SHC Academic Resource Program (ARP) Staff are dedicated to ensuring students with documented or suspected learning differences develop self-awareness and advocacy skills while building strategies to support their unique learning style. To ensure our students are fully integrated into our curriculum and campus life, SHC provides academic resources to students with documented mild to moderate learning disabilities or who are diagnosed with ADHD. Although the curriculum is not modified, students may receive basic accommodations and assistance with developing strategies to support independent learning and prepare them for a positive college experience.
The mission of ARP is to provide students with the support they need to become successful learners who are confident, self-aware, motivated and empowered to advocate for their learning needs with an understanding of their unique learning profile and the strategies, tools and accommodations that will benefit them and allow them to thrive in high school and beyond.
SHC ARP staff assist students to:
Incoming ARP students submit documentation of their learning differences and work with the Director of the Academic Resource Program to create a Learning Plan. The plan outlines the student's areas of strength and challenge, recommendations for the classroom, and testing accommodations. Upon completion and approval by the team, the Learning Plan will be distributed to the student’s teaching team. Acceptable forms of documentation include, but are not limited to:
Accommodations Provided at SHC:
Accommodations Available (on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with the Academic Resource Program):
SHC does not routinely provide:
The ARP Office is open from 8 am to 3:30 pm and can be used as a space to meet with ARP staff individually to review Learning Plans or get support with classwork and homework, meet with peer tutors, or find a quiet space to work independently.
The Testing Center facilitates extended time testing and testing with other approved accommodations, in addition to supporting completion of testing missed because of pre-approved absences, and it provides a supervised site for students to complete tests from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm.
Students with Learning Plans are assigned a case manager, a member of the ARP staff who works with them through graduation. ARP staff will partner with the student’s School Counselor and College Advisor when helpful.
Our ARP staff works to ensure that the process of building awareness of oneself as a learner is constructive, and we collaborate with parents and guardians in the academic, personal, emotional, and social development of their students. Parents and guardians typically meet with the ARP staff upon development of the Learning Plan, and then as needed throughout their child’s time at SHC.
A college preparatory curriculum can prove daunting, especially for incoming students. To foster academic skills and confidence, SHC offers an Academic Support Class (ASC) for incoming 9th graders and some students may be recommended to enroll in ASC. The ASC supports a successful entrance to our college preparatory curriculum, as well as access to regular check-ins and academic support from our ARP staff. The additional structure and support of this course facilitate success in the student’s other courses and cocurriculars.
The Academic Resource Program partners with several student groups to help identify and match students with Peer Tutors. Students can sign up to meet individually with peer tutors for academic support with specific classes in a one-time or ongoing way.
All SHC faculty hold regular office hours to meet individually with students. Students may arrange to meet with teachers at other times with prior communication. As part of our college-preparatory efforts to help students develop skills of resourcefulness and organization, our students themselves are responsible for making appointments and coming to office hours. Individual meetings can help with:
The ARP staff may also be able to connect students with other resources for academic support, such as tutoring with other adults within our school community.
All SHC faculty hold regular office hours to meet individually with students. Students may arrange to meet with teachers at other times with prior communication. As part of our college-preparatory efforts to help students develop skills of resourcefulness and organization, our students themselves are responsible for making appointments and coming to office hours. Individual meetings can help with:
The ARP staff may also be able to connect students with other resources for academic support, such as tutoring with other adults within our school community.
The ARP Director can provide referrals for outside support with vetted professionals for: tutoring, executive function and ADHD coaching, educational evaluations and more.
Documentation provided to SHC is used to create a student’s Learning Plan. With parent/student consent, it can also be used to try to obtain accommodations through the College Board. The College Board oversees the PSAT (which students take in the Fall of 9th - 11th grade years), the SAT if a student chooses, and AP Exams for any AP classes a student opts to take. SHC can also support a student to try to obtain accommodations on the ACT.
Calling all students and athletes ages 8—14! One-week summer enrichment courses and sports academies are just a click away. Courses run from June 8 to July 17. Visit the Summer Institute page today.
