Learning Academy (High School Program)

Learning Academy is a residential, pre-college, one-week program for bright high school rising seniors with diagnosed language-based learning disabilities or Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder.

• Learning Academy 2013 Brochure (PDF)

History

For over 40 years, Curry College has been recognized for its outstanding learning disabilities program for college students, the Program for Advancement of Learning (PAL). In June 1996, Curry began a one-week day summer program for high school students. June 2001 marked the beginning of the Learning Academy's new residential week. The Learning Academy students benefit from the same highly experienced professors and effective techniques that have been successful for PAL and Curry College since 1970.

An Overview

If you want to learn more about the learning process in general and about your own unique learning profile specifically, Learning Academy is designed for you. You will learn how to use your academic strengths in the classroom, your interpersonal style in social settings and your general problem solving abilities to develop strategies in:

• listening, speaking, reading and writing
• organizational and time-management abilities
• studying and test-taking
• library/database research methods
• assistive technology
• note-taking/mapping
• the college search process
• writing the college essay

Benefits:

• opportunity to work in a small group with experienced learning specialists.
• social interaction with other students with learning differences.

Eligibility/Requirements

To be accepted to the Learning Academy you must:

• Have a diagnosed language-based learning disability or Attention DeficitHyperactive Disorder, and/or executive function weaknesses. (Learning Academy is not designed to support students whose primary difficulty is in the area of non-verbal, social skill, behavioral, or psychiatric disorders).
• Provide a reference from a teacher, guidance counselor or learning disability specialist who knows you well.
• Send testing, which describes your learning profile (including WISC-IV or WAIS-IV test results) and indicates at least average to above average cognitive ability.
• Fill out a learning profile questionnaire

PLEASE NOTE: Acceptance into Learning Academy is not necessarily an indication that a student will be admitted to Curry College and/or PAL.

Dates for Summer 2013

Session I, June 23 - June 28; Session II, July 7 - July 12.

Cost FOR LEARNING ACADEMY

The 2013 cost is $1730 which includes tuition, room and board, plus organized activities.

Payment and Refund Policy:

• Non-refundable deposit of $100 upon acceptance.
• Full Payment Due by June 1.
• No refunds after June 1 unless a medical excuse is provided by physician.
• No refunds if student is asked to leave for infractions of drug, alcohol, and/or curfew violations or disruptive behavior.
• Limited enrollment.

Application Process

1. Please fill out the online application by May 15.
2. Send testing which documents your learning disability which was administered within the last three years and includes achievement and cognitive testing.
3. Complete the Learning Profile Questionnaire (PDF)
4. Send a Recommendation Form (PDF), completed by a guidance counselor, teacher, or learning specialist.

All application materials can be emailed to pal@curry.edu; faxed to 617-333-2018; or mailed to PAL Learning Academy, Curry College, Milton, MA 02186.

Accepted students will receive a letter and other forms to be completed and returned before arriving on campus.

Program Highlights

Learning Academy is more than classroom activities. It is the opportunity to experience the college residential environment.

• Get to know others from all over the United States in informal and planned activities designed to foster social interaction and cultural opportunities.
• Experience all that Boston has to offer in a tour of the city and the chance to attend a theater production.

All activities will be supervised by residential life staff.

Residential Staff

Students will be supervised by a Resident Director and Resident Assistants (one per 10 students). Resident assistants are college students themselves who are chosen based on maturity and recommendations.

Residence Hall

Students will be housed in one of Curry's smaller residence halls. Rooms are standard doubles, so students will be assigned roommates. Three meals a day will be provided in the College dining hall. Any additional meals or snacks will be at the student's expense.

Rules and Policies

Students will have enforced curfews and are expected to be in their own rooms between 12 midnight and 7 AM. Students may not leave campus unless on supervised and approved LA activities. A strict drug and alcohol policy will be enforced. Upon acceptance to the program, students and parents will be expected to sign a form acknowledging that they have read and agree to the residential policies.

Important Note to Parents

Safety of your son or daughter is of utmost concern to us; however, personal safety is a joint venture. No system can guarantee protection without full cooperation of and assumption of responsibility by your son or daughter. Consequently, we ask that you carefully evaluate your son's or daughter's maturity level before encouraging participation in a residential program.

Transportation

Students who fly into Logan Airport will be asked to arrange arrival and departure times so that residence life staff can meet them as a group for transport to Curry College. Please note that if flights are delayed or cancelled, a back-up plan should be in place. Further details will be forthcoming upon acceptance to the program.

For more information, call 617-333-2250 or send e-mail to: pal@curry.edu.