The York Region District School Board offers a variety of programs and opportunities that honours all pathways, including apprenticeship, college, university and the workplace. YRDSB is committed to providing inclusive, innovative and authentic learning experiences for all students. Our Student Success and Pathways programs provide students with opportunities to engage in experiential learning to acquire, refine and apply acquired knowledge and skills, make clear connections to their subject curriculum, explore a variety of post-secondary destinations and career pathways and successfully transition to their post-secondary destination. Through our programs we support students in building skills to be future ready including communication, collaboration, critical thinking, sustainability and global citizenship, creativity, self-directed learning and digital literacy.
The District Action Plan’s commitment to Student Achievement identities the importance of integrating foundational skills across subject areas in ways that honour all pathways.
Students are invited to explore their options through the following programs and opportunities.
Cooperative Education Program (Co-op)
Cooperative Education supports students across all pathways by offering hands-on learning and work experience aligned with their career goals and interests. Through Co-Op, students develop the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions around their education and pathway. Over the past year, the Cooperative Education program at YRDSB has experienced growth and innovation, with a 14% increase in student enrollment from 2023-2024 to 2024-2025. This growth reflects the program's continued success in connecting students with meaningful experiential learning opportunities.
Centralized Co-op Placements: YRDSB offers a vast array of centralized placement opportunities with community partners across York Region. Partnerships include hospitals such as Mackenzie Health, Markham Stouffville and Scarborough Health Network and skilled trades opportunities at EllisDon, Powell Foundations and TOK. The Skilled Trades Exploration and Readiness (S.T.E.A.R.) placements provide students the opportunity to rotate through various skilled trades on an active construction site, gaining hands-on experiences and insight into potential career pathways. Additionally, TOK Transit joined as a new partner, supporting both Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) and Accelerated OYAP students pursuing the Truck and Coach Technician (310T) pathway, further expanding opportunities in skilled trades.
New Skilled Trades Co-op Partnerships: YRDSB now partners with International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) to offer students who are pursuing a career as a Construction + Maintenance Electrician ICI (309A). The opportunity allows students to participate in unionized environments and potential opportunities to be signed into the union at the end of the semester.
Be Our Guest Co-op Program: Be Our Guest is an experiential learning program that promotes exploration of career pathways in the hospitality industry. Be Our Guest operates through the collaboration of Ontario school boards, hospitality organizations and OHI – We Are Hospitality. YRDSB also welcomed two new partners, Hilton Toronto/Markham Suites and the Finlayson Group, further expanding opportunities within the hospitality field.
Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP)
A Co-Op student becomes an OYAP student when they pursue a co-op placement in one of the 144 skilled trades recognized in Ontario. Through OYAP, students can take the first step towards a career path in the trades, receive training that leads to a registered apprenticeship program, earn apprenticeship hours, begin completing skills listed in the Apprenticeship Training Standard Log Book and earn secondary school credits at the same time.
Through Co-op, students can participate in OYAP in one of three ways:
- become an OYAP participant;
- become an OYAP participant and register as an apprentice while in the program; or,
- become an OYAP participant, register as an apprentice, and complete their Level 1 through a dual credit program.
In 2024-2025, 957 students in YRDSB participated in the OYAP program.
OYAP Group Signings
OYAP students who are interested in pursuing an apprenticeship resulting from their Co-op experience, are invited once each semester to become registered apprentices with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
In 2024-2025, 95 YRDSB students became registered apprentices in a variety of skilled trades.
Accelerated OYAP
In 2024-2025, 62 OYAP students were registered as Apprentices in the “Accelerated OYAP Program.”
The Accelerated OYAP Level 1 students attempted 121 Dual credits with a 98% success rate in the 11 programs that ran.
These OYAP students pursued a Level 1 Training at a GTA College (Centennial, Humber, George Brown) or Training Delivery Agent (CCAT Local 27, LiUNA 183) in one of the following trades:
- Auto Service Technician
- Auto Body Repairer
- Cook and Bake
- Construction Craft Worker
- Electrician
- General Carpenter
- Hairstyling
- Plumber
- Residential Air Conditioning
- Truck and Coach Technician / Heavy Duty Equipment
Additional skilled trades with Level 1 training available include Drywall – Acoustic & Lather, Floor Covering Installer, and Sheet Metal Worker.
Exploring Opportunities Program (EOP)
In 2024 - 2025, YRDSB offered specialized regional programs in six secondary schools that allowed students to focus on developing a high skill level in a particular technology (i.e. transportation; horticulture and landscaping; construction; entrepreneurship). Students participate in industry approved certifications, reach ahead opportunities, guest speaker sessions, industry shows and conferences and authentic experiential learning in the classroom and in the community.
The six high schools are Sutton District High School, Huron Heights Secondary School, Richmond Green Secondary School, Alexander Mackenzie High School, Markham District High School and Markville Secondary School.
Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)
The SHSM program allows students to focus their learning on a sector of interest. Students earn sector-recognized certifications, gain valuable skills and experience and discover new career pathways through the various SHSM experiences. In 2024 - 2025, all 33 YRDSB secondary schools offered SHSM programs that totalled 119 programs in 14 different sectors.
- Arts & Culture
- Business
- Construction
- Energy
- Environment
- Health & Wellness
- Horticulture and Landscaping
- Hospitality and Tourism
- Information and Communications Technology
- Justice, Community Safety and Emergency Services
- Manufacturing
- Non-profit, Education and Child Care
- Sports
- Transportation
YRDSB had 4,013 Grade 11 and 12 students registered in the program for the 2024-2025 school year. Deliverables of the SHSM program include Sector Partner Experiences (SPEs) and industry certifications.
Some of the regional SHSM opportunities that students participated in included:
Ontario General Contractors Association ICE SPE
Students in the construction SHSM program from across the board had the opportunity to visit the Ontario General Contractors Association and engage in a project management challenge centering around a renovation project.
InspireTech Moonshot Coding SPE
Students from different SHSM programs from multiple schools had the opportunity to go to the Canon Headquarters in Brampton and interact with leaders in Canada’s space and rocketry sector. Students attended seminars on the future of Canada’s launch capabilities, lunar mining, robotics and post secondary opportunities.
Enriched Academy Math Literacy SPE
This was a multisector SHSM opportunity where students had the opportunity to learn about financial literacy and then explore how financial literacy can impact their sector.
InspireTech Technology in Healthcare Coding SPE
Students had the opportunity to interact with post secondary students in the medical field and explore how advancements in technology are being leveraged to enhance patient care in medical spaces.
MegaLabs ICE SPE
Students from a variety of schools and SHSM sectors visited an industry leading community partner that is involved with the certification of products for use in industries ranging from transportation to health care. Students developed an engineering testing plan to determine compliance with a variety of safety criteria.
York University Suturing Certification
Students from across the board had the opportunity to visit the York University Keele Campus and interact with faculty and staff from the school of Nursing, Athletic Therapy and Psychology. Students also had the opportunity to experience a hands-on lab to develop the skills necessary to suture a wound.
Dual Credit
Through the Dual Credit program, Grade 11 and 12 students have the opportunity to experience the college pathway and earn college credits while still in secondary school. This program is a partnership with local colleges and is available at all YRDSB secondary schools. Every secondary school in the region had participants in the dual credit program in the 2024-2025 school year.
Through the Dual Credit program, students can take one course on a college campus and earn a high school credit and a college credit at the same; take college-level courses to enhance skills and explore their interests; access free college tuition, free textbooks and subsidized transportation; and receive support with the transition to college.
In 2024-25, there were a total of 607 college delivered dual credits. In addition, there were 22 adult dual credits with a 86% completion.
School Within a College (SWAC)
The School Within A College (SWAC) program provides students that are credit deficient and early leavers the opportunity to complete their last semester of high school at one of the GTA College Partner sites. SWAC provides students that were formerly disengaged, underperforming and underserved with a college environment, SWAC Teacher and wrap-around support from both the college and YRDSB to achieve academic success.
The SWAC program enables students to earn 4+ credits towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) in one semester; for instance, 1-2 credits in Cooperative Education, 1-2 credits at the senior high school level with direct YRDSB teacher instruction, 2 dual credits (College Credits), and possible credit(s) from credit recovery. In addition to earning secondary OSSD credits, students benefit from exposure to transition support.
Currently, YRDSB’s SWAC program is run in partnership with Seneca College. In 2024-2025, 110 secondary school credits were earned (not including Dual Credits) and 21 out of 28 students graduated with their OSSD by the end of semester 2.
Technological Education
The purpose of the technological education program is to provide students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enhance their ability to achieve success in secondary school, the workplace, post-secondary education or training and daily life. These courses focus on developing a creative and flexible approach to problem solving that will help students address challenges in various areas throughout their lives; develop skills such as critical thinking and research skills; conduct inquiries; communicate findings accurately, ethically and effectively; and achieve a level of technological competence students will need to succeed.
In 2024 - 2025, all YRDSB secondary schools offered a variety of Broad Based Technology courses including Construction Technology, Communications Technology, Hair Styling and Aesthetics, Hospitality and Tourism, Manufacturing Technology, Computer Technology, and Transportation Technology.
In the spring of 2024, the Ontario Ministry of Education released revised curriculum for all Grade 9 and 10 technological education courses. The new curriculum which was implemented at the beginning of the 2024 - 2025 school year, features two new courses: Grade 9, Technology and the Skilled Trades and Grade 10, Technology and the Skilled Trades. These new courses enable students to further explore the engineering design process and develop other technological knowledge and skills introduced in earlier grades in secondary school and contribute to new graduation requirements.
Experiential Learning
Experiential Learning (EL) is an opportunity for students to engage in hands-on, real-world learning that helps them develop their understanding of the curriculum and prepare for the jobs of today and tomorrow. EL engages students as active participants in the three elements of the Experiential Learning Cycle where they:
- participate in learning experiences connected to a community or economic sector;
- reflect on those experiences to derive meaning; and,
- apply their learning to influence their decisions and actions in various aspects of their lives, including education and career/life plans.
Learning experiences involve local, national and global community or economic sector partners and can be on-site, virtual or blended (a combination of on-site and virtual).
One of these opportunities was Innovators of the Future (K-12) where 300+ educators registered and 6,000+ students participated in STEM challenges & prototyping.
Community Connected Experiential Learning (CCEL) Projects
There has been great success in supporting schools and individual teachers to boost student participation and engagement in experiential learning. Initiatives this past year focused on increasing access to opportunities, providing valuable professional development, and fostering community through arts and innovation.
Expanding Access to Experiential Learning: Community Connected Experiential Learning (CCEL) grants were highly successful in reaching schools that had not previously received funding. This year, we supported 25 elementary and 11 secondary school projects with a key priority on supporting new schools. This effort paid off, as 68% of elementary schools and 36% of secondary schools that received grants were first-time recipients. This demonstrates our commitment to broadening access to experiential learning across our school board.
Empowering Educators: We believe that supporting teachers is crucial to student success. This year, we ran two Experiential Learning workshops for educators, with 45 teachers in attendance. These sessions provided teachers with practical strategies for designing and implementing diverse experiential activities. A key feature of the workshops was dedicated planning time, which allowed teachers to immediately apply their new knowledge to their own classrooms. This practical approach helped educators feel confident in bringing these new methodologies to their students.
Our Makerspace Tours event was another major success, welcoming 168 teacher librarians from both elementary and secondary schools. The event featured tours of four unique school libraries that showcased different approaches to makerspace integration. To ensure participating schools could immediately start or expand their own makerspace activities, we provided all 168 schools with engineering design toolkits, prototyping materials, and coding equipment and collected feedback on how the materials supported student learning across the board.
Fostering Community and Belonging: The YRDSB Experiential Arts Mentorship Program (EAMP) successfully created stronger connections for students transitioning from elementary to secondary school. This program involved 13 partnerships between 26 schools, with educators collaborating on a mentorship vision for their students. The program used arts-based mentorship to create a space where students could feel seen and valued, allowing them to explore their identities and build resilience. This culminated in a Spring Showcase where students performed their own devised works, providing a powerful platform for creative expression.
Exploring Entrepreneurship Program
Fifteen secondary schools and four elementary schools, and a total of 2,145 students, participated in the Exploring Entrepreneurship Program.
From brainstorming innovative ideas to prototyping and creating real products, students embraced the entrepreneurial spirit. Some students set thoughtful pricing and sold their products at school markets, while others prepared compelling elevator pitches. To support this journey, schools were invited to sign up for a Pitch Workshop and pitch feedback sessions. Seven schools participated and workshops were delivered to 21 classes and approximately 630 students.
The culmination of this journey was the YRDSB Entrepreneurship Showcase, held on April 17th at the Aurora Town Square. There were approximately 200 attendees and students proudly presented their ventures through interactive booths and live pitches.
The YRDSB Showcase was a judged event by 12 local community entrepreneurs and members of our Pathways Team. Based on the judging, some of our students (16 businesses in total) were invited to showcase their booths and pitch at the Provincial Showcase on May 6th at the Toronto Congress Centre. There, they joined peers from across Ontario to share their ventures, pitch their ideas, and celebrate student innovation and entrepreneurship.
School College Work Initiative (SCWI) Activities
This program supports students in Grades 7–12 through a one-day experiential learning opportunity at GTA colleges, where students discover the exciting world of Skilled Trades and technology-based careers. During the 2024–25 school year, 12 elementary schools, 24 educators and 642 Grades 7 and 8 students visited college campuses to take part in engaging, hands-on activities designed to spark curiosity and build awareness of future career pathways.
Experiences varied across colleges and showcased the skilled trades and technology as viable, in-demand and rewarding career options. Guided by college instructors, students participated in interactive workshops that introduced them to real-world tools, techniques and learning environments, while also highlighting pathway programs and opportunities available at each institution. From plumbing and electrical work to carpentry, welding and beyond, students actively explored a wide range of trades, gaining firsthand insight into the skills, creativity and innovation that drive these careers. One workshop was dedicated to female identifying students and this opportunity not only introduced students to a variety of skilled trades pathways but empowered female students to consider skilled trades as a valuable and relevant career choice.
York Region Skills Challenges (YRSC)
YRSC provides additional pathways opportunities for students and teachers that promote authentic experiential learning activities and builds skills and competencies. York Region skills events are specifically designed for students in Grades 4-12 to participate in a variety of competitions (i.e. robotics, hairstyling, construction, 2D/3D animations, design etc.) and demonstrate their knowledge and skills in technological education, digital literacy, problem solving, mathematical and critical thinking skills.
Elementary Robotics is a popular event with YRDSB’s elementary schools. Ninety schools registered up to two teams each, with four students on each team for a total of 560 students who participated.
YRSC was held at Humber College North campus with 16 elementary and secondary competitions and at Centennial College for culinary, baking and transportation competitions. There were 548 elementary students and 108 secondary students who participated in the competitions in addition to 150 plus teachers, coaches, judges and curriculum staff who supported the competitions. The winners from YRSC represented YRDSB at Skills Ontario in May.
In addition, YRDSB successfully ran five regional Lego Robotics competitions. There were 62 schools and 496 students, in Grades 4-8 who participated in the regional Lego robotics competitions. A multi-year plan has been created with goals to expand and explore robotics and to provide students with more opportunities to engage with coding and robotics.
Skills Ontario/Canada Competitions
Schools participate in a variety of experiential learning opportunities, competitions and workshops available through Skills Ontario. Classroom teachers can also access Skilled Trades Presentations for elementary (Grades 7-8) and secondary schools. Schools participate in a variety of experiential learning opportunities, competitions, workshops (i.e. FNMI apprenticeship presentation) and networking opportunities. Events take place throughout the entire year in collaboration with a variety of college and trades school partners.
The largest event is the Skills Ontario Competitions in May which also hosts the FNMI Workshop and Conference, Young Women’s Conference and a variety of hands-on workshops. There were 18 elementary and 12 secondary students who represented YRDSB at the Skills Ontario Competitions in May 2025. Four elementary students and 19 secondary students won medals.
Elementary to Secondary and Secondary to Post-Secondary Transition
Students are supported in successfully transitioning from elementary to secondary and from secondary to their initial post-secondary destination.
Elementary to Secondary:
- Grade 8 Open Houses and Information Nights provided students and families with information about the variety of programs available in a secondary school as well as information related to course selection and graduation requirements.
- Revisions were made to Transition Learner Portraits, shifting to an asset based model and including family and student voice
- Promotion of My Pathway Planner (a career exploration and course selection tool)
- In the 2024-2025 school year:
- 259,171 total student logins to My Pathway Planner (myBlueprint)
- 13.6 average logins per student, the highest Grade 8 average in Canada
- 112,126 Who Am I surveys were completed, supporting self-discovery of strengths and interests.
- Elementary Transitions teacher networking opportunities were offered to transitions teachers and other teachers who support Grades 7–8. These sessions focused on course selection, career exploration, academic pathways and proactive approaches to supporting at-risk students. Additionally, they facilitated cross-panel conversations and co-planning between elementary and secondary school teachers, as well as networking and sharing among elementary teachers regarding effective instructional practices and opportunities. Approximately 200-250 elementary teachers engaged in this learning and professional development at various times of the 2024-2025 school year.
- Promoted Skills Trades and Technology (PSTT) Hand Tool Training– two educators from 30 schools were provided with unique hands-on learning connected to curriculum expectations. This was paired with a visit to a local college to explore skilled trades connections to help teachers to have a deeper understanding of this pathway in order to share information with students and families.
Secondary to Post-Secondary:
- Post-Secondary fairs occurred at various secondary schools
- Education Career Fairs at various secondary schools
- Indigenous Student Pathways opportunities took place at colleges in the GTA including Georgian College and Fleming College
- Funding Pathways Initiative - supports schools with funding to create opportunities for students to engage in reach-aheads and experiential learning at post-secondary institutions (including apprenticeships).
- The Credit Success Program was created to support each student in achieving all of their credits, by reinforcing concepts and demonstrating learning that was not achieved through their day school courses. Particular focus is given to supporting Grade 9 and 10 students, especially those engaged in learning in applied and locally developed classes, and those supported through Special Education.
- Credit Recovery is offered at each school and centrally (through summer school) to support students in completing their OSSD requirements.
- Fast Track to the Workplace and Apprenticeship: On May 25, 2023, a student conference was organized for graduating students entering the workforce and apprenticeship pathways to support them in being workplace ready.
- Apprenticeship “Registered Training Agreement” Group Signing Events (twice per year) for Grade 12 OYAP students entering a formal agreement with their co-op placement.
- The Student Success Team provided secondary schools with 80 OCAS (Ontario College Application Services) vouchers and 74 OUAC (Ontario University Application Centre) vouchers to cover the cost of applying to an Ontario College/University for students in financial need.
- YRDSB partnered with Ontario’s colleges and universities to host “Mini Dialogues” which was an opportunity for Guidance counsellors in the secondary schools to receive information about new programs, scholarships and admission requirements to support students in making informed decisions about post secondary options.
- The Pathways Team provided students from Grades 7 - 12 with the opportunity to explore pathways in the skilled trades by obtaining admission to Level Up which is a skilled trades career fairs bringing together skilled trades professionals across industry organizations, post-secondary institutions, businesses, associations and more.
In YRDSB, we prioritize student-centered, experiential learning. Our diverse programming ensures students can explore opportunities that are aligned with their strengths, interests and aspirations to support them in being future-ready.
Updated December 2025