December 15, 2009
Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s):
Re: Prior Learning and Recognition (PLAR) Challenge for Adolescents 2010
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR), is available to
secondary school students as part of the secondary curriculum, specifically
Ontario Secondary Schools, Grades 9-12: Program and Diploma Requirements, 1999
(O.S.S.sections 6.6 and 8.2), if they wish to challenge for a credit.
PLAR is the formal evaluation and credit-granting process whereby
students may obtain credits for prior learning. Prior learning includes the
knowledge and skills that students have acquired, in both formal and informal
ways, outside secondary school. Students may have their knowledge and skills
evaluated against the expectations outlined in provincial curriculum policy
documents in order to earn credits towards their secondary school diploma.
The "challenge" process is the process whereby students' prior
learning is assessed for the purpose of granting a credit for a Grade 10, 11 or
12 course developed from a provincial curriculum policy document published in
1999 or later. Students in Grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 may apply to challenge for
credit for certain Grade 10, 11 or 12 courses.
Please note the following rules which govern the challenge process
as outlined in the PLAR policy:
* Students may challenge and earn a maximum of four credits for prior
learning, including a maximum of two credits in any one discipline.
* The PLAR challenge process requires students to demonstrate their
knowledge and skills through assessment procedures that will include formal
tests (70%) and other assessment activities (30%).
* Students can only challenge for courses that are currently taught in TDSB
schools.
* There are some courses that cannot be challenged. (Please refer to the
PLAR Fact Sheet available through Guidance).
* Students must be registered with a Toronto District School Board school
and will not be charged a fee.
* Only successful challenges will be recorded as credits granted on the
student's OSR; however full disclosure will apply to attempts made at the Grade
11 and 12 levels.
* A complete challenge application and accompanying supportive documents,
materials, proof, evidence to show knowledge and skills which meet all
curriculum expectations for a course must be submitted by the set deadline.
Students are responsible for initiating the challenge process. As the first
step in preparation for this process, all interested students and
parents/guardians must attend a mandatory Information/Orientation session on:
Monday, February 8, 2010
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Earl Haig Secondary School, Auditorium
100 Princess Avenue, Toronto,
(Yonge and Sheppard area)
Registration is from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and the presentation is from
7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The challenge process will be clarified and curriculum
specialists will answer questions with regard to the expectations of the
challenge process.
Application forms will be available from the school Guidance office from
Tuesday, February 9, 2010. Students in Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 who wish to
challenge for a Grade 10, 11 or 12 course must complete an application and
return it to the school Guidance office by March 26, 2010, at 4:00 p.m.
Applications will be initially checked for completion by school Administrator
or Guidance Counsellor. Those deemed to be complete and appropriate will be
assessed by central curriculum staff to determine if the challenge application
is approved to proceed to the final evaluation. All applicants will be
notified in writing of the status of their challenge application by April 15.
The challenge process of assessment and evaluation will be conducted during the
month of May.
If you have any questions about PLAR or the challenge process, please
contact the Guidance office.
Yours truly,
Joel Gorenkoff
Principal
