Mature+PLAR+Challenge

Q: What is the individual course challenge process?
A: A process whereby students' proir learning is assessed and evaluated to determine whether they have met the provincial curriculum expectations for a specific grade 11 or 12 course. The process requires students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills through assessment procedures that include formal tests, group work, and other activities. There is no teaching component to this process.

Q: How do mature students apply for an individual course challenge?
A:
 * Students are responsible for initiating the challenge process, and must provide reasonable evidence to the pricnipal that they are likely to be successful in the challenge process.
 * Mature students may use certificates or other records of accomplishment earned outside Ontario classrooms as reasonable evidence of eligibility to challenge for credit for a related course within the Ontario curriculum.
 * Mature students currently enrolled in a secondary school credit course and working toward an OSSD may challenge a grade 11 or 12 course.
 * Students must submit a challenge application, along with the relevant evidence and documentation, as proof that they are qualified to challenge for credit in a specific course.

Q: What is considered reasonable evidence?
A:
 * Samples of relevant work, in keeping with Ministry curriculum expectations;
 * Proof of successful relevant expereince or independent learning;
 * Videotape, audiotape, or CD-ROM with samples of relevant work.

Q: Which grade 11 or 12 courses CANNOT be challenged?
A:
 * Transfer courses
 * locally developed course
 * Cooperative education courses
 * A subject where a higher level of credit has already been granted
 * a course for which there is significant overlap with a course for which a credit has been granted
 * Multi-credit technological credits
 * Courses that a student has attempted but failed
 * A course that a student has already taken but wishes to challenge in the hopes of obtaining a higher mark
 * Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course

Q: What if a student is unsuccessful in the individual course challenge process?
A: Full disclosure applies to all grade 11 and 12 courses challenged. Unsuccessful attempts will be recorded on the Ontario Student Transcript (OST) Also, a student will be permitted to challenge for credit for a specific course a second time after a reasonable interval, if the student can provide reasonable evidence to the pricipal that he or she is likely to be successful after having benefited from additional study and experience during the interval.

Q: How many courses can a mature student challenge?
A: Mature students may challenge for credit for up to 10 grade 11 and 12 courses with no maximum number of credits obtained in any one discipline. However, a student may obtain no more than 10 Grade 11 and 12 credits through the challenge and equivalency processes combined. (PPM132, Page 8)

Q: How are "Challenged" credits recorded?
A: PLAR "Cumulative Tracking Record" forms for mature students, which are provided in appendix 2 of PPM132 must be maintained and included in the student's OSR. Failures and withdrawals are to be recorded on this tracking record. A student's level of achievement will be recorded as a percentage grade on the OST in the same way as achievement in other courses.

Q: How is a mark determined for the challenged credit?
A: Assessment and evaluation through the PLAR process will be based on the curriculum expectations and the achievement charts in the Ontario curriculum policy documents. Assessment and evaluation strategies for the challenge process must include formal tests (70 per cent of the final mark) and a variety of other assessment strategies appropriate for the particular course (30 percent of the final mark). The formal tests must have a balance between written work and practical demonstration that is appropriate for the subject/discipline.