Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for Mature Students

Implementation Phases: Chart

Sample Grade 9 Canadian Geography Assessment Guide

Sample Grade 10 Canadian History Assessment Guide

Sample Grade 9 English Assessment Guide

Sample Grade 10 English Assessment Guide

Sample Grade 9 Mathematics Assessment Guide

Sample Grade 10 Mathematics Assessment Guide

Sample Grade 9 Science Assessment Guide

Sample Grade 10 Science Assessment Guide

Appendix C.1: Sample "Application for Grade 9 and 10 Individual Assessment / Equivalency Process

Appendix C.2: Sample "Letter of Confirmation of Receipt of Application and Transcript"

Appendix C.3: Sample "Notice of Decisions on Credits Granted / Subjects for which Individual Assessment Required"

Appendix C.4: Sample "Information Sheet for Mature Students"

Appendix C.5: Sample "Letter - Results of Grade 9 and 10 Individual Assessment"

GRADE 9 AND 10 INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENT/EQUIVALENCY PROCESS

Orientation Phase

BOARD'S ROLE	PRINCIPAL/TEACHER/COUNSELLOR ROLE	SUPPORT MATERIALS
Develops Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) policies and procedures related to the challenge and equivalency processes that are consistent with provincial policy (Ontario Secondary Schools, Grades 9-12 (OSS), sections 6.6 and 8.2) Implements those policies and procedures for mature students beginning on February 1, 2004 Ensures that a clear statement is published in the school course calendars and on Web sites outlining when mature students may undergo individual assessment for the purpose of obtaining Grade 9 and 10 credits and where individual assessments are available at schools under the jurisdiction of the board (see OSS, section 5.3.1) Uses the forms provided under "Required Forms" in Appendix 2 to PPM 132: Individual Assessment for Grade 9 and 10 Credits: Cumulative Tracking Record Individual Assessment for Grade 9 and 10 Credits: Interim Tracking Record	Principal: Carries out the Board's PLAR procedures for mature students and grants the credits Designs and delivers an "Orientation Session" that ensures mature students are: informed of the application process, and that they are responsible for initiating the process of individual assessment, for providing the required documentation, and for satisfying all of the requirements informed of the Diploma Requirements for Mature Students informed about the policies and procedures related to the individual assessment of mature students, including policies and procedures for recording results in the Ontario Student Record (OSR) and the Ontario Student Transcript (OST)	Sample Brochure (Appendix B.1) Sample Course Calendar and Web Site Statement (Appendix B.2) Sample Fact Sheet (Appendix B.3) Diploma Requirements for Mature Students Under the PLAR Process (Appendix B.6) Sample "Orientation Session Outline" (Appendix B.7) Individual Assessment for Grade 9 and 10 Credits: Cumulative Tracking Record (Appendix 2 PPM 132) Individual Assessment for Grade 9 and 10 Credits: Interim Tracking Record (Appendix 2 PPM 132) Sample "Application for Grade 9 and 10 Individual Assessment/Equivalency Process" (Appendix C.1)

BOARD'S ROLE	PRINCIPAL/TEACHER/COUNSELLOR ROLE	SUPPORT MATERIALS
Develops an "Application for Grade 9 and 10 Individual Assessment/Equivalency Process" Provides necessary data for the October Board Report and for the ministry financial reporting forms regarding the number of mature students who received an individual assessment for up to 16 Grade 9 and 10 credits during the school year (one assessment per mature student per fiscal year only)	Teacher/Counsellor: Distributes PLAR materials to mature students Assists the principal in designing and delivering the "Orientation Session" for mature students Provides counselling and informal orientation to answer the mature student's questions, and provides ongoing guidance, as required

Application Phase

PRINCIPAL'S ROLE	TEACHER/COUNSELLOR ROLE	SUPPORT MATERIALS
Determines whether the mature student was previously enrolled in the Ontario secondary school system (under Ontario Secondary Schools, Grades 9-12 (OSS), Ontario Schools: Intermediate and Senior Divisions (Grade 7-12/OACs) (OSIS), or Circular H.S.1, 1970-81) on the basis of written evidence of previous enrollment Ensures that every prospective applicant is provided with an "Application for Grade 9 and 10 Individual Assessment/Equivalency Process" Ensures that every prospective applicant is provided with materials that indicate the Ontario curriculum expectations for the Grade 9 and 10 courses for which the mature student wishes to be granted credits	On request, provides the "Application for Grade 9 and 10 Individual Assessment/Equivalency Process" to the mature student Assists the mature student, where necessary, in completing the form Informs the mature student of the deadline for the return of the application and to whom the application must be submitted Receives the application from the mature student and reviews it for completion If application is not complete, informs the mature student of outstanding requirements Confirms receipt of application and transcript (if provided), in writing, and files the "Confirmation of Receipt of Application and Transcript (Grade 9 and 10 Individual Assessment/Equivalency Process)" form in the mature student's OSR	Sample "Application for Grade 9 and 10 Individual Assessment/Equivalency Process" (Appendix C.1) Sample "Letter of Confirmation of Receipt of Application and Transcript (Grade 9 and 10 Individual Assessment/Equivalency Process)" (Appendix C.2)

Determination of Equivalent Credits Phase

PRINCIPAL'S ROLE	TEACHER/COUNSELLOR ROLE	SUPPORT MATERIALS
Determines how many equivalent credits can be granted (up to 16 Grade 9 and 10 credits), on the basis of transcripts indicating successful completion of two years of secondary school that are comparable to Ontario Grade 9 and 10 In the following situations, determines how the student may obtain Grade 9 and 10 credits to bring his or her total to 16: - the student presents an OST showing fewer than 16 grade 9 and 10 credits - the student presents a transcript from outside Ontario showing partial - completion of 2 years of secondary school that are comparable to Ontario Grade 9 and 10 - the student does not have a transcript Decides whether or not to defer the assessment of Grade 9 Geography and/ or Grade 10 History, if applicable Informs the mature student in writing of all determinations and decisions related to this process		Sample "Notice of Decisions on Credits Granted and/or Subjects for which Individual Assessment Required (Grade 9 and 10 Individual Assessment/Equivalency Process)" (Appendix C.3)

Assessment Phase

principal's role	teacher/counsellor role	support materials
Involves teaching staff in decisions related to the logistics of the administration of the Grade 9 and 10 individual assessment process Assigns teaching staff to develop, administer, and mark the individual assessments, and to report the results of the individual assessments to the principal Assigns teaching/counselling staff to provide information to mature students about the administration of the Grade 9 and 10 individual assessments Stores individual assessment materials	Subject Teacher: Develops the individual assessment(s) (Useful sample material is provided in the Grade 9 or 10 Sample Assessment Guides)¹ Provides information on the individual assessment(s) to the mature student who has been advised that he/she must successfully complete the assessment(s) Key Learnings and Assessment Focus Chart² "Information Sheet for Mature Students (Preparing for Grade 9 and 10 Individual Assessments)"³ Administers the individual assessments to individual mature students or groups of mature students Marks the individual assessments and makes Pass/Fail determinations Informs the Principal of the results (Pass/Fail) of the individual assessments Forwards the marked individual assessments to the Principal for storage	¹Notes to Teachers Developing Grade 9 and 10 Individual Assessments are provided at the beginning of each Sample Assessment Guide ²The Key Learnings and Assessment Focus Chart (Part A of each Sample Assessment Guide) ³ Sample "Information Sheet for Mature Students (Preparing for Grade 9 and 10 Individual Assessments)" (Appendix C.4)

Recording Phase

PRINCIPAL'S ROLE	TEACHER/COUNSELLOR ROLE	SUPPORT MATERIALS
Records the results (Pass/Fail) of each individual assessment completed by a mature student enrolled in your school on the Individual Assessment for Grade 9 and 10 Credits: Cumulative Tracking Record Files the Record in the mature student's OSR and updates it as necessary Records the results (Pass/Fail) of each individual assessment completed by a mature student who took the assessment in your school, but who is enrolled in another school, on the Individual Assessment for Grade 9 and 10 Credits: Interim Tracking Record, and forwards the record to the principal of the school in which the mature student is enrolled Upon receipt of an Individual Assessment for Grade 9 and 10 Credits: Interim Tracking Record for a mature student enrolled in your school, but who has taken the individual assessment in another school, records the results on the Individual Assessment for Grade 9 and 10 Credits: Cumulative Tracking Record and files it in the mature student's OSR	Enters, in accordance with the Ontario Student Transcript (OST) Manual, 1999, the following information on the mature student's OST the equivalent credits granted for Grades 9 and 10, as one total the notation "Equivalent Credits" in the "Course Title" column, and the code "PLE" in the "Course Code" column the total number of equivalent credits (up to 16) in the "Credit" column the total number of compulsory credits granted as equivalent credits (up to 14 compulsory credits for mature students working under OSS diploma requirements)	Individual Assessment for Grade 9 and 10 Credits: Cumulative Tracking Record (Appendix 2 PPM 132) Individual Assessment for Grade 9 and 10 Credits: Interim Tracking Record (Appendix 2 PPM 132)

Reporting Phase

PRINCIPAL'S ROLE	TEACHER COUNSELLOR ROLE	SUPPORT MATERIALS
Informs the mature student of the results (Pass/Fail) of each individual assessment, and of the mature student's right to retake the assessment if he/she did not pass¹ If fewer than four equivalent credits for any of the subject areas are granted as a result of individual assessments, advises the mature student on how he/she will obtain the remaining credits Ensures that the mature student has successfully completed the individual assessment on Grade 9 Geography and Grade 10 History, if required, before granting an OSSD Grants, at principal's discretion, the Ontario Secondary School Certificate (OSSC) to a mature student following an individual assessment, if the mature student, in the principal's judgement, has met the requirements for the OSSC as specified in OSS, section 3.3 (Note that the OSSC may be granted to a mature student who has met OSSC requirements and is also planning to earn the OSSD in the future.)	Assists the principal with some of the duties outlined in column 1, as requested Note: It is, however, the principal's responsibility to ensure full compliance with the requirements of PPM 132	¹Sample "Letter - Results of Grade 9 and 10 Individual Assessment" (Appendix C.5)