PAE is a system of educational alternatives that have grown from the grassroots in each school. They are distinguished 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 programs take a holistic approach to student progress in that we create student programs with the entire student in mind (social, emotional, mental, academic).
There is a focus on developing the skill set required for 21st-century learning.
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Collaboration across Networks and Leading by Influence
- Agility and Adaptability
- Initiative and Entrepreneurialism
- Effective Oral and Written Communication
- Accessing and Analyzing Information
- Curiosity and Imagination
Programs include:
PAE Semestered Programs
These programs are unique and vary from location to location. They operate with a reduced class size (1:16 teacher-student ratio) and combine teacher-directed courses with independent learning and credit recovery. They generally follow the regular school semester.
Experiential, Community-Based Programs
These programs generally utilize community partnerships to provide real-world projects. They usually include both classroom learning and experiential fieldwork. Program duration varies: some are full-year, while others are semestered. All fieldwork is directly supervised by the teacher.
Work-Based Programs (CBE)
These semester-long programs combine work experience with classroom learning. Programs include an in-class component, where students earn a core credit such as English or Math. The other days they earn ALEP (Community Based Education) credits for performing well in a job placement.
SAL Programs
Students must be referred to SAL by the school administration. The intake must be finalized by the central board SAL committee. Once admitted to SAL, students will have timetables created on an individual basis, which may include CBE, ILP, Credit Recovery, or teacher-directed instruction.
Dual Credit Programs
These courses are conducted with the co-operation and partnership of one of Ontario's colleges. Students will earn both college and high school credit for these courses. Dual credit courses are generally for mature students who are in their final year of high school.