Course Challenge Policy
Course challenge is a provision that allows senior high school students to challenge the expectations for a course by participating in a formal assessment process, rather than taking the course. Course challenge is for students who believe that they already possess the expected knowledge, skills, and attitudes as defined by the Program of Studies for a given course.
Course challenges are intended:
- to meet the diverse needs of students,
- to encourage students' ownership of their learning,
- to acknowledge the learning that students acquire in a variety of settings not necessarily limited to schools.
- To begin the process, the student will obtain an application form from the subject Department Head to be signed by a parent or guardian and returned by the due date. The due date for course challenge is announced in the daily school announcements and written on the application form.
- A student is eligible to challenge a course at:
- a higher level in the same course sequence, (e.g. French 10 can challenge French 20) or
- in the more challenging level of an alternative course sequence (e.g. English 13 can challenge English 10)
- A student may not challenge a course in which he/she has been registered during the current semester.
- If the student is deemed suitable, the student will then undertake a comprehensive assessment of learner expectations in the course, including a written component, an oral component, a portfolio component, a lab component, testing and/or whatever else is appropriate, depending on the course.
- The student is expected to do his/her own independent preparation for this assessment.
- A student who passes the challenge assessment will receive a "Pass" standing for prerequisite courses, and a mark for the challenged course.
- A student who does not receive a passing grade will receive no credits and that percentage will be forwarded to Alberta Learning for the student's records.
