Students across Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon head back to class today, but for high school students especially, it won’t be business as usual.
A major change coming to classrooms across Ontario this year will make attendance and participation part of students’ final grades, while most secondary students will also face mandatory final evaluations, including written exams.
The new rules apply to students in Grades 9 to 12 and are being implemented by both the Peel District School Board (PDSB) and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB).
Under the new provincial assessment rules, students in Grades 9 and 10 will have their final marks calculated using three components: 65 per cent for classroom work, 20 per cent for mandatory final evaluations and 15 per cent for attendance and participation.
For students in Grades 11 and 12, classroom work will account for 65 per cent, mandatory final evaluations 25 per cent and attendance and participation 10 per cent.
That means showing up and taking part in class can now directly affect a student’s final mark.
The province says excused absences, including illness, unavoidable circumstances, inclement weather and approved cultural or religious observances, will not negatively affect a student’s grade.
The final-evaluation requirement is also changing how secondary students will finish their courses.
Most courses will require a written final exam, although the exact format and weighting depends on the subject. Some courses will use a combination of a written exam and a culminating task, while certain courses have exemptions. All written final exams are to be held during the designated examination period, with the Grade 9 mathematics EQAO assessment serving as the written exam for that course.
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For parents, the practical takeaway is that attendance, participation and preparation for final evaluations will matter throughout the year and not just during the final weeks of a semester.
The changes come as both Peel school boards continue operating under provincial supervision.
The Ontario government placed the DPCDSB under supervision in June 2025 amid concerns about its financial management. The PDSB was placed under provincial supervision in January 2026, with the province citing financial sustainability and concerns over a proposed teacher layoff plan.
For families, however, the most noticeable change will likely happen inside the classroom.
Elementary students won’t have their grades affected by the new secondary-school requirements, but their families will still be dealing with the usual back-to-school issues, including transportation, schedules and attendance procedures.
For high school students, however, the message from the province is clear: being in class, participating and completing the required final evaluations now count toward the mark.
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