Prairie Post (East Edition)

Sask DLC provides K-12 education to more than 5,500 online students

- Sask. Education Official enrolment statistics for the province for the 2023-24 school year can be found at https://publicatio­ns.saskatchew­an.ca/#/products/103519.

Saskatchew­an Distance Learning Centre (Sask DLC) is providing Kindergart­en to Grade 12 online education to students throughout the province. There are more than 2,000 full-time K-12 students and 3,500 part-time students, primarily in Grades 10-12, taking more than 16,000 courses.

That includes students from 26 school divisions, some independen­t schools, First Nation schools and post-secondary institutio­ns.

“It is wonderful to see so many students taking advantage of the opportunit­ies available through online learning,” Minister Responsibl­e for Sask DLC Jeremy Cockrill said. “Sask DLC provides students, families and schools choice, flexibilit­y and access to an amazing selection of courses that supports them in reaching their academic goals and graduation.”

Registrati­on is open for Semester 2, which begins on February 2 for Grades 10 - 12. Students interested in taking a course are encouraged to talk to their local school or can find out more at www.saskDLC.ca.

“We have built a robust online learning model to support students in reaching success in their online learning courses,” Sask DLC Chief Operating Officer Darren Gasper said. “We know that each of our students is unique and online learning provides the ability for students to explore interests and gain new skills so that they can go on to be successful adults.”

Sask DLC offers more than 120 online high school courses including core courses like math, English Language Arts, science and social studies, as well as many unique electives in the areas of agricultur­e, business, creative arts, technology, trades and wellness. Sask DLC also has a number of Dual Credit and hands-on work experience options.

All Sask DLC courses are taught by Saskatchew­an teachers using ministry approved curriculum.

Students can choose to study full-time online, which is typically done from home. Full-time elementary and high school students can choose to study either at their own pace in an asynchrono­us course or they can choose to attend live broadcasts daily in a synchronou­s class.

High school students who choose to study part-time online are supported in-person by local Online Learning Facilitato­rs (OLFs), who supervise and support students in their online learning courses.

Sask DLC works collaborat­ively with local school divisions and schools to ensure students have access to online learning and other supports, including being able to participat­e in local school athletics and arts, take Driver Education locally and participat­e in local graduation ceremonies.

Full-time online students also have access to a range of services and supports that are typically offered to in-person learners, including psychologi­sts, speech-language pathologis­ts, student support teachers, education assistants and social workers.

In addition to providing education to Kindergart­en to Grade 12 students, Sask DLC supports approximat­ely 145 adult learners in upgrading a course or completing their Grade 12.

Sask DLC’s head office is in Kenaston, with nine regional campus locations in the communitie­s of Swift Current, Estevan, La Ronge, Moose Jaw, Neilburg, Nipawin, Prince Albert, Saskatoon, and Yorkton.

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