Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)

What is Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)?

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) is a formal evaluation and accreditation process. Students may obtain credits towards the secondary school diploma (OSSD) for knowledge and skills that they have acquired outside of secondary school. This prior learning is assessed and evaluated to determine whether the student has met the provincial course expectations. The student may "challenge" a specific course for credit or may obtain credits through the "equivalency" process if they have credentials from schools outside Ontario.

Am I Eligible To Challenge A Course For Credit?

Secondary school students who are enrolled in a regular day school program in an Ontario secondary school may challenge a course for credit.

Other students should visit www.garyallan.ca for information related to the PLAR process for mature students.

What Courses May I Challenge for Credit?

Students may challenge for credit Grade 10, 11, or 12 courses that are taught in Halton and are developed from a provincial policy document.

How Many Courses May I Challenge For Credit?

Students may earn a maximum of four credits through the challenge process, including a maximum of two credits in any one discipline.

Is Parental Permission Necessary To Apply For The Challenge Process?

Students under the age of eighteen need parental approval before applying to challenge a credit for a course.

Orientation Sessions

An Orientation Session will be held to provide more information for students on Wednesday, April 4th, 2012 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the New Street Education Centre, 3250 New St. Burlington. The session will be held in the Lockhart Room.

All students who intend to challenge a course for credit must register for and attend the Orientation Session.

How Do I Get Started?

The first step is to attend the PLAR Orientation Session. All students who intend to challenge a course for credit must register for and attend the Orientation Session on Wednesday, April 4th, 2012.

At the session you will be given more detailed information on making a formal application to challenge for credit. You will receive information on what documentation is required, how your application will be processed, how your tests and assessment will be conducted, how your results will be reported, appeal procedures, withdrawal policy and contact information.

Can I Get A Head-Start While I Am Waiting For The Session?

A student may begin by gathering and organizing any evidence that demonstrates the knowledge and skills related to the course for challenge. For information on courses and course requirements visit the Ministry website at www.edu.gov.on.ca.   Information is available in English by clicking here and in French by clicking here.  Course information can be searched by subject or by grade by clicking on the links that will appear in your browser.

Examples of evidence may include letters of reference from teachers or community leaders, certificates, sample assignments, samples of original work, a portfolio, descriptions of programs, courses or experiences that support your application.

Am I Likely To Be a Successful Challenge Candidate?

You must answer "NO" to all of the following questions to be a likely PLAR Challenge candidate:

• Have you already earned a credit in the course you want to challenge for credit?
• Have you already earned a credit in a course similar to the course you want to challenge for credit?
• Have you already received credit as part of a block of equivalency credits for the course you want to challenge for credit?
• Have you previously failed this course?
• Have you already earned a credit in English and want to challenge an English as a Second Language (ESL), or Anglais Pour Débutants (APD)?
• Have you already earned a credit in Francais and want to challenge French as a Second Language (FSL), Actualisation Linquistique en Français (ALF), or Perfectionnement du Français (PDF)?

You must also answer "YES" to all of the questions below to be a likely PLAR Challenge candidate

• Do you plan to challenge the entire course for credit?
• Have you met the pre-requisite requirements for the course you plan to challenge for credit?
• Is your request to challenge for credit as part of your educational plans fulfill your educational goals?

Additional Challenge Information

Appeal Procedure

In cases where there is a disagreement with the decision of the principal about whether a student should challenge for credit, an adult student or the parent/guardian of a student who is not an adult may ask the school area superintendent to review the matter.

Repeating the Challenge

A student may submit an application for challenge for a specific course for a second time after a reasonable interval, if the student can provide reasonable evidence of additional study and experience.

Assessment and Evaluation

Assessment and evaluation strategies will be based on curriculum expectations and achievement charts in the Ontario curriculum policy. They will include formal tests and other assessment strategies.

Withdrawal Policy

A student may withdraw from the challenge process prior to the final formal test without a notation on the student's Ontario Student Transcript (OST) or the Cumulative Tracking Record. Once students have entered the "final formal test" stage of the challenge process, and choose to withdraw from the process, a mark for grade 11 and 12 courses will be entered on the OST  and a mark for grade 10 to 12 courses will be entered on the PLAR Cumulative Tracking Record.

Final Mark

Only passing grades for grade 10 will be entered on the OST in the same manner as achievement in other courses without reference to PLAR.

Passing and failing grades for grades 11 & 12 will be entered on the OST in the same manner as achievement in other courses without reference to PLAR.

 PLAR PACKAGE

The following components of the PLAR package must be completed and submitted to your principal by Thursday April 26th, 2012 at 4:00 p.m.

1. PLAR Challenge Application Form
2. Ontario Student Transcript
3. Knowledge and Skills Profile: Evidence of Relevant Learning
4. Knowledge & Skills Profile: Reference Form 1 (mandatory) & Form 2 (optional)
5. Knowledge & Skills Profile: Sample Products (optional)
6. Individual Education Plan (where applicable)
7. Student Paragraph
8. PLAR Cumulative Tracking Record (if you have previously attained a credit through the PLAR process)