PARTICIPANT ACADEMIC APPEAL POLICY

Catalogue
- All Professional Learning Offerings

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Public School Administrators’ Association of Nova Scotia (“PSAANS”) is committed to a fair, transparent, and timely approach to resolving Program participant concerns relating to academic matters within all of its academic programs.

2. POLICY SCOPE

2.1 The Participant Academic Appeal Policy (“Policy”) works alongside the Academic Integrity Policy and applies to all participants registered with the Instructional Leadership Academy (“ILA”), the Educational Leadership Development Program (“ELDP”), and all other professional learning opportunities and modules which may be offered from time to time (collectively the “Programs” and each a “Program”).

2.2 PSAANS faculty and staff involved in administering the Programs are responsible for understanding and complying with this Academic Appeal Policy and the Academic Integrity Policy.

2.3 This Policy addresses recourse on academic decisions related to academic integrity, final grade, academic discipline, academic probation, suspension, and dismissal.

2.4 For clarity, this Policy is intended to provide a basic internal process for reviewing academic decisions made within the Programs. It is not intended to create a court-like process or require formal rules of evidence.

2.5 This Policy does not include:

(a) appeals of decisions or penalties relating to non-academic conduct, such as breaches of the Student Code of Conduct;

(b) application and admissions decisions made in relation to the Programs; or

(c) decisions made by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, a Regional Centre for Education, the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial, or another external partner, unless PSAANS is responsible for the academic decision being appealed.

2.6 PSAANS faculty and staff are responsible for:

(a) using their academic and professional judgement in making decisions about the performance and progress of Program participants; and

(b) supporting the Program participants’ right to appeal decisions outlined in this Policy.

2.7 PSAANS will make this Policy available to staff, contractors, Program leads, instructors, and Program participants, and will provide orientation or guidance as needed to support consistent application.

3. ACADEMIC APPEAL COMMITTEE

3.1 PSAANS shall establish an Academic Appeal Committee (the “Committee”) to oversee academic appeals and requests for reassessment.

3.2 The Committee shall be made up of no less than two (2) individuals appointed by the Executive Director, and may include the Executive Director.

3.3 The person who made the decision under appeal, or any person who has a real or perceived conflict of interest, must recuse themselves from participating in any discussions relating to the appeal.

4. REQUEST FOR REASSESSMENT AND APPEAL PROCEDURES

Policy

4.1 Program participants are entitled to:

(a) request a reassessment of a final evaluation where the Program includes a graded or assessed component capable of being reassessed; and

(b) appeal any other academic matter.

4.2 Before making a request to have a final evaluation reassessed, Program participants are expected to attempt to resolve their concerns informally with the staff member or decision-maker in question. Program participants may also discuss their final grade with the applicable Program lead, Program Director, or Director of Professional Learning without having to submit a formal request for reassessment form.

4.3 An appeal or reassessment will normally be limited to the grounds identified by the Program participant. A reassessment may result in the evaluation outcome increasing, decreasing, or remaining unchanged.

4.4 Notwithstanding anything in this Policy, concerns may be resolved informally between the parties at any point during the appeal process.

4.5 Information collected or created through a reassessment or appeal will be treated as confidential and shared only as reasonably necessary to administer this Policy, make or implement a decision, maintain records, or comply with law.

Procedure

4.6 Program participants who wish to have a final evaluation reassessed or who wish to appeal an academic matter must submit a Reassessment/Appeal Form, appended to this Policy, to the Director of Professional Learning within 10 business days of being formally notified of the final grade. The request form must include:

(a) the participant’s name and contact information;

(b) the Program in which the participant is registered;

(d) the reasons for the requested appeal or reassessment;

(e) any informal steps already taken;

(f) any supporting documentation; and

(g) the outcome requested.

4.7 Program participants may request a reassessment of a final evaluation or appeal of an academic decision on any of the following grounds:

(a) Procedural unfairness;

(b) Bias; or

4.8 The Committee may dismiss an appeal prior to the appointment of a decision-maker or panel if it is:

(a) outside the scope of this Policy;

(b) filed late without an extension;

(d) one that does not identify a ground of appeal recognized by this Policy.

4.9 Where a reassessment or appeal proceeds, the Program participant will be given a fair opportunity to review and respond to information that will be considered by the decision-maker or panel.

4.10 The decision-maker or panel may meet with the Program participant and any relevant PSAANS representative by videoconference, telephone, or another practical method if the decision-maker or panel considers it necessary.

4.11 The Program participant may be accompanied by a support person or advisor for any meeting(s). The support person or advisor may assist the Program participant but may not participate as a representative unless a request is made in advance to the appeal decision-maker, panel, or committee. Requests to have a representative participate will not be unreasonably denied.

4.12 Upon the completion of their review of the reassessment/appeal materials, including any information gathered through meetings, the decision-maker or panel may do any of the following:

(a) In the case of a request for reassessment:

(i) Dismiss the request and maintain the evaluation previously awarded;

(ii) Refer the matter back to the original assessor for reconsideration, with guidance;

(iii) Refer the matter to a new assessor for reconsideration.

(b) In the case of an appeal:

(i) Dismiss the appeal;

(ii) Allow the appeal and refer the matter back for reconsideration;

(iii) Substitute a new decision where appropriate; or

(iv) Grant another practical remedy within PSAANS’ authority.

4.13 PSAANS will make reasonable efforts to provide a written decision, with brief reasons, within 30 business days after the later of receiving a complete request or any meeting held as part of the appeal/reassessment process.

4.14 The Committee’s decision is final.

5. COMPLIANCE WITH ALL PSAANS POLICIES

5.1 This Policy supplements, and does not replace, any other policies of PSAANS applicable to the conduct of Program participants, employees, members of the Board of Directors, or PSAANS members generally.

6. NO LIMITATION ON RIGHTS

6.1 Nothing in this Policy does, or is intended to, discourage or limit anyone from exercising any legal rights under any applicable law.

7. POLICY ADMINISTRATION

7.1 PSAANS’ Board of Directors has oversight of this Policy. The Board of Directors has assigned administration of this Policy to the Director of Professional Learning.

7.2 This Policy will be reviewed and updated as needed, at least every three years.

7.3 If Members have any questions about this Policy, they may contact the Director of Professional Learning.

7.4 The current version of this Policy can always be found in the Members Hub portion of www.psaans.ca.

7.5 Subject to requirements of law, PSAANS expressly reserves the right to change, modify, or delete portions of this Policy without notice.

Last updated: August 20, 2026