1. The two processes

Equivalency

Equivalency is the assessment of credentials from other jurisdictions or from non-inspected educational programs. It applies to a student who transfers from a non-inspected private school, from home schooling, or from a school outside Ontario. The Principal reviews the documentation, determines the total credit equivalency and the number of compulsory credits met, and records the outcome.

Challenge

Challenge is the process by which a student's prior learning is assessed against the expectations of a specific Ontario course, for the purpose of granting the credit for that course. Only courses in the Ontario curriculum that carry a Ministry course code may be challenged.

2. Who is eligible

Regular students

Students under 18, and adults who have been continuously enrolled in a regular day school programme.

Mature students

A mature student is a student who is at least 18 years of age on or before 31 December of the school year, and who has been out of school for at least one full year.

The Principal confirms in writing which route applies to an individual student before an application is accepted.

3. Limits set by Ministry policy

4. The Mature Student Assessment

Where a mature student has no formal Ontario transcript, or holds international records that cannot be verified, the school uses the Mature Student Assessment. It is a diagnostic assessment of the student's current level in English, mathematics and science, used to determine which Grade 9 and Grade 10 equivalency credits may be granted and where the student should be placed.

The assessment is prepared and evaluated by an Ontario Certified Teacher. It is written under supervised conditions, either at the Vaughan campus or online under proctoring, and identity is verified before any result is released.

5. How a challenge works

1. Application. The student, or the parent or guardian of a student under 18, applies in writing to the Principal, setting out the prior learning relied on and the course to be challenged, with supporting evidence such as certificates, employer letters, transcripts or samples of work. Evidence is uploaded through the student portal.
2. Decision on the application. The Principal, with an Ontario Certified Teacher who holds the subject qualification, determines whether there is reasonable evidence that the student is likely to be successful, and accepts or refuses the application in writing with reasons.
3. Assessment. Where the application is accepted, the assessment covers the overall expectations of the whole course. It consists of a formal examination worth 70 per cent of the final mark, and other assessment strategies appropriate to the course, such as written assignments, practical demonstrations or laboratory work, worth 30 per cent.
4. Evaluation. The work is evaluated by an Ontario Certified Teacher against the Ontario achievement chart. The credit is granted where the student achieves 50 per cent or higher.
5. Records. The application, the decision, the assessment materials and the result are filed in the student's Ontario Student Record.

Formal examinations for a challenge, and the Mature Student Assessment, are written under supervised conditions, either in person at the Vaughan campus or online under live proctoring.

6. How results are recorded

Equivalency credits

Credits granted through equivalency, including through the Mature Student Assessment, are shown on the Ontario Student Transcript as equivalent credits, with the corresponding number of compulsory credits. They do not carry a percentage grade and are not shown as individual courses with marks.

Challenge credits

• Grade 10 courses. Only a successful challenge is recorded on the Ontario Student Transcript. An unsuccessful attempt is not recorded, and the student may take the course in the normal way. Where the student later takes the course, the higher of the two marks is the one shown.
• Grade 11 and Grade 12 courses. Under the Ministry's full disclosure policy, both a passing and a failing percentage grade from a challenge are recorded on the Ontario Student Transcript.
• Withdrawal. A student who withdraws from the challenge process before the assessment is completed has no entry made on the transcript.

Every result, whatever the outcome, is recorded on the cumulative tracking record held in the student's Ontario Student Record.

7. Fees and appeals

Any fee for a prior learning assessment is published in the school's Official Fee Schedule. No fee is charged for the transfer of a student record.

A student, or the parent or guardian of a student under 18, who disagrees with a decision made under this policy may use the Dispute Resolution and Academic Appeals Process.