Kootenay Discovery School

Alternate Delivery Models
Online learning is a classroom alternative that allows students to take a program or course online at their own pace and to work with their teacher(s) to reach individualized goals in their learning plan. Kootenay Discovery School (KDS) provides flexible and self-paced learning programs to students in Kindergarten to Grade 12 + Adult. All programs are supported by BC-certified teachers and follow the BC Ministry of Education Curriculum. Students can enroll at KDS full-time, or they can cross-enroll in individual courses from their home school.

Different from the In-Person Learning Environment
KDS does not follow traditional school timetables and our classrooms can be anywhere and everywhere. We support individualized learning plans and self-pacing. Online learning allows you to prioritize your needs and to work at a pace and on a schedule that works for you.

Ownership of Learning
KDS allows students to be in charge of their learning. They can decide the pace at which to move through the material, when they are ready to be assessed, and in some cases, make decisions on how to be assessed. We believe that this responsibility empowers students with the confidence to develop competencies that will serve them effectively after graduation and into adulthood.

Distance Learning Programs
KDS offers over 60 online courses that all meet the BC Ministry of Education-mandated curriculum guidelines and learning outcomes. We offer full time distance learning programs for School District 5 students in grades K-12. Our K-9 learners may also enroll in our blended program which combines some class time with home learning time. We also offer courses for graduated adults wishing to upgrade their courses for entrance into post-secondary institutions.

Comparison of Registered Homeschooler with Online or Blended Learning Student - Visit Ministry Website

Traditional Homeschooling:

• Must meet the learning standards of the BC Curriculum: NO
• Learning must be supervised by a BC Teacher: NO
• Student progress must be evaluated by a teacher and report cards are prepared by a teacher 3x per year: NO
• Must participate in provincial testing (provincial exams, FSAs): NO
• Religious text/resources may be used: YES
• Status of student with school: Registered

Public School Online/Blended Learning:

• Must meet the learning standards of the BC Curriculum: YES
• Learning must be supervised by a BC Teacher: YES
• Student progress must be evaluated by a teacher and report cards are prepared by a teacher 3x per year: YES
• Must participate in provincial testing (provincial exams, FSAs): YES
• Religious text/resources may be used: NO
• Status of student with school: Enrolled

All of our programs are free to residents of British Columbia. We are a fully funded and accredited BC school operating in the East Kootenays within School District 5 (Southeast Kootenay).

Read more: BC Ministry of Education

Yes. Families in B.C. may qualify for free or low-cost devices and connectivity through the BC Technology for Learning Society’s Tech for Home program. They verify eligibility and provide steps to apply.

 Learn more: Tech for Home Program 

With cross enrollment, a student simply enrolls in two schools at the same time, completing in-class studies in their current BC secondary school, and enrolling with KDS for the courses they are completing online.

What are the benefits of cross enrollment?

Here's an example: A student has been looking forward to taking a metalwork elective, however when they meet to plan their semester with their school counselor, they learn that it's only offered at their secondary school at the same time as Social Studies 10, a course they are required to take. Cross enrollment allows the student to enroll with KDS to complete Social Studies 10 as an online learning course, freeing up the time on their schedule to then take the metalwork elective at their current school. The student is credited for both completed courses.

Cross enrollment provides helpful tools to school counselors throughout BC to find creative solutions that motivate students. Families can choose a learning environment that supports their child's needs and provides a positive peer experience. It's our experience at KDS that providing this flexibility motivates learners to take a keener interest in their education.

Students who utilize a cross enrollment option can also meet their goals faster by having the option of continuing their studies throughout the year, or by taking academic courses consecutively. For example, some students find that understanding the concepts in Math 11 course is easier when it's taken in the semester immediately following completion of Math 10, rather than waiting until the next school year.

Cross enrollment will not impact secondary school graduation.

Students can complete our KDS registration form online. Once submitted, new full-time students will be contacted by a teacher (Grades K–9) or a counsellor (Grades 10–12 or Adult) to confirm course selection and finalize a learning plan.

Exceptions: Graduated students upgrading a single course may proceed to course selection without a planning meeting. Cross-enrolled students may also register for courses directly, but are encouraged to consult with their home school prior to registration to ensure their online courses align with their grad plan.

Please access this link and enter your username (firstname.lastname) to have a "reset your password" link sent to you. If you do not receive this email, please reach out to kds.mailing@sd5.bc.ca and ask them to confirm your username and contact email.

Visit https://sd5.onlinelearningbc.com/ to access your Brightspace course. You’ll need your KDS Brightspace username [firstname.lastname] and password to log in.

Students must complete their activation assignment within 30 days of enrolling. If no activity is recorded, they may be withdrawn from the course for inactivity. To resume, re-register, please contact kds.mailing@sd5.bc.ca.

If a student has already activated their course but has since been inactive for 60 days or more — and has not responded to emails or phone calls from teachers or school staff — they will be withdrawn and must wait 9 months before re-registering for that course.

If a student has completed their course, it will no longer appear on their dashboard. To take another course, students can use the Add a Course form.

Visit the Ministry of Education website: Order Transcript

KDS posts all final grades to MyEdBC.

• If KDS is your school of record, your final grade will be reported to the Ministry of Education within one week of course completion and will appear on your official transcript shortly afterward.

• If you are cross-enrolled, KDS will still post your grade to MyEdBC, but your home school is responsible for reporting it to the Ministry. This usually happens when your school runs TRAX submissions — typically multiple times per semester, and especially at the end of each term.

If you have questions about when your grade will appear on your transcript, please contact your school counsellor or administrator.

If you need an official letter confirming your grade, email your KDS teacher. A PDF letter can be sent to you or directly to a post-secondary institution.

After your final grades are received, the Ministry typically takes 4–6 weeks to issue graduation documents. Diplomas for full-time KDS grads are mailed to KDS, signed by the principal, and forwarded to the student. June graduates typically receive their documents in early October.

No. While students can work at their own pace, KDS does not guarantee completion timelines under two months. Time is needed for teacher feedback, assessment, and exam booking. Most courses include at least one invigilated exam which requires a one-week scheduling window.

K–6 students should submit learning samples every two weeks in at least two subject areas. Grades 7–12 students should aim to spend up to 3 hours per day and submit work regularly to demonstrate progress. Inactivity for 60 days or more with no response to emails or phone calls will result in withdrawal.

KDS teachers support a wide range of learning needs. Students are placed in their age-appropriate grade, but may work at varied levels across subjects. Teachers and learning services staff will collaborate with families to personalize support and adapt expectations. Please contact our Learning Services team or your child's teacher with additional questions about what this might look like for your child. 

All K–9 students have access to Brightspace for learning materials. Teachers may also provide custom resource lists aligned to student learning plans.

Learning Support Funds (LSF) are available for full-time K–12 students to access eligible resources that directly support their learning. These may include:

• Workbooks and curriculum-aligned print resources

• Online learning tools or subscriptions

All purchases must be pre-approved and made directly by the school. Families are not reimbursed for personal purchases.

To access these funds, please contact your child’s teacher. They will help determine eligible items based on your child’s learning plan and coordinate the request through the school office.

All learning at KDS must align with the BC curriculum. However, there is flexibility in how and when students demonstrate learning. Teachers and Learning Services staff work with families to adapt pacing, provide choice in assignments, and support personalized learning.

KDS teachers are typically assigned to grade bands (K–3, 4–6, 7–9, 10-12). If children are in the same band, they may share a teacher. Otherwise, each child will be matched with a teacher based on grade level. Teachers collaborate closely across bands to support families.