First Language Challenge Evaluation Opportunity

1. First Language Challenge Evaluation Opportunity The First Language Challenge Evaluation Opportunity is offered in accordance with Program Policy Memorandum 132: Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for Mature Students: Implementation in Ontario Secondary Schools.

2. First Language Challenge Evaluation Opportunity The challenge evaluation is designed to provide newcomers to Canada, working towards a high school diploma, an opportunity to complete PLAR challenges in their first language Successful completion of the two challenges will result in the granting of two senior secondary credits

3. Who is Eligible to Participate? The student must be a “mature student” as defined in PPM127: • is at least eighteen years of age on or before December 31 of the school year in which he or she registers in an Ontario secondary school program; • was not enrolled as a regular day school student for a period of at least one school year immediately preceding his or her registration in a secondary program; • is enrolled in a secondary program for the purpose of obtaining an OSSD. • a “regular day school student” is a student who is enrolled in a regular day school program. A student enrolled only in continuing education, e-learning, and/or distance learning is not considered a regular day school student. • a “school year” for the purpose of this definition is a period of no less than ten consecutive months immediately preceding the student’s return to school.

4. Policies Governing the Challenge Process May challenge for credit for up to 10 Grade 11 and 12 courses May obtain no more than 10 Grade 11 and 12 credits through the challenge and equivalency processes combined It is recommended that principals delay assigning equivalency credits until the student has successfully completed 4 Grade 11 and 12 courses.

5. Policies Governing the Challenge Process • The Application Process: • The student must submit the “Application to Challenge for Credit for a Course” form • The student must be able to provide reasonable evidence to the principal that they would likely be successful in the challenge process • if the student disagree with the principal’s decision they can appeal to the supervisory officer • Boards can create their own application form but it must include the same information as found in PPM 132 • The student also have to write a paragraph stating why he/she wanted to challenge for credit this course. • The student and the principal will sign and date this form.

7. Policies Governing the Challenge Process PPM132 outlines the courses for which a student cannot be granted credit through the challenge process. Some of these are: A previously failed course A course for which the student has already earned a credit A course in any subject in which the student has a credit in that subject in a later grade The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course Entire list is outlined on page 9 of PPM 132 Can challenge a course a second time after a reasonable interval with reasonable evidence

8. Policies Governing the Challenge Process Evidence that might be used in the application to challenge a course: Certificates Other records of accomplishment earned outside Ontario First Language skills of the student Literacy skills in the First Language Credit will only be granted for the specific course the student has successfully challenged for credit

9. Policies Governing the Challenge Process Grade 11 and 12 Credits Assessment and Evaluation Based on curriculum expectations and the achievement charts in the Ontario curriculum policy documents, including: All strands of the course All categories of knowledge and skills The descriptions of achievement levels in the curriculum policy document for the discipline The student’s level of achievement will be recorded as a percentage grade on the OST

10. Policies Governing the Challenge Process Grade 11 and 12 Credits Assessment and Evaluation Must include: Formal tests (70% of the mark) Balance between written work and practical demonstration appropriate for the subject discipline Variety of other assessment strategies appropriate for the course (30% of the mark)

11. Policies Governing the Challenge Process • The “Record of Assessment of Challenge for Credit for a Course Form” must be completed.

13. Evaluation Strategies Used • Formal Test- 70% of final percentage grade Total Mark: /120 Percentage Grade (out of 70%)_________________________

14. b) Other Evaluation Stategies-30% of final percentage grade Percentage Grade (out of 30%)_________________________ Final Grade:________________________ Signatures: Subject Teacher: _________________Date__________________ Student: ________________________Date___________________ Principal: _______________________ Date___________________

15. Policies Governing the Challenge Process Boards will not charge mature students fees for undergoing the challenge process. Ontario Regulation 285 (Continuing Education) under the Education Act does not permit publicly funded school boards to charge fees for continuing education credit courses.

16. Responsibilities of School Principals PLAR procedures for mature students will be carried out under the direction of the principal, who grants credits. PLAR must be implemented in accordance with section 7.2.5.2 of OS and PPM 132 Principals will ensure that mature students who do not have proper documentation of prior learning owing to extraordinary circumstances will receive advice concerning the gathering and giving of evidence.

17. Record Keeping - OST • Challenge Process: • The following entries must be made on the student’s OST • Passing and failing percentage grades will be entered on the student’s OST • No notation will be made if the student withdraws from the challenge process • See The Ontario Student Transcript (OST): Manual, (updated 2010) pages 15 - 17

18. Record Keeping Cumulative Tracking Record • There is a separate cumulative tracking record for: • The Challenge Process for Grade 11 and 12 credits • This is a “Required Form” found in Appendix 2 of PPM132 used for recording results for mature students • No changes of any kind can be made to this form

19. Record Keeping Cumulative Tracking Record • Must be maintained and stored in the student’s OSR • Tracks the number of credits that a mature student has obtained through the equivalency and challenge processes • Tracks the disciplines in which these credits have been obtained, as well as failures and withdrawals • Principals will ensure that the following entries are made, as applicable: • The student’s passing percentage grade • Failing percentage grade • Withdrawal from the challenge process

21. Record Keeping Interim Tracking Record • Maintained for credits obtained through the equivalency and challenge processes in a school outside of the student’s regular school (the school that maintains the student’s OSR) • This form communicates the student’s results to the school that maintains the OSR • Principals will ensure that the following entries are made on the Interim Tracking Record, as applicable: • The student’s passing percentage grade • Failing percentage grade • Withdrawal from the challenge process