Return to top

 

Board Policy #353.0 Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for Day School Students

 

1. Policy Statement

The York Region District School Board believes in life-long learning; learning that can and does occur beyond the regular school day. Recognizing that students are exposed to a variety of learning experiences outside the Ontario school system and regular day school structure, the Board offers the Prior Learning  Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) challenge process as a way to recognize this learning.  

 

2. Responsibilities

 

2.1 The Board of Trustees is responsible for:

1. reviewing the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition for Day School Students policy in accordance with the priorities in the Trustees’ Multi-Year Plan and the approved review cycle; and

2. understanding and communicating with members of the community about the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition policy, as required.

 

2.2 The Director of Education is responsible for:

1. implementing and operationalizing the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition for Day School Students policy as per the requirements of Ontario Schools, Kindergarten to Grade 12, Policy and Program Requirements 2011 and Policy/Program Memorandum 129.

 

2.3 Superintendents are responsible for:

1. ensuring that Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition challenge opportunities are available to all eligible students; and

2. supporting the application of the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition for Day School Students policy at each school.

 

2.4 Secondary School Principals are responsible for:

1. ensuring that students are aware of the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) challenge process;

2. facilitating the application of the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition for Day School Students policy; and

3. ensuring that students who engage in the PLAR challenge process meet the eligibility requirements.

 

2.5 Parents/Guardians are responsible for:

1. supporting student compliance with the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition program requirements; and

2. communicating with school staff to promote student success.

 

2.6 Students are responsible for:

1. complying with the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition program expectations.

 

3. Definitions

 

3.1 Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) is a formal evaluation and credit-granting process. Through the PLAR challenge process, students enrolled in Ontario secondary schools may have their skills and knowledge evaluated against the overall expectations outlined in provincial curriculum policy documents to earn credits towards their secondary school diploma. Prior learning includes the knowledge and skills that students have acquired both in formal and informal ways, outside the secondary school.

 

4. Contact

Curriculum and Instructional Services Continuing Education Services

 

5. History

Working Document: April 2013 

Approved: February 2014 

Working Document: March 2022

Final Approval: December 2022

---

 

Return to top

 

Board Procedure #353.0 Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for Day School Students

 

1. Procedure Statement

This procedure outlines the process for implementing the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) program in secondary schools for day school students.

 

2. Responsibilities

 

2.1 The Director of Education shall:

1. allocate staff and resources to support the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition for Day School Students procedure.

 

2.2 Superintendents of Schools shall:

1. ensure all schools are meeting the responsibilities of the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition for Day School Students procedure.

 

2.3 Continuing Education Services shall:

1. work in partnership with Curriculum and Instructional Services to maintain the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) materials, including, but not limited to, brochures, website content, system memos, applications and reporting forms;

2. schedule PLAR challenges to occur during the summer months; and

3. receive student applications and coordinate hiring teachers to conduct the testing, and evaluate and report on the student’s performance.

 

2.4 Curriculum and Instructional Services shall:

1. provide professional development support for teachers conducting Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) challenges, as required;

2. ensure that up-to-date PLAR challenge curriculum and assessment materials are provided to each teacher conducting the PLAR challenges;

3. support Continuing Education Services in hiring teachers to conduct PLAR challenges; and

4. work in partnership with Continuing Education Services to maintain the PLAR materials including, but not limited to, brochures, website content, system memos, applications and reporting forms.

 

2.5 Principals shall:

1. inform students and parents/guardians, where applicable, that they are responsible for initiating the challenge process and for satisfying all of the requirements;

2. obtain parental approval for students who are under the age of 18 and who have not withdrawn from parental control, before applying for a Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) challenge for credit;

3. inform every student applicant and parents/guardians, where applicable, of the policies and procedures related to PLAR challenges for credit including, but not limited to, the policies and procedures for recording results in the Ontario Student Record (OSR) and on the Ontario Student Transcript (OST);

4. provide every student applicant with an application form and the curriculum expectations for each course for which the student wishes to initiate a PLAR challenge;

5. ensure that student applicants understand that applications must be completed by the established due date of the school year in which they intend to initiate a PLAR challenge;

6. evaluate each application in consultation with the student and/or parents/guardians, where applicable, and with appropriate school staff to determine whether reasonable evidence for success exists and whether the PLAR challenge should occur;

7. ensure that students are aware that they may NOT be granted credits through the PLAR challenge process for any of the following credits;

   • any Grade 9 course,

   • a course in any subject if a credit has already been granted for a course in that subject in a later grade, such as, but not limited to, a Grade 10 music credit, if the student already has been granted a Grade 11 music credit,

   • a course for which there is significant overlap with a credit that has already been granted, such as, but not limited to, challenging for credit for an academic course if a student has already earned a credit for the applied course at the same grade and level,

   • a transfer course,

   • a locally developed course,

   • a cooperative education course,

   • a course in English as a Second Language or English Literacy Development, if the student has already been granted one or more credits in English (such as, but not limited to, ENG1D) from the curriculum policy documents for English, Grades 9-12 under Ontario Schools, K-12, and

   • a course in French as a Second Language if the student has been granted one or more credits in Francais (usually offered at French language schools) from the curriculum policy documents for Francais, Grades 9-12 under Ontario Schools, K-12;

8. upon receiving results from Continuing Education Services, ensure that the PLAR Record of Assessment of Challenge for Credit for a Course is maintained in the student's OSR and the OST is updated; and

9. be aware that a student who has been unsuccessful in an initial PLAR challenge is permitted to challenge a credit for a second time after a reasonable interval if reasonable evidence is submitted to the principal that the student is likely to be successful in the second PLAR challenge.

 

2.6 Parents/Guardians and Students shall:

1. determine their interest and eligibility to undertake a Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) challenge for credit;

2. apply for a PLAR challenge through the school guidance department;

3. provide the required documents to demonstrate eligibility;

4. complete the PLAR Challenge Application by the designated due date of the school year in which they intend to challenge the credit; and

5. be available for the PLAR challenge assessment process during the summer months on the dates indicated in Board communications.

 

3. Contact

Curriculum and Instructional Services 

Continuing Education Services 

 

4. Procedure History

Working Document: April 2013 

Approved: February 2014 

Working Document: March 2022

Final Approval: December 2022

---