La 2e Classe

La 2e Classe is a Quebec company that gives homeschooling families live online group classes, private tutoring and preparation for the ministry exams, from the first year of primary school to Secondary 5. Its footer calls it "une entreprise québécoise fière, spécialisée dans le tutorat individuel et les cours en groupe" (a proud Quebec company specializing in individual tutoring and group classes), and its contact details place it on Montreal's South Shore and online. The home page counts 3,600 students helped. The two co-founders, Marilou and Christine Amélie, appeared on the TV show Dans l'œil du dragon, where, the site says, they spoke about the benefits of home education for Quebec children, including less anxiety and performance anxiety. The site is in French, and the classes follow the Quebec school program.

Live group classes

The core product is a set of online group classes for homeschooled students. The site describes "petits groupes de 6 à 16 élèves" (small groups, ranging from 6 up to 16 in size), live classes with teachers, and structured courses that are easy to follow, calling the whole package "une solution clé en main pour faire l'école à la maison" (a turnkey solution for homeschooling). Classes run from Tuesday to Thursday on a fixed weekly schedule, from the start of September to June 15, with two weeks off at Christmas and one week at spring break.

Each subject gets 90 minutes of live teaching a week, except math, which has two 90-minute sessions. The FAQ is clear that classes are live so students can interact, and that "Tous les cours sont enregistrés" (all classes are recorded), so a student who misses one can watch it later. Teachers are also available for individual online appointments and can run extra support and catch-up sessions. Students need a stable internet connection, a computer, tablet or smartphone, and the course materials on the company's recommended list.

The subjects are the five that the FAQ calls essential for Quebec homeschooling: French, English, math, science and social studies (univers social). Parents can pick only the subjects their child needs. Course plans, the FAQ says, are inspired by the Programme de formation de l'école québécoise and the progression des apprentissages, Quebec's official curriculum and learning progression. One parent notes exams at the end of each chapter.

Teachers are chosen, according to the FAQ, for their teaching experience, academic qualifications and subject expertise, and they get ongoing training and regular performance reviews. They grade homework, give feedback and hold question sessions, and parents can contact them directly. The team page lists primary teachers, subject teachers in French, English, math, science and social studies, and a remedial teacher (orthopédagogue). The company also has a zero-tolerance policy on bullying, with a written procedure for problems in class chats, noting that many of its students arrive after being harassed elsewhere.

Help with Quebec homeschooling paperwork

La 2e Classe is upfront that it is not an accredited school: "La 2e Classe n'a pas cette accréditation" (La 2e Classe does not have this accreditation). In Quebec only schools accredited by the ministry can issue official report cards or diplomas, so parents remain legally responsible for home education and submit a learning project and progress reports to the ministry themselves. The company positions itself as the partner that supplies the classes, teaching tools and supervision.

It also supplies paperwork. The FAQ says it sends regular progress reports to help parents complete their mid-year and year-end reports. For registrations made before December 31, it offers a learning project and an evaluation by a holder of a teaching license, which parents should add to with their own activities at home. Three times a year it issues a progress certificate covering behavior in the virtual class, learning, involvement, topics covered, skills worked on, comments and suggested next steps. One parent writes that the annual evaluations mean "plus besoin de constituer un portfolio" (no more need to build a portfolio).

Secondary 4 and 5 need extra planning. The FAQ explains that the company helps students prepare for the units needed for the high school diploma (DES) in collaboration with the school service centers, but cannot issue a diploma itself. Parents must coordinate with their center, and besides the Secondary 4 and 5 ministry exams in French, English, math, science and social studies, they supervise projects in subjects such as physical education, ethics and religious culture, and visual arts to reach the 54 credits required.

Tutoring, exam preparation and study guides

Beyond the group classes, La 2e Classe offers personalized tutoring "offert par des tuteurs qualifiés" (by qualified tutors), and one parent on the home page says the company "a trouvé un tuteur rapidement" (found a tutor quickly). For the ministry exams it provides targeted resources and simulations, plus an evaluation by a certified teacher. Its online shop sells preparation guides in digital and paper formats for review at the student's own pace. The site also has sections for an individual annual program, for families who travel, and a blog on topics such as ADHD and other learning difficulties.

Prices and payment

Prices are published in Canadian dollars. For primary students, the FAQ says the cost is $310 a month for three 90-minute courses a week covering French, math, science and social studies; English can be added at $105 a month, for a total of $415 a month for all five subjects. For secondary students, French, English, science and social studies cost $105 a month each, and math, with two periods a week, costs $185 a month in the FAQ, making $605 a month for all five subjects; the math course card in the catalog shows $175. Paying the full year in advance gives a 5% discount.

There are four ways to pay: annually or monthly, by credit card or by Interac transfer, directly in the portal. The invoice is issued on the 20th of the previous month and is due by the 1st. Registration is free and open all year. Families can cancel at any time by giving notice at least 7 days before the start of the month, with no cancellation fee. A missed live class is not refunded, since every class is recorded. The company holds a yearly information session, and advisers answer questions by phone.

Who it suits

La 2e Classe suits Quebec families who homeschool but want their child taught by teachers, in a real class with other students, on a fixed weekly schedule. Working parents get structure without teaching every subject themselves, and the progress reports and certificates take much of the strain out of the ministry paperwork. It is a good match for children who left school because of anxiety or bullying, and one parent writes that her sixth grader with attention deficit disorder (TDA) "a finalement aimé l'école" (finally liked school). Families who travel can keep their children in the same classes from anywhere.

It is not a school, and families should plan around that: there are no official report cards or diplomas, and Secondary 4 and 5 students still need their school service center for the DES. Costs add up across subjects at the secondary level, so parents choosing à la carte should price the exact mix they need before enrolling.