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CHALLENGING FOR SENIOR YEARS COURSE CREDITS

 

Intent of the Challenge for Credit Option

 

The Portage la Prairie School Division recognizes that students may, in exceptional circumstances, have already acquired the knowledge, skills and aptitudes of a particular course. The Challenge for Credit Option provides a process for students to demonstrate that they have achieved learning outcomes as defined in the Manitoba curriculum for a directly related course. The requirements to earn a credit via challenge should be similar to the requirement to earn the credit through regular instruction; that is, the student should demonstrate that he/she can meet the curriculum learning outcomes in an appropriate way.

 

The Challenge for Credit Option is intended to serve particular needs such as:

 

1. The Challenge for Credit Option may be used from Grade 9 to Grade 12.
2. Students who request the opportunity to challenge a course must be able to provide reasonable evidence that they have some likelihood of completing the challenge successfully. The Parent/Guardian Approval Form (IEG-E1) (IEG-E2) Letter of Agreement must be submitted by October 1 in the Fall Term, and by March 1 in the Spring Term.
3. Schools will determine the student’s readiness for the Challenge for Credit Option through consultation that includes the student, parent/guardian, and subject Teacher(s).
4. The school will assign the administration and evaluation for a course challenge to a certified Teacher who has taught the course.
5. The Division will provide the Challenge for Credit Option only for courses that are taught in the Division.
6. A school shall not charge registered students or their families a fee for administering course challenges.
7. In principle, there is no limit to the number of courses that a student may challenge. However, it is expected that only in exceptional circumstances would a student attempt to challenge multiple courses.
8. A student in Grade 9 or in Grade 12 who successfully completes a compulsory course challenge is expected to write provincial standards tests.
9. Only students who have not completed the course through previous enrolment should be eligible to challenge for credit. This means that a student who has successfully completed a course cannot use the Challenge for Credit Option to raise his/her mark. This also means that a student who has failed a course cannot use the Challenge for Credit Option to secure a pass.
10. A student who challenges the course, either successfully or unsuccessfully, may subsequently choose to take the course.
11. A student may attempt a particular course challenge only once. If the student is unsuccessful, but wants credit in the course or wishes to raise his/her marks, the student is required to take the course. Related documentation should be part of the student cumulative file.
12. The student must demonstrate, in an appropriate way, a knowledge of learning outcomes for the particular course being challenged for credit. A combination of assessment strategies and skill demonstration methods may be used.
13. A student who successfully demonstrates through the Challenge for Credit Option that he/she possesses the learning outcomes for the course will be awarded a final course mark and credit.
14. These guidelines do not apply to the Special Language Credit Option or the Private Music Option.
15. Schools with grade 9-12 students will communicate this policy to parents/guardians and students.

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