Adult Prior Learning Assessment
and
Recognition (PLAR)
About PLAR
for Mature Students
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition
(PLAR) is the formal evaluation and credit-granting process
through which mature students may obtain credits for prior
learning – the
knowledge and skills that adults have acquired, in both
formal and informal ways, outside secondary school. The
PLAR process for mature students involves three procedures:
- Individual assessment/equivalency (Grade 9/10)
- Equivalency (Grade 11/12)
- Challenge (Grade 11/12)
There is no charge for mature students to participate
in the PLAR process.
Who is a Mature Student?
A mature student is a student who is:
- At least 18 years old on or before December 31 of
the school year;
- Has been out of school for a period of at least one
year before returning as an adult to an Adult and Continuing
Education Program.
Who Participates in PLAR?
- Mature students who are NEW to the Ontario secondary
school system as of February 1, 2004, and who are working
towards the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
under OSS requirements.
- Mature students who were enrolled as students in
the Ontario secondary school system, and were placed
in Grade 9 in 1999-2000 or later, Grade 10 in 2000-2001
or later, Grade 11 in 2001-2002 or later; Grade 12
in 2002-2003 or later; and who return to school as
mature students on February 1, 2004, or later to work
toward the OSSD under OSS requirements.
- Students enrolled in an Adult and Continuing Education
secondary credit program.
NOTE: Mature students
who were enrolled in the Ontario secondary school system
prior to 1999 and who continue to work toward their OSSD
under OSIS or HS1 diploma requirements cannot participate
in the PLAR process.
NOTE: Mature students working toward
their OSS diploma must successfully complete the Ontario
Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) process and the
community involvement component in order to graduate.
Application and Assessment
Mature students can obtain a more detailed information
package and application after enrolling in an Adult and
Continuing Education secondary credit program (Independent
Learning, Night School, or Summer
School).
Individual
assessment/equivalency (Grade 9/10)
An individual mature student assessment/equivalency process
for granting up to 16 grade 9 and 10 credits through (a)
transcripts, or (b) transcripts and completion of individual
assessments, or (c) completion of individual assessments.
How do individual assessments result in credits?
Successful completion of the individual assessment process
will result in up to four credits in each of the four subject
areas. These Grade 9 and 10 credits will meet diploma requirements
that would usually be met through successful completion
of the Grade 9 and 10 programs.
If the student earns fewer than 4 credits in each subject
area, the principal will determine how the student can
obtain the remaining credits.
The principal may defer assessment on Grade 9 and 10 Geography/History
until a student has sufficient time to develop the required
language skills or becomes more familiar with the Canadian
culture.
Does this process earn a certificate?
The principal may grant the OSSC (Ontario
Secondary School Certificate)
to a mature student following the successful completion
of the individual assessments. Unlike adolescents, mature
students are eligible to receive this certificate and continue
to purse and earn an OSSD in the future.
Equivalency (Grade 11/12)
The process for obtaining credits that involves an evaluation
of a mature student’s education and/or training credentials
and/or other appropriate documentation of learning gained
from other programs, courses, or work experiences.
Applicants who wish to participate in the Grade 11 and
12 PLAR equivalency process must:
- be enrolled in an Adult and Continuing Education
credit program
- carefully review the curriculum expectations for
each course in which they wish to be granted credits
- complete the PLAR “Application for
Grade 11 and 12 Credits through
the Equivalency Process”
- present credentials/documents that show evidence
of learning that relates directly to the Ontario
curriculum expectations for specific courses.
Key Points to remember:
- Mature students must earn a minimum of 4 Grade 11 and
12 credits (including Grade 12 English) by taking the
necessary courses.
- It is recommended that principals delay granting the
Grade 11/12 equivalent credits until the above 4 courses
have been successfully completed.
- Students may obtain no more than 10 grade 11/12 credits
through the equivalency and challenge processes combined.
- Principals may grant half-credits only for specific
half-credit courses.
Challenge (Grade 11/12)
The challenge process is an assessment process, unlike
the Grade 11/12 equivalency process, whereby the student
receives an actual percentage grade recorded on their transcript.
Mature students may challenge for credit for up to ten
Grade 11 and 12 courses. However, they may obtain no more
than 10 grade 11/12 credits through the equivalency and
challenge processes combined. There is no maximum on the
number of credits that may be obtained in any one discipline.
Mature students may challenge a course for credit if they can provide reasonable
evidence to the principal that they are likely to be successful in the challenge
process.
Applicants who wish to participate in the Grade 11 and
12 challenge process must:
- be enrolled in a secondary school course
- carefully review the curriculum expectations for each
course in which they wish to challenge
- complete the Challenge Application Form
Each application must be reviewed and approved prior to
the student’s participation in the challenge process.
Mature students may include certificates or other records
of accomplishment earned outside of school as reasonable
evidence that they will likely be successful in the challenge.
However, students with Ministry of Education recognized
music certificates that are accepted for credits in OSS
are not required to challenge for credit for the appropriate
music courses. Credits are granted for these certificates.
What courses cannot be challenged?
A student cannot be granted credits through the Grade
11 and 12 PLAR Challenge Process for the following courses:
- A course previously failed
- A course for which the student has already earned a
credit, in order to improve the mark
- A course in any subject if a credit has already been
granted for a course in that subject in a later grade
- A course for which there is significant overlap with
a course for which a credit has been granted
- A transfer course
- A Cooperative Education course
- The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)
or the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC)
- A course in English as a Second Language (ESL), or
Anglais pour débutants (APD), if the student
has one or more credits in English.
- A course in French as a Second Language (FSL), Actualisation
liguistique en Français (ALF), or Perfectionnement
du Français (PDF), if the student has one or more
credits in Français.
Can students challenge again if not successful
the first time?
A student will be permitted to challenge for a credit
for a specific course a second time after an appropriate
interval, if the student can provide reasonable evidence
that he or she is likely to be successful after having
benefited from additional study and experience.
Key Points to remember:
- Mature students must earn a minimum of 4 Grade 11 and
12 credits (including Grade 12 English) by taking the
necessary courses.
- It is recommended that principals delay granting the
Grade 11/12 equivalent credits until the above 4 courses
have been successfully completed.
- Students may obtain no more than 10 grade 11/12 credits
through the equivalency and challenge processes combined.
Principals may grant half-credits only for specific half-credit
courses
PLAR Assessment Locations
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Windsor:
Mason Educational Centre
284 Cameron Ave.
Phone: 519-253-5006 ext.11000
Fax: 519-253-0053 |
Leamington:
Invest Career Counselling Centre /
Adult & Cont.Ed., Leamington Campus
215 Talbot St. E.
Phone: 519-322-1688
Fax: 519-326-9657
|
Principal: Angela Safranyos
Vice-Principal: John Foot
Counsellors: Barry Hooper - Leamington Shelley Sanders -Windsor
Current high school students
must register through the Guidance Department
in their
home school.
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