Summary of the Meeting with the Direction de l’enseignement à la maison (DEM) – February 3, 2025

Accommodations

The DEM informed us that two academic adaptation advisors are available to support families in requesting accommodations for Ministry exams or tests required for obtaining a Quebec high school diploma (DES). We recommend reaching out to your resource person (RP) in the fall to explore these adaptations at home before officially requesting them for exams, in accordance with the requirements for the certification of studies.

Access to SB/SSC Services for Students Meeting Graduation Requirements

Homeschooled students over the age of 16 fall into a regulatory gray area. Since they are no longer subject to compulsory schooling, they are not covered by the Homeschooling Regulation but only by the Education Act. As a result, School Boards (SB) and School Service Centres (SSC) are not obligated to provide assessment services to these students, who are neither monitored by the DEM nor enrolled in a school.

However, the DEM, the Direction de la Sanction des études, and AQED all share the goal of ensuring these students can access the necessary services through the SB/SSC in the youth sector to facilitate graduation. The DEM has committed to supporting families by advocating for access when SBs/SSCs refuse these services. If you need assistance, you can contact the DEM at their general email: [email protected].

If your child is still being monitored by the DEM and you encounter issues with your SB/SSC regarding meeting graduation requirements you can bring this up with your RP, and the DEM should be able to assist.

Changes to Graduation Pathways

The streamlined progression option (known as déboulement), which previously allowed students to progress without earning credits at each level, is no longer available. Now, students must accumulate the required credits at every level to obtain the Quebec Secondary School Diploma (DES). However, it is still possible for a learner to complete multiple levels at the same time, provided that  assessments are completed for each level.

Validation of Prior Learning in Secondary 3

Validation of prior learning in Secondary 3 is not always required, but the DEM has shared cases where families encountered difficulties, particularly for students pursuing a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS). Some families paid for assessments to be conducted by teachers to validate prior learning, only for the SB/SSC  to reject them. As a result, students had to undergo SB/SSC assessments, which sometimes placed them at a lower level than expected. To avoid such issues, students seeking a DVS should complete SB/SSC assessments to validate their Secondary 3 learning.

Graduation Requirements – General Updates

AQED will be collaborating with the DEM on several key initiatives:

• Multiple Assessments per Competency – Exploring the possibility of allowing more than one assessment per competency to distribute grading more evenly and create a more balanced evaluation process.
• Availability of Ministerial Electives – Working to improve access to ministerial electives across SBs/SSCs, giving families greater flexibility and choice.
• Facilitating Access to Resources – Developing a framework to simplify access to resources, particularly for families navigating the school-leaving process for the first time.
• Best Practice Guide for SBs/SSCs – Creating a guide to help standardize procedures across SBs/SSCs, ensuring a more consistent experience for families.

The next meeting with the DEM is expected in 2–3 months, during which we will follow up on the pilot project.

We’re Here to Help!

If you have any questions or encounter any difficulties, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected]