Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)

Equivalency Process 

Where a student has acquired knowledge and skills outside Ontario classrooms that may correspond to the expected knowledge and skills to be demonstrated within the curriculum of one of the subjects offered within the school, the student may seek to have him or herself evaluated in terms of the published expectations in order to earn Ontario credits. Equivalency credits are granted for placement only. The Senior School Principal, with the assistance of the University Counsellor will decide where a student should be placed and determine the total credit equivalency of the student’s previous learning, and the number of compulsory credits earned. 

The equivalent credits and the compulsory credits earned will be recorded in the student’s OST.

Challenge Process

A student who believes they have the necessary prior learning to successfully pass a credit course for a subject taught at the school may challenge for that credit. The student must first apply to challenge. The application must set out the credit for which the challenge is being launched. The applicant must provide evidence of the prior learning experiences, including any assessment results relating thereto, and must write a state ment indicating the reasons for challenging and the applicant’s special interests and skills relating to the course. Prior to submitting the application, the applicant must review the curriculum expectations for the course with a teacher designated by the Principal of the Senior School (“Principal”). 

The Principal will receive all such challenge applications. The Principal will review the application and determine whether there is a likelihood that the student may be successful at challenging the course and whether there is a staff member who is competent and prepared to design and evaluate assessment tasks relating to the credit sought. The Principal will speak with the parents and the student. The Principal will either accept the challenge or decline the challenge based on this criteria. 

The Principal will then ask the student to meet with the chosen teacher to discuss a possible timeline and description of tasks to be completed. The teacher will submit a proposal including timeline and description of tasks to be completed. The proposal will be reviewed by the Department Chair and Principal. Once approved, the proposal will be given to the applicant. The proposal must include sufficient testing to cover the expectations listed for the course in the Ontario guideline, and sufficient types of assessment tasks to ensure that all four categories (knowledge/understanding, thinking/inquiry, communication, and application/making connections) are covered. The final mark will be calculated on the basis of tests being worth 70% of the mark and other assessment types being worth 30% of the mark. The formal tests must have a balance between written work and practical demonstration that is appropriate for the subject/discipline. 

The course will be reported upon following the marking of all assessment tasks and the mark obtained will be registered in the transcript for all Grade 11 and 12 courses challenged, successful or not. 

A student may challenge for no more than 4 credits, and only 2 in any one discipline. Students may not challenge for credits in the following courses: 

  • a course in any subject if a credit has already been granted for a course in that subject in a later Grade either as a single credit or as part of a block equivalency; 

  • a course for which credit has already been granted or for which there is significant overlap with a course for which credit has been granted;

  • a course in French as a Second Language, if the student has one or more credits in Francais from the curriculum policy documents for Français for Grades 9 to 12 under OSS or the curriculum guideline for Francais for Grades 9 to 12/OACs under OSIS. 

Students may only challenge Grade 10, 11 and 12 courses. All challenge applications must be made prior to September 30 to the Principal of the Senior School, unless the student has entered the school after the beginning of the school year, in which case applications must be made within a month of entry. Application forms may be obtained from a student’s university counsellor.