RCSD High School EAL Considerations

Completing High School Credits

If you are 18 or over and do not have at least 14 credits granted by the Ministry of Education, you will likely be placed in classes with much younger students and will be with these younger students for two or more years. 

Options for Students 18 and Older

Consider alternative programs designed for adult learners:

• Adult Campus: Offers day and evening courses with peers your age. Location: 4210 4th Avenue, Phone: (306) 523-3650.
• Regina Open Door Society: Provides English language training and support for obtaining an Adult 12 diploma. Visit website
• Saskatchewan Polytechnic: If you are proficient in English, explore the Adult 12 program (Grade 12 with 7 credits). Visit website

High School Education

Typical high school placement is recommended for EAL students 17 and under and students 18 and over with 14 or more credits from the Ministry of Education.  Students 18 and over should consider the previous options. 

• Schools prioritize language development before academic courses to ensure comprehension.
• Many students need additional time to meet curriculum standards before earning credits.
• The CFR level (Common Framework of Reference) determines language proficiency and impacts course selection.

The high school year is divided into two semesters. 

• Semester 1: September – January
• Semester 2: February – June

Attendance is mandatory. Long absences, including extended trips, can delay graduation. Homework is only provided for illness-related absences.

High School Schedule (Sample)

• 7:45 – 8:45: Early Bird (Band/Choral)
• 8:45 – 9:49: Period 1
• 9:54 – 10:58: Period 2
• 10:58 – 11:09: Break
• 11:09 – 12:13: Period 3
• 12:13 – 1:07: Lunch
• 1:07 – 2:11: Period 4
• 2:16 – 3:20: Period 5

Planning Courses

Graduation Requirements

• 24 credits are required to graduate.
• Each course = 1 credit (minimum passing grade: 50%).
• The school division decides if your English proficiency is sufficient to take credit courses.
• Guidance office: Helps with course selection, post-secondary applications, and personal support.

Grade 9

Students must complete Grade 9 before taking Grade 10 courses. No credit is given for Grade 9 courses.  Courses are English Language Arts A9, English Language Arts B9, Math 9, Science 9, Social 9, Catholic Studies 9, Physical Education 9, Arts Education 9 and one elective.

Grade 10

This is when students begin to attain credits. Students take 10 courses:

• English Language Arts 10
• Financial Literacy 10
• One math at the Grade 10 level
• Science 10
• Catholic Studies 10
• Native Studies 10, Social Studies 10, or History 10
• 4 more courses of their choice (electives). Grade 10 courses are typically labeled with a 10 (e.g., Science 10).

Grade 11

Students must take four (4) compulsory courses:

• English Language Arts 20
• One math at the Grade 11 level (20-level)
• One science at the Grade 11 level (20-level)
• Catholic Studies 20
• One Social Science 20 or 30 course (e.g., Psychology 20) * This class requirement is only for graduates of 2025-2026.

Also, students may take six (6) more courses of their choice (electives).   

Grade 12 (Year of Grad 2025-2026)

Students must take these compulsory courses:

• English Language Arts A30
• English Language Arts B30
• Catholic Studies 30
• Social Studies 30, Native Studies 30, or History 30
• Another 30-level (Grade 12) course

To graduate, each student must also have at least one physical education/wellness credit which can be taken in Grade 10, 11 or 12. 

Elective Courses

Electives count toward the 24-credit requirement and may be required for post-secondary programs. Example: A Grade 12 science course may be necessary for university admission.

Extra Help 

Each school has special tutorial courses that help students with schoolwork.  You may be required to be scheduled in these classrooms.   You must attend these classes every day.  The school will decide if you need these courses.  These are not courses for credit.

EAL Credit Courses

These are courses that earn the student credits toward the 24-credit requirement for graduation.  They may be required or recommended to you based on language needs.

Ministry of Education

The Ministry of Education is the part of the provincial government that governs education. When students come to Canada, they must go to the RCSD Multilingual & Multicultural Services for an initial assessment and provide the original transcripts (records from the school in the home country). The assessor sends the student’s original school transcripts to the Ministry of Education. The Ministry then evaluates the transcripts and decides how many credits the student will receive.  

A student with no original school transcript or record from the home country must earn all 24 credits (Grade 10, 11 and 12 courses) to graduate.  They may need Grade 9 courses as well.  Grades 10, 11, and 12 take three years for students proficient in English.  

Students learning English will likely be in school for an extra year or two as they learn English.

Attendance/Holidays

School holidays are posted on the school calendar. Families can take their holidays during long school breaks (e.g., Christmas break).  Missing class may result in failing courses. Schools do not provide assignments or exams for extended absences.

Parents/guardians must report absences via Edsby, phone, or email.

Adult 12 Program

Students cannot take an Adult 12 Program unless the school division determines that the student is able to pass the courses.  The student must be proficient in English to take these courses.  The school division makes the final decision.

Students who want to try Adult 12 may wish to attend Adult Campus.  Adult 12 is the same as Grade 12 standing for students age 19 and over.  Adult 12 requires a student to complete the following seven courses:

• ELA 30
• Financial Literacy 30
• One 20 or 30-level science
• One 20 or 30-level math
• One 30 level social
• Two additional 30-level credits

High School Adjusted Outcomes/Modified Outcomes: 

In Saskatchewan, Modified Courses are available in at the Grade 10-12 level. Students who experience learning difficulty in courses may require modified course outcomes to achieve credits and work toward graduation. Modified courses do not meet the criteria for most post-secondary programs. Students and parents/guardians have the right to be informed of the rationale for a student to take a modified course. 

Students transitioning from Grade 8 who are on a Transitional Learning Plan (TLP) may require adjustments to outcomes in Grade 9 to be successful. In Grade 9 staff can make required adjustments to courses for students who will need to transition to modified courses in grades 10-12. This is done in consultation with the student, guidance, administration, and parents/guardians. When course outcomes are adjusted in Grade 9, students commonly will not have the required prerequisite knowledge to be successful in grades 10-12 regular credit courses in that subject area.

High School EAL Considerations

EAL students new to Canada must be assessed at the Multilingual & Multicultural Services. The assessor determines the CFR level for the student.

The CFR (Common Framework of Reference) is a language framework that identifies ways learners use language to perform tasks.  It is a strong indicator of the amount of additional language support a student may require to understand and achieve the outcomes of the course fully.

EAL Grade 8 students’ CFR levels are determined by the EAL teacher.

Students can register in compulsory credit courses AFTER they achieve a B1 on the CFR.  Once again, the school division decides if a student has the language skills needed to enroll in a course for credit.

EAL students, like other students, may pass or fail courses in high school.  EAL students must achieve the same Saskatchewan curriculum outcomes expected of all students to receive credit for a course.

Students who cannot meet course outcomes cannot receive credit for their courses. Students in this situation have two options:

1. Audit the course.  The time spent in the course is a language and cultural learning opportunity. 

The student’s work may be submitted but will not be assessed for marks.  Feedback may be given. The student will be allowed to enroll in that course again in the future to earn a credit. 

1. Withdraw from the course and enroll in a tutorial or EAL course.  The student will take part in the language program to improve English proficiency. The tutorial or EAL class must fit in the student’s schedule. 

Course Enrollment for EAL Students

Based on CFR Level:

A1: Enrolled in EAL courses and tutorials; audits elective courses.

A2: Can take some elective courses for credit; may audit a high-language course.

B1: Can take any credit course but may receive lower grades due to language barriers.

IND (Independent): No additional EAL support; can enroll in all courses.

Exceptions: Must be approved by school administration (e.g., advanced math or music courses).

Exception examples:

• If a student has taken calculus in their home country, that student may be able to take pre-calculus.
• If a student is proficient in music, they may be able to follow Music 10, 20, or 30.  The same may be true of visual art. 

Learning Online Options

• A1 students are not eligible for online courses.
• A2 may enroll in select online courses based on school approval.
• B1 Students may take any Learning Online Course.

EAL Students Entering High School – Timelines

February 2025