Secondary Special Education Program

Supportive Secondary Experience

Brighton’s innovative high school program addresses the learning needs of students who have difficulties meeting the demands of a typical high school program and social environment. Brighton offers special education courses in a unique customizable high school program. Students can select courses from one stream, or customize a combination schedule of credit, pre-credit and alternative courses to suit their needs.

Credit courses are designed for students who will benefit from the slower pace of extended “full year courses” rather than semester courses; or those who may want or need a reduced workload of secondary credits.

Pre-credit courses are designed for students working towards enrolling in credit courses but who require a year or two of remediation or skills-building.

Alternative special needs classes are non-credit courses focused on building functional skills in language, literacy, numeracy, and general knowledge, as well as social skills and independence.

Small class sizes with an average of 6-8 students per class. Our individualized programming provides accommodations and learning strategies throughout classes. Our timetable is based on a weekly schedule, instead of a rotary schedule, which supports organization, time management and planning skills.  Courses are taught at a slower pace, with more academic, social, and homework support.

Three Customizable Special Education Programs:

Brighton offers students with academic challenges 4 – 5 credit courses per year, selected from Locally Developed, Open or Workplace Courses.  Our courses are run on a full-year schedule, instead of semesters, which allows for better consolidation and retention of concepts. Courses are taught at a slower pace, with more academic, social, and homework support. Brighton is a Ministry of Education inspected school.

Our credit program allows students with learning disabilities to earn up to 14 credits towards an OSSC (Ontario Secondary School Certificate). Students earning less than 14 credits will be awarded a Certificate of Accomplishment. For students who wish to do more than 4 or 5 credits in a year, Brighton can support in-school ILC (Independent Learning Centre) courses.  Students may take six years to complete their credits.

Note that students in the credit program are also able to select courses from the pre-credit and alternative programs for a customized schedule. Brighton’s high school programs are structured so that students are not limited by their starting place, or pace.

Our Pre-Credit program is designed to focus on the development of prerequisite skills needed for entry into credit courses; and/or focus on the continued remediation of literacy and numeracy skills. Depending on abilities, needs and working levels, students with learning disabilities may participate in the pre-credit program for one, two or more years. Pre-credit courses are not credit-earning courses.

Pre-credit courses are designed for students who are working 1 -2 years below grade level, and have an emphasis on practical, hands-on, experiential learning.

Pre-credit courses are offered in English, Math, Science, Social Science and the Arts. Most courses are taught in parallel with, and use the credit curriculum, but proceed at a slower pace and do not cover all of the content required to earn a credit. Other special education courses are purely remedial and focus on decoding skills, comprehension or foundational math. 

Students may enroll in a combination of Pre-credit, Credit or Alternative courses, for a customized program. And, Brighton’s special education programs are structured so that students are not limited by their starting place, or pace.

Our Alternative (Non-credit) special education program is designed to focus on functional academics (language, literacy, numeracy) for high school age students with learning disabilities who are working at a grade 1 – 4 level and are not able to enter a credit program. In addition to academics, we focus on social skills; self-management strategies; self-advocacy; and skills for independent living, including fitness, shopping, community skills & cooking. Courses in technology, music, arts, home economics and transit training are also included.

Literacy skills are taught daily in our language and communication class. Decoding, comprehension, vocabulary, writing and digital literacy skills are learned and reinforced in a practical, hands-on learning environment. Conversation skills are taught using a ‘shared interest’ approach and practiced daily with facilitation and coaching.

Students may enroll in a combination of Alternative, Pre-Credit or Credit courses, for a customized program. Brighton’s programs are structured so that students are not limited by their starting place, or pace.

Secondary Student Life


Tutoring Available

Brighton offers tutoring before, during and after school hours to both our Brighton students
and external clients. Click on this box to learn more.

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