PLAR - Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition 

 What is PLAR?

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for mature students provides a quicker way for adults to acquire credits toward a high school diploma. The PLAR assessment process looks at your life and work experiences and can award you credits for that experience, as well as grant equivalent credits for successful completion of assessments.

Who is a Mature Student?

A mature student is a student who is:

• at least 18 years old on or before December 31 or August 31 of the school year;
• is enrolled in a secondary school credit program for the purpose of obtaining an OSSD.

Who Participates in PLAR?

Students who are new to the Ontario secondary school system as of February 1, 2004 and Ontario high school students who were enrolled in an Ontario school in 1999-2000 or later and who are working towards a diploma.

What About Maturity Credits?

Students who were enrolled in the Ontario secondary school system prior to 1999 and who continue to work towards their OSSD under OS:IS or HS1 diploma requirement do not have to participate in the PLAR process.    These students could be granted credits under the PLA (Prior Learning Assessment) maturity credit process.  

Grade 9 and 10 Individual Assessment / Equivalency Process 

What is it?   An individual student assessment / equivalency process for the purpose of granting up to 16 Grade 9 and 10 credits through (a) transcripts, or (b) transcripts and completion of individual assessments, or (C) completion of individual assessments.

Students without appropriate transcripts for all or part of the first two years of secondary school will be required to complete an individual assessment in some or all of Grade 9 and 10 English, Mathematics, Science and Canadian Geography/History.

Does this program earn a certificate?     The principal may grant the OSSC (Ontario Secondary School Certificate) to a mature student following successful completion of the individual assessments.   Unlike adolescents, mature students are eligible to receive this certificate and continue to pursue and earn an OSSD in the future.

Grade 11 and 12 Equivalency Process

What is it?  The process for obtaining credits that involves an evaluation of a mature student's education and/or training credentials and/or other appropriate documentation of learning gained from other programs, courses or work experiences. This is a very individual process and is unique to each student.

What is the process?  

• be enrolled in a secondary school course
• complete the PLAR Application provided by the guidance counsellor
• present credentials/ documents that show evidence of learning that relates directly to the Ontario curriculum expectations for specific courses 
• complete any supplemental forms to demonstrate learning (determined by guidance counsellor)

Points to Remember

• Students must earn a minimum of four Grade 11 and 12 credits after mature status is reached (Including Grade 12 English) by taking the necessary courses.
• Students may obtain no more than ten Grade 11/12 credits through the equivalency/ challenge process unless they have graduated with a diploma or degree from a Canadian accredited post secondary institution or they are registered with as an Ontario Skilled Trades person.
• Principals may grant half-credits only for specific half-credit courses.

Post-Secondary Information for Current Adult Education Students

Congratulations!!   You are moving closer to attending a post-secondary institution.

First Steps

Research all post secondary institutions so you are clear on the required courses for your program of interest. You do not need to be done all required courses before you apply. However, you should plan out your schedule to insure you will be able to complete all requirements in time, including any extra requirements (ie. CASPer test, IELTS, portfolios, etc.). Pay attention to deadlines specific to your program and school of interest.

Current students can see the information below for further instance with applications. We update this information each Fall to provide the most up-to-date information we have access to.

Obtaining Transcripts

If the last secondary school or adult learning centre you attended was in another part of the Province of Ontario or in another country, you must contact that school or school board directly.   The Thames Valley District School Board does not have access to those records.

Former students can obtain a transcript from the Thames Valley District School Board (formerly Middlesex County, Elgin County, Oxford County and City of London school boards)by contacting our Records Department at https://www.tvdsb.ca/en/parents/record-requests.aspx.  

All students are responsible for submitting their own post secondary transcripts (if you previously attended a college or university) as needed.

Applying to University - See Details Here:    

PINs are no longer required for any students.

You will be either a Group A or Group B applicant:

You must be registered and attending at least 1 course with Adult & Continuing Education to be considered attending an Ontario high school.

Next:

Go to: www.ouac.on.ca

Here you can find details on how to apply to university, as well as links with various program information for all the Ontario universities.  When you are ready, click the "Apply Now" button.

Next:

You will need to create an account, if you have not done so already. Once your account is created, this is how you can log in.  Please keep this information confidential and safe - Adult Ed. has no access to reset passwords or user accounts. You may have an account if you applied previously.

Once you have paid and applied, complete the Post Secondary Info form (blue link below)below to notify your counsellor. 

Current Year Students Only Please:

Complete after you have applied to OUAC and after you have determined courses you need/wish to take based on our schedule of course offerings for the year.

 https://bit.ly/PostSecondaryInfoSheet 

Group A - counsellors will submit marks and your planned timetable. (Sealed out of Board transcripts may be required of you.)

Group B - counsellors will prepare an electronic copy of any TVDSB transcripts, along with a letter of intent (planned courses still to be taken) and email it to you. Group B applicants must send these to their chosen universities.

Group A deadline to apply is January 15, 2025. Group B deadline to apply varies by university & program.

The standard application fee is $156 for 3 universities. Each additional choice is $50. Group B applicants will likely be subject to additional supplementary fees.  See each university for specifics.

Applying to College 

Visit: www.ontariocolleges.ca

Here, you can research Ontario colleges and program options and requirements.

When you are ready, click the Apply Now button.

Deadline for applications, is February 1, 2025. Applications can still be submitted after this date, for programs that remain open.

The application fee is $150 which gives 5 choices maximum (3 programs at 1 college-max.).

Current-Year Students Only:

Complete after you have applied to OCAS and after you have determined courses you need/wish to take based on our schedule of course offerings for the year.

 https://bit.ly/PostSecondaryInfoSheet

Wheable counsellors will submit TVDSB marks and proposed timetables to OCAS, only when they have received a post secondary info sheet. This will be done each term. Midterm marks are only submitted upon request.

PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to submit out of board transcripts to OCAS, that have been emailed to us from a student. Please order out of board transcripts directly on OCAS.  

 Awards for Adult & Continuing Education

 Stephenson Bursary - NOW Closed.

For a number of years now, Grant & Anne Stephenson have provided one bursary to a student in our Adult Education program.  The bursary ($1000) is meant to help with out of pocket expenses (ie. printer, Internet fee, bus pass, etc.) related to being a student.  The award recognizes academic achievement as well.  If you have or will have taken a minimum of 4 credit courses in Terms 1, 2, 3 & 4 (2024-25) and have financial need, then you may wish to apply.  The application deadline is February 20, 2025.  

Click here to go to the Stephenson Bursary Application.

Other Awards

There are 2 types of awards to apply for – School Awards (only available to Adult Education students) and Board Awards (you compete with students from across the Board for these). 

All of these eligible awards are listed at the link below on the Board website under: G.A. Wheable. 

https://www.tvdsb.ca/Modules/AwardsDirectory/Index.aspx?school=G.%20A.%20Wheable%20Adult%20Education&keyword=

There is a brief description/criterion for each award.  You need to consider the criteria to determine if you are a strong candidate to apply for the award, as you will need to explain this on your application.

For Board Awards:

You only need to submit one application, and it will be considered for any eligible award. It is an electronic form.  You must complete and submit it no later than April 1, 2025. In the case of multiple applications by our students for Board awards, one candidate will be selected by the school's awards committee. That candidate will then be reviewed by the Board. Here is the link for the electronic application form for the Board:

 https://www.grantinterface.ca/Home/Logon?urlkey=tvdsb

 For School Awards:

The following awards are school awards:       Due Date: May 23, 2025

This year we *expect the following school awards (only available to Adult Education students) will be available:

Albert & Hazel Dolbear Award - must have taken a family studies course; demonstrate a desire for social change ($250)

Mary Gee Award - supportive of classmates & a promoter of Adult Education ($200)

Thames Valley Education Award- graduating student; contributes to school or community positively ($500)

There is more description/criterion for each award to expand on what is listed above.  You need to consider the criteria to determine if you are a strong candidate to apply for the award, as you will need to explain this on your application.

For these awards, please use our specific electronic form:

https://forms.office.com/r/NuiUB4V4Mt - Award Application

Each school award requires a separate application.

Due Date: May 23, 2025 - Noon 

Other awards are by nomination and do not require applications from students.

 *all awards are confirmed by the Board's Foundation in the Spring and are subject to available funds

All of these eligible awards are listed at the link below on the Board website under: G.A. Wheable. 

https://www.tvdsb.ca/Modules/AwardsDirectory/Index.aspx?school=G.%20A.%20Wheable%20Adult%20Education&keyword=

Please note that you may be contacted regarding other awards, that are available by nomination or grade/course. 

For questions regarding awards, please contact Marla Kosterski (m.kosterski@tvdsb.ca).