Administrative​ ​Procedure​ ​365

COURSE​ ​CHALLENGES Background The​ ​district​ ​is​ ​committed​ ​to​ ​the​ ​awarding​ ​of​ ​high​ ​school​ ​credits​ ​in​ ​a​ ​wide​ ​range​ ​of​ ​courses​ ​and encourages​ ​all​ ​students​ ​to​ ​take​ ​as​ ​many​ ​courses​ ​as​ ​possible​ ​to​ ​support​ ​preparation​ ​for post-secondary​ ​education​ ​or​ ​the​ ​workplace. Recognizing​ ​that​ ​from​ ​time​ ​to​ ​time,​ ​students​ ​may​ ​have​ ​the​ ​necessary​ ​knowledge,​ ​skills​ ​and attitudes​ ​that​ ​make​ ​up​ ​the​ ​content​ ​of​ ​a​ ​specific​ ​course​ ​and​ ​in​ ​the​ ​best​ ​educational​ ​interests​ ​of students​ ​with​ ​diverse​ ​learning​ ​needs,​ ​students​ ​are​ ​able​ ​to​ ​challenge​ ​a​ ​course​ ​offered​ ​in​ ​the district​ ​and​ ​elsewhere​ ​rather​ ​than​ ​take​ ​the​ ​course​ ​itself. Course​ ​challenge​ ​is​ ​a​ ​provision​ ​mandated​ ​by​ ​Alberta​ ​Education.​ ​The​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​challenge courses​ ​includes​ ​locally​ ​developed​ ​courses​ ​–​ ​not​ ​only​ ​courses​ ​mandated​ ​by​ ​Alberta​ ​Education. In​ ​supporting​ ​this​ ​option​ ​for​ ​students,​ ​the​ ​district: ● Acknowledges​ ​students’​ ​ownership​ ​of​ ​their​ ​learning; ● Recognizes​ ​that​ ​students​ ​acquire​ ​proficiency​ ​under​ ​various​ ​circumstances​ ​and​ ​different rates​ ​of​ ​learning; ● Offers​ ​an​ ​option​ ​to​ ​avoid​ ​students​ ​being​ ​required​ ​to​ ​take​ ​courses​ ​that​ ​are​ ​not​ ​the​ ​best use​ ​of​ ​their​ ​limited​ ​learning​ ​time. Procedures 1. A​ ​student​ ​who​ ​possesses​ ​the​ ​knowledge,​ ​skills​ ​and​ ​attitudes​ ​required​ ​of​ ​a​ ​course,​ ​with​ ​the approval​ ​of​ ​the​ ​principal,​ ​may​ ​initiate​ ​the​ ​course​ ​challenge​ ​process. 2. The​ ​challenge​ ​must​ ​be​ ​carried​ ​out​ ​within​ ​a​ ​reasonable​ ​period​ ​of​ ​time.​ ​A​ ​student​ ​may​ ​not initiate​ ​a​ ​course​ ​challenge​ ​for​ ​a​ ​course​ ​in​ ​a​ ​lower​ ​level​ ​sequence​ ​if​ ​the​ ​student​ ​has​ ​already completed​ ​a​ ​course​ ​in​ ​a​ ​higher​ ​level​ ​sequence​ ​in​ ​that​ ​subject. 3. In​ ​cases​ ​where​ ​the​ ​district​ ​does​ ​not​ ​offer​ ​a​ ​course,​ ​the​ ​student​ ​may​ ​request​ ​an​ ​alternate setting​ ​for​ ​the​ ​challenge.​ ​The​ ​district​ ​may​ ​make​ ​inquiries​ ​with​ ​other​ ​school​ ​authorities​ ​as​ ​to where​ ​the​ ​challenge​ ​could​ ​occur. 4. Principals​ ​or​ ​their​ ​designate​ ​may​ ​contact​ ​the​ ​director,​ ​Instructional​ ​Services,​ ​Secondary,​ ​to access​ ​a​ ​list​ ​of​ ​other​ ​jurisdictions​ ​offering​ ​the​ ​course.​ ​A​ ​student​ ​who​ ​undertakes​ ​such​ ​a challenge​ ​with​ ​another​ ​school​ ​district​ ​will​ ​assume​ ​all​ ​additional​ ​expenses​ ​that​ ​might​ ​be incurred.​ ​The​ ​district​ ​will​ ​not​ ​be​ ​responsible​ ​for​ ​any​ ​costs​ ​related​ ​to​ ​this​ ​process. 5. The​ ​principal​ ​is​ ​responsible​ ​for​ ​providing​ ​information​ ​related​ ​to​ ​course​ ​challenges​ ​as required.​ ​The​ ​principal​ ​must​ ​ensure​ ​that​ ​there​ ​is​ ​a​ ​reasonable​ ​chance​ ​of​ ​a​ ​successful outcome​ ​to​ ​any​ ​course​ ​challenge.​ ​They​ ​must​ ​also​ ​have​ ​confidence​ ​in​ ​the​ ​student’s​ ​ability​ ​to

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manage​ ​the​ ​course​ ​at​ ​the​ ​next​ ​level.​ ​Decisions​ ​related​ ​to​ ​course​ ​challenges​ ​are​ ​made​ ​in consultation​ ​with​ ​the​ ​student,​ ​parents/legal​ ​guardians​ ​and​ ​subject​ ​teachers. 6. In​ ​responding​ ​to​ ​a​ ​request​ ​for​ ​a​ ​course​ ​challenge,​ ​the​ ​principal​ ​or​ ​designate​ ​will​ ​review​ ​the course​ ​challenge​ ​process​ ​with​ ​the​ ​student​ ​and​ ​parents/legal​ ​guardians.​ ​Students​ ​and parents/guardians​ ​must​ ​be​ ​fully​ ​knowledgeable​ ​about​ ​the​ ​process​ ​and​ ​consequences​ ​of course​ ​challenges.​ ​The​ ​senior​ ​high​ ​principal​ ​will​ ​make​ ​the​ ​final​ ​decision​ ​about​ ​the​ ​student’s readiness​ ​to​ ​challenge​ ​the​ ​course,​ ​and​ ​will​ ​assign​ ​the​ ​administration​ ​and​ ​evaluation​ ​of assessment​ ​to​ ​a​ ​certificated​ ​teacher​ ​who​ ​has​ ​taught​ ​the​ ​course. 7. Other​ ​than​ ​in​ ​Career​ ​Technology​ ​and​ ​Studies,​ ​where​ ​the​ ​recommendation​ ​of​ ​a​ ​teacher​ ​is necessary,​ ​the​ ​challenge​ ​must​ ​assess​ ​a​ ​student’s​ ​achievement​ ​of​ ​all​ ​of​ ​the​ ​outcomes​ ​of​ ​the course.​ ​The​ ​formal​ ​assessment​ ​of​ ​student​ ​achievement​ ​must​ ​include​ ​multiple​ ​indicators​ ​and sources​ ​of​ ​evidence​ ​in​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​formats​ ​and​ ​strategies.​ ​This​ ​may​ ​include​ ​but​ ​is​ ​not​ ​limited to​ ​interviews,​ ​formal​ ​examinations,​ ​a​ ​portfolio,​ ​documentation​ ​of​ ​work​ ​and/or​ ​experience, and/or​ ​a​ ​recommendation​ ​from​ ​a​ ​teacher. 8. Writing​ ​a​ ​final​ ​exam​ ​is​ ​not​ ​sufficient​ ​support​ ​to​ ​constitute​ ​a​ ​course​ ​challenge. 8.1

Other​ ​evidence​ ​must​ ​be​ ​collected​ ​in​ ​addition​ ​to​ ​the​ ​final​ ​exam.​ ​The​ ​student​ ​must​ ​be successful​ ​in​ ​all​ ​aspects​ ​of​ ​the​ ​challenge.​ ​Program​ ​integrity​ ​must​ ​be​ ​adhered​ ​to​ ​and there​ ​must​ ​be​ ​a​ ​significant​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​rigour​ ​in​ ​the​ ​process​ ​of​ ​course​ ​challenges.

9. Students​ ​may​ ​attempt​ ​a​ ​challenge​ ​in​ ​any​ ​course​ ​only​ ​once.​ ​Whether​ ​successful​ ​or​ ​not, students​ ​may​ ​decide​ ​to​ ​seek​ ​credit​ ​in​ ​the​ ​course​ ​or​ ​raise​ ​their​ ​mark​ ​by​ ​taking​ ​the​ ​course.​ ​In this​ ​case,​ ​the​ ​course​ ​mark​ ​will​ ​prevail.​ ​Students​ ​may​ ​challenge​ ​a​ ​higher-level​ ​course​ ​in​ ​a sequence​ ​and​ ​receive​ ​a​ ​mark​ ​and​ ​credits.​ ​The​ ​student​ ​who​ ​successfully​ ​challenges​ ​a course​ ​will​ ​be​ ​given​ ​a​ ​“Pass”​ ​for​ ​courses​ ​lower​ ​in​ ​the​ ​course​ ​sequence.​ ​Students​ ​wishing​ ​to receive​ ​a​ ​mark​ ​and​ ​credits​ ​for​ ​each​ ​course​ ​in​ ​a​ ​sequence​ ​may​ ​challenge​ ​only​ ​one​ ​course per​ ​semester​ ​in​ ​a​ ​sequential​ ​manner. 10. At​ ​the​ ​completion​ ​of​ ​the​ ​course​ ​challenge,​ ​the​ ​final​ ​mark​ ​must​ ​be​ ​reported​ ​clearly​ ​indicating that​ ​it​ ​was​ ​a​ ​course​ ​challenge.​ ​Credit​ ​in​ ​diploma​ ​examination​ ​courses​ ​can​ ​be​ ​achieved​ ​only through​ ​combination​ ​of​ ​the​ ​school-awarded​ ​mark​ ​(70​ ​per​ ​cent)​ ​and​ ​the​ ​diploma​ ​examination mark​ ​(30​ ​per​ ​cent).​ ​A​ ​student​ ​who​ ​has​ ​challenged​ ​a​ ​diploma​ ​course​ ​must​ ​write​ ​the examination​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​be​ ​eligible​ ​for​ ​a​ ​final​ ​course​ ​mark​ ​and​ ​a​ ​credit​ ​in​ ​that​ ​course. 11. Students​ ​with​ ​Special​ ​Education​ ​Needs 11.1

From​ ​time​ ​to​ ​time,​ ​requests​ ​for​ ​course​ ​challenges​ ​may​ ​be​ ​received​ ​from​ ​students with​ ​special​ ​education​ ​needs.​ ​When​ ​principals​ ​receive​ ​these​ ​requests, accommodations​ ​normally​ ​provided​ ​for​ ​these​ ​students​ ​on​ ​a​ ​day-to-day​ ​basis​ ​as​ ​well as​ ​during​ ​Provincial​ ​Achievement​ ​and​ ​Diploma​ ​exams,​ ​as​ ​outlined​ ​in​ ​their​ ​Learner Support​ ​Plan​ ​(LSP),​ ​would​ ​also​ ​be​ ​available​ ​for​ ​the​ ​students​ ​during​ ​course challenges.​ ​This​ ​approach​ ​is​ ​consistent​ ​with​ ​the​ ​spirit​ ​of​ ​learning​ ​accommodations​ ​at the​ ​provincial,​ ​district,​ ​school​ ​and​ ​classroom​ ​level.

12. Course​ ​Challenges​ ​in​ ​Career​ ​and​ ​Technology​ ​Foundations/Studies​ ​(CTF/CTS)

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12.1

CTF​ ​courses​ ​completed​ ​in​ ​grades​ ​7,​ ​8,​ ​and​ ​9​ ​may​ n ​ ot​ ​be​ ​challenged.​ ​In​ ​order​ ​for​ ​a student​ ​to​ ​be​ ​given​ ​advanced​ ​standing​ ​when​ ​entering​ ​senior​ ​high​ ​school,​ ​the​ ​student may​ ​need​ ​to​ ​have​ ​a​ ​prerequisite​ ​waived.

12.2

The​ ​only​ ​time​ ​in​ ​which​ ​a​ ​CTS​ ​1-credit​ ​course​ ​may​ ​be​ ​waived​ ​is​ ​when​ ​the​ ​senior​ ​high principal​ ​accepts​ ​the​ ​recommendation​ ​of​ ​a​ ​junior​ ​high​ ​school​ ​principal​ ​to​ ​place​ ​a Grade​ ​10​ ​student​ ​into​ ​a​ ​higher-level​ ​1-credit​ ​course​ ​that​ ​requires​ ​a​ ​prerequisite. (Refer​ ​to​ ​Administrative​ ​Procedure​ ​366​ ​-​ ​Credits​ ​for​ ​Waived​ ​Prerequisite​ ​Courses and​ ​the​ ​Alberta​ ​Guide​ ​to​ ​Education​).​ ​Students​ ​who​ ​have​ ​received​ ​this recommendation​ ​to​ ​waive​ ​a​ ​prerequisite​ ​must​ ​have​ ​completed​ ​the​ ​entire module/course​ ​including​ ​having​ ​achieved​ ​all​ ​outcomes.

12.3

Junior​ ​and​ ​senior​ ​high​ ​school​ ​administration​ ​must​ ​work​ ​closely​ ​together​ ​to​ ​provide an​ ​easy​ ​transition​ ​for​ ​students​ ​into​ ​high​ ​school​ ​CTS​ ​programs.​ ​Students​ ​will​ ​then​ ​be placed​ ​in​ ​appropriate​ ​classes​ ​at​ ​the​ ​high​ ​school​ ​level.​ ​The​ ​CTS​ ​program​ ​must continue​ ​in​ ​an​ ​uninterrupted​ ​manner​ ​and​ ​duplication​ ​of​ ​courses​ ​is​ ​not​ ​to​ ​occur.

12.4

Exceptions:​ ​The​ ​following​ ​courses​ ​may​ ​not​ ​be​ ​challenged: 12.4.1 CTF​ ​courses​ ​completed​ ​in​ ​grades​ ​7,​ ​8,​ ​and​ ​9; 12.4.2 Registered​ ​Apprenticeship​ ​Program​ ​15-25-35; 12.4.3 Work​ ​Experience​ ​15-25-35; 12.4.4 Mathematics​ ​Preparation​ ​10; 12.4.5 Special​ ​Projects​ ​10-20-30.

13. Fees​ ​and​ ​Funding A​ ​principal​ ​must​ ​not​ ​charge​ ​funded​ ​high​ ​school​ ​students​ ​or​ ​their​ ​families​ ​a​ ​fee​ ​for administering​ ​course​ ​challenges.​ ​Since​ ​Alberta​ ​Education​ ​funds​ ​course​ ​challenges differently​ ​from​ ​course​ ​participation,​ ​these​ ​challenges​ ​must​ ​be​ ​organized​ ​and​ ​recorded separately​ ​for​ ​appropriate​ ​funding.​ ​Principals​ ​must​ ​ensure​ ​that​ ​the​ ​correct​ ​funding​ ​is​ ​applied to​ ​course​ ​challenges.​ ​Principals​ ​are​ ​responsible​ ​for​ ​maintaining​ ​accurate​ ​records​ ​for​ ​all course​ ​challenges​ ​including​ ​evidence​ ​that​ ​demonstrates​ ​complete​ ​evaluation​ ​of​ ​the​ ​course challenge.

Approval​ ​Date:

April​ ​12,​ ​2016

Reference:

Section​ ​12,​ ​20,​ ​39,​ ​60,​ ​61,​ ​113​ ​School​ ​Act Guide​ ​to​ ​Education​ ​ECS​ ​to​ ​Grade​ ​12

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