I.5 CHALLENGE FOR CREDIT
Policy:
The Red River Valley School Division recognizes that students may, in exceptional circumstances, have already acquired the knowledge, skills and attitudes 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.
Requirements to earn a credit via challenge should not be more demanding than the requirements to earn the credit through regular instruction; To obtain this credit, a student must demonstrate that he/she can meet the required Manitoba curriculum outcomes in an appropriate way.
The challenge for credit option does not apply to the Special Language Credit Option or the Private Music Option as Manitoba Education and Youth policy on these opportunities already exist.
Procedure:
This option is intended to serve particular needs such as:
students who, by virtue of special talents or private study, can be accelerated in particular subject areas;
students transferring into a Red River Valley School Division school from another jurisdiction whose placement in a subject/grade would be facilitated by such a provision;
students whose educational attendance has been interrupted through sickness or other reasons and who may be able to successfully challenge the learning outcomes of a particular subject area, in which they were previously unable to enrol;
students who were previously home schooled;
students who are considered exceptional achievers in a certain area;
students who can demonstrate that they have met course requirements through life experiences such as independent study, world of work, volunteer activities, and hobbies.
Criteria
The Challenge for Credit Option may be used from Senior 1 to Senior 4 to a maximum of 2 challenges per school year.
Requests will be accepted no later than October 15th for 1st semester credit and March 15th for 2nd semester credit.
All requests for Credit Challenge must be approved by the Superintendent.
To ensure an adequate demonstration of learning outcomes and a reliable evaluation of achievement, various assessment strategies should be used as in regular classroom setting (formal tests, evaluation of written assignments, portfolio of work, interviews, demonstrations/performances, laboratory work, research paper(s)/essay(s), quizzes, practical examinations, skill demonstrations and simulations, etc.). It is important to note that the Challenge for Credit Option for a particular course may include a combination of assessment strategies and skill demonstration methods. The intent is to allow a student to demonstrate prior learning in an appropriate way.
A student in Senior 1 or in Senior 4 who successfully completes a compulsory course challenge is expected to write provincial standards tests in the subjects where such exist.
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.
A student who challenges the course, either successfully or unsuccessfully, may subsequently choose to take the course.
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 her/his mark, the student is required to take the course. Related documentation should be part of the student cumulative file.
A student who successfully demonstrates through the Challenge for Credit Option that he/she possesses the learning outcomes for the course would be awarded a final course mark and credit.
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.
In order to be eligible to participate in the Challenge for Credit Option, a student must be enrolled in The Red River Valley School Division.
A school will not charge registered students or their families a fee for administering course challenges. (The Special Language Credit Option uses community examiners who charge a fee for conducting the examination).
Schools will not provide challenge for provincial courses which are not taught in the school.
School Responsibilities
To communicate to parents/guardians and students the availability, procedures, objectives, and assessment strategies for the Challenge for Credit Option.
To provide the opportunity, when necessary, for the Challenge for Credit Option.
To determine the student's readiness for the Challenge for Credit Option through consultation that includes the student, parent/guardians(s), subject teacher(s). The consultation should include evidence that the student has a reasonable possibility to meet the learning outcomes for the course.
To ensure that assessment for the Challenge for Credit Option includes strategies that will assess the breadth and scope of the learning outcomes for the course as presented in the curriculum documents, in a timely and practical manner.
To assign the administration and evaluation of assessment for a course challenge to a certified teacher who has taught the course.
To administer the Intent to Challenge form. (See Appendix A)
To grant students, who successfully complete a challenge, equivalent credit for the course. The mark is to be submitted to Student Records. (See Appendix B)
Student Responsibilities
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 such as appropriate independent study, world of work, volunteer activities, and hobbies.
Students have to complete and submit the notice of intent form two months prior to the assessment. (See Appendix C)
Students must comply with the division policy for the Challenge for Credit Option.
Appendix A.pdfAppendix B.pdfAppendix C.pdf
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