

  • A tool for rough notes

See below for more detailed information if you, or your student, is in grade 10, grade 11, a non-graduating grade 12, or in the remote learning program (RLP).

There is not a modified schedule for Literacy Test days.  All students are expected to attend their regularly scheduled classes.

GROUP 1: Grade 11 and Non-Graduating 12’s Enrolled in In-Person Learning 

Monday Nov 8 to Wednesday Nov 10 – Practice Test (during a period D class)

Tuesday Nov 23 – Session 1

Wednesday Nov 24 – Session 2

Thursday Nov 25 & Friday Nov 26 – Make-up days

The 2021/22 OSSLT will be completed entirely online for those eligible to write it.

  • The test will be delivered in 2 parts to be written over 2 days.

  • Each “session” will take approximately 60-90 minutes to complete, students can have extra time to complete each session if needed.

  • All Literacy Test activities (practice and actual test) will take place during PERIOD D (pm) during the regularly scheduled school day.

  • Students eligible for special accommodations will be contacted by the Special Education Department in advance of the test.

Parents and students interested in learning more about the OSSLT are invited to visit the EQAO website at https://www.eqao.com/the-assessments/osslt/. Here you will also find a practice test that students can take as many times as they wish. This will be the same practice test delivered by teachers to all GROUP 1 students between November 8 and November 10.  Please continue to check our website and/or your School Day Account for additional information in the coming weeks.

GROUP 2: Students currently in grade 10 enrolled in In-Person Learning

  • All Grade 10 students enrolled in In-Person Learning will complete the OSSLT at KCI in the spring of 2022.

  • Further information and preparation plans will be communicated in the second semester.

GROUP 3: Students enrolled in the Remote Learning Program (RLP) 

  • Students enrolled in the Secondary Remote Learning Program (SRLP) will not be writing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) this year. It is the Ministry of Education’s expectation that students who are writing the OSSLT must do so in-person; therefore, students in SRLP will be offered other opportunities to fulfill the literacy graduation requirement.

  • Grade 11 and non-graduating Grade 12 students in SRLP will either take the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OLC4OI) or participate in an adjudication process.

  • Grade 10 students in the SRLP will be deferred for this year and given opportunities to fulfill this requirement next year.

If you have any questions please contact the KCI main office at 519-745-6851