Personalized Alternative Education (PAE) programs differ from mainstream programming in that they frequently use unconventional classroom settings and altered timetables in order to service the individual needs of students. Most PAE programmes take a holistic approach to student progress in that we create student programmes with the entire student in mind (social, emotional, mental, academic). The three PAE programs offered at Thornhill Secondary School are:

SAL (Supervised Alternative Learning): This program is for students between the ages of 16-18. Students must be referred to SAL by the school administration. Once admitted to SAL, students will have timetables created on an individual basis which may include any of the following: part-time class schedule (maximum 2 in-school credits), part-time work/volunteer placement and/or counselling or a

full-time work/volunteer placement schedule.

ALEP (Community Based Education): This semester long programme combines work experience with classroom learning. Programmes consist of an in-class component where students earn a core credit such as English or Math. The other days they earn ALEP credits for performing well in a job placement. Each ALEP credit is the equivalent of 110 hours up to a maximum of four ALEP credits per

Semester.

Semestered PAE: These classes operate on a reduced class size (1:16 teacher student ratio) and combine teacher directed courses with independent learning and credit recovery. Students are generally referred to this program by the Administration, Guidance and Special Education Departments. The courses are offered in a continuous intake mode. We offer Math, History and English curriculum at the Applied and Essential level. These core courses are offered each semester in a continuous intake mode. We also offer a variety of elective courses at both the junior and senior levels. Students benefit from a flexible learning environment tailored to meet individual needs and interests.​

​ ​​