Center for Learning Advancement

The CLA has classrooms equipped with dedicated teachers who strive to meet every student’s unique learning needs. The CLA has two identifiable objectives:

• Provide an integrated approach to supporting students in academic areas during the school day.
• Provide academic enrichment for students that have intellectual needs and curiosities above and beyond the current curriculum.

A Director of CLA and the Learning Specialists provide support during the student’s day both in the classroom and in the CLA rooms. In the Lower School, students may receive services in a small group setting within the CLA classrooms or in the homeroom. Services are designed to meet the unique learning needs of the student. In the Middle and Upper Schools, the students meet in academic labs to reinforce skills being taught in the classroom. Across all divisions, extended time for tests and completion of classwork is provided when applicable. Students also may receive strategies to strengthen time management and organizational skills.

There is no additional cost to families for receiving support services from the CLA.

Our referral process is overseen by the Director of the CLA and is teacher and team-driven. Click HERE to review the referral process.

The referral process is not parent driven but parent feedback is welcome during the early fall and winter conferences. The homeroom teacher or advisor will refer your child to the Director of the CLA if your child has demonstrated an intellectual curiosity, ability and desire to apply themselves beyond the current curriculum and program. Please contact your child’s homeroom teacher or advisor if you have any questions about the referral process.

If a student is struggling academically, teachers observe and document academic areas of concern and implement teaching strategies to support those concerns. If the implemented strategies are not effective, teachers may request that the CLA conduct student observations in the classroom. Following the classroom observation(s), the CLA will equip the student’s teachers with additional classroom strategies for teaching and learning through ongoing training and intervention tools and determine if CLA support will be beneficial. If the CLA recommends additional information or student support,  parents will be contacted by the Director of the CLA or a member of the student’s support services team to discuss an action plan which may include a recommendation to pursue psychoeducational testing. If the school has received a professional testing report, the Director of the CLA will develop an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) aligned with the recommendations made by an outside professional, observations, and parent feedback. The ILP will include accommodations and strategies recommended for inside and outside the classroom. The ILP will be shared with the student’s support team and parents.

We recommend that you contact your child’s homeroom teacher or advisor. If further action is needed, your child’s homeroom teacher or advisor may refer you to the Director of the CLA.