Why Offer the OSSD at Your School?

A simple guide to Dual Diploma collaboration for international educators

If you work in education outside Canada, you’ve likely heard about “dual diploma” programs. In this model, students complete their local high school diploma and a second, internationally recognized credential—without leaving home. One of the most trusted options is Canada’s Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), delivered online through a ministry-inspected virtual high school such as Royal Ontario Academy (ROA).

This article explains, in plain language, what a dual diploma is, why the OSSD is valued by universities, and how this collaboration works step-by-step.

What is a Dual Diploma?

A dual diploma lets students graduate with two credentials:

• Their local/national high school diploma, issued by your school.
• The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), issued by ROA.

Students remain enrolled at your school. They continue local classes while taking a small set of Ontario-curriculum courses online. Credits they’ve already earned locally may be recognized toward OSSD requirements through an official process called PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition). The result: students keep their local path and gain a widely accepted Canadian diploma.

Why the OSSD?

The OSSD is known for:

• Global Recognition – Accepted by universities and colleges in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Europe, and beyond.
• Transparent Standards – Clear course expectations, consistent assessment, and final documentation that admissions teams understand.
• Flexible Delivery – Online courses can fit around local timetables and extracurriculars.
• Student-Centred Assessment – Emphasis on continuous evaluation (projects, assignments, quizzes) plus a proctored final exam.

For your school, offering the OSSD:

• Expands your curriculum without hiring new staff.
• Improves university outcomes by aligning with international admission expectations.
• Differentiates your school in a competitive market.
• Provides an opportunity for your students to learn English language curriculum developed specifically for North American post secondary academic success.

What does a student need to earn the OSSD?

The OSSD has three pillars:

1. 30 High School Credits
   • A mix of compulsory and elective courses.
   • Many local courses may count through PLAR/transfer credits, reducing how many online courses a student must take.
2. Literacy Requirement
   • Usually met by the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) or the Ontario Literacy Course (OLC4O).
3. 40 Hours of Community Involvement
   • Volunteer or community service activities that schools can help organize and verify.

ROA guides families and counselors through these requirements and keeps official Ontario records.

How the Collaboration Works (Simple Flow)

Step 1 — Planning
Your counselor and ROA review the student’s current transcript. ROA maps what still needs to be completed for the OSSD (which Ontario Grade 11/12 courses, literacy, community hours).

Step 2 — Enrollment
Students enroll in ROA’s online platform and receive an Ontario Education Number (OEN) if they don’t already have one. An enrollment letter is provided for school records.

Step 3 — Learning Online
Students study at their own pace, within sensible timelines. Ontario-qualified teachers provide feedback on assignments and answer questions through the platform.

Step 4 — Assessment & Exams
Coursework is graded by ROA teachers. Final exams are proctored with an approved invigilator or via secure online proctoring.

Step 5 — Reporting & Records
Your school receives midterm updates and final report cards. ROA maintains the official Ontario Student Transcript (OST) and confirms when all OSSD requirements are complete.

Step 6 — University Applications
ROA issues official Ontario documents for admissions; your school continues to guide students on program choices and deadlines. Together, we support strong applications.

Who Does What?

      ROA (Virtual High School)

• Provides Ontario-curriculum courses and certified teachers.
• Grades work, sets assessment policies, and ensures academic integrity.
• Organizes proctoring standards and reviews any exam incidents.
• Maintains Ontario records (report cards, OST) and confirms OSSD completion.
• Issues official transcripts and letters needed for university admissions.

      Your School (Local Partner)

• Advises students on fit, workload, and study plan.
• Shares prior records for PLAR/credit transfer.
• Supports student study habits (study blocks, supervision).
• Helps organize/verify community involvement hours.
• Communicates with families and promotes the program locally.

     Think of ROA as the Ontario compliance + delivery layer, and your school as the student care + local guidance layer.

      Student Experience (What Families Will Notice)

• Flexible pacing with clear weekly expectations and teacher feedback.
• Predictable grading against published rubrics.
• Real integrity with proctored final exams (on-site or secure online).
• Visible progress via midterm reports and final report cards.
• Stronger options for Canada/U.S./U.K. admissions with the OSSD in hand.

      Quality & Safeguards (Why This Matters to You)

• Ministry-Inspected: ROA follows Ontario Ministry of Education policies.
• Curriculum Consistency: Course codes (e.g., ENG4U, MHF4U) and expectations are standardized.
• Academic Integrity: Identity checks, proctoring procedures, and incident reviews.
• Data Privacy: Secure data transfer and responsible record-keeping.
• Accessibility: Documented accommodations can be implemented within ROA courses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the OSSD recognized internationally?
A: Yes. It is widely recognized by universities and colleges in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., and many other countries.

Q: How many online courses will students need?
A: It depends on how many local courses count via PLAR/transfer. ROA reviews each student’s record and builds a custom plan (usually 7-8 courses).

Q: Do students need to travel to Canada?
A: No. All ROA courses are delivered online, with proctored exams handled on your campus or via secure online tools.

Q: How long does a course take?
A: Many students finish a course in 2–4 months, depending on pace and local schedules. We also support longer windows if needed.

Q: Who issues the diploma and transcripts?
A: ROA issues the Ontario documents (report cards, transcripts, OSSD). Your school continues to issue the local diploma and records.

What This Means for Your School

• Offer a global pathway without sending students abroad.
• Add in-demand courses with no new hiring.
• Improve outcomes for university admissions.
• Strengthen your brand with a respected Canadian diploma.