The assessment and credit system at PVPA is a pass/fail system based on mastery at a high standard of excellence. The educational environment is based on a balance between critical and creative thinking, as well as multiple learning styles. This takes into account the essentially individual nature of learning. However, it is important to have strict guidelines about how each individual negotiates learning at PVPA so as to avoid arbitrary and unfair assessments and evaluations. The following is a brief explanation of three ways in which students are allowed to individualize their own learning pattern.

Extensions:
Not all students work at the same speed. Therefore, students are allowed to negotiate for additional time if necessary in order to complete their work up to standard and meet deadlines. This is how it can be done:

1. Student must make a written request for an extension.  This request must include all headings (name, date, assignment title, course) as well as the original due date and proposed due date.
   
2. Extension requests must be approved by the teacher in writing before the original due date. Make sure you allow enough time for this request and approval process.
   
3. Student must attach approved extension request to the assignment when turning it in on the accepted alternate due date.
   
4. Extensions may be extended by repeating the same steps above. Not all second extension requests will be approved.
   

Revisions:
Not all students will be able to complete assignments up to standard the first time. If a piece of work is not up to standard, it will be marked with an “R” (revise) and returned to the student.  It is the student’s responsibility to find out what needs to be done and seek the help necessary in order to finally complete the work. Students can get extra help from peers, parents, academic support teachers or the classroom teacher herself.  There are regular times each week for extra help in the classroom.

An assignment is not finished until it is marked with a check, check-plus, a numerical grade of 80 or better, or a letter grade of “B” or better and returned to the student to be placed in his or her class folder.

It is recommended that revisions be completed quickly and returned quickly to the teacher for assessment. (Assignments can pile up quickly if not!)

At the end of each unit, there will be a final deadline beyond which no additional revisions will be accepted. Unfinished work will be recorded as missing and the student must then write a contract for additional work to take its place. This is the student’s responsibility.

Students will be asked to set a specific date for any required retake of a test or quiz and will be asked to select from a number of different study activities to prepare for it. Students will be asked to show what they did to prepare for the retake before the exam. A brief reflection sheet asking how the student prepared for the original assessment and how he or she will prepare differently for the new one will also need to be completed. The purpose of this new policy is for students to reflect on their level of preparation and to develop successful study habits.

Alternative Assignments:
Not all assignments will “work” for all students. If a particular assignment doesn’t seem to fit with a student’s interests, preparation, or frame of mind at the moment, that student can make a written request for an alternative assignment. This alternative must provide the same training and skill building as the original assignment and must be of the same size and scope. This requires that the student study the benchmarks, decide which benchmarks will be covered in the original assignment, and then design and describe an alternative. This written request must be approved by the teacher (and revised if necessary) before work on the alternative assignment begins. The student must attach the approved request to the alternative assignment when turned in.