Academic Resource Center (ARC)
At De La Salle North Catholic High School, we want all students to receive the support they need to navigate a challenging college preparatory curriculum. In the Academic Resource Center (ARC), dedicated tutors help students strengthen their math and literacy skills while they complete classwork for their core subjects.
The ARC team communicates with teachers, counselors, and families to determine how best to work with individual students. Some may need support in a variety of subject areas and will have an ARC class as part of their schedule. These students receive daily academic tutoring and learn strategies for organization and time-management. Other students may only need to meet with a tutor once a week. Our goal for all students in ARC is that they will confidently and successfully meet all challenges on their paths to graduation.
The ARC staff is made up of both paid tutors and volunteers. About 15% of DLSNC students receive daily support in ARC, and over half of the student population access some level of support over the course of a school year. Since its opening in 2015, the ARC has contributed to a significantly improved rate of academic retention.
The ARC also works with a variety of students with specific learning challenges and needs. DLSNC recognizes that the college preparatory curriculum presents a significant challenge to many students, and we are committed to providing academic support so that every student can succeed. The ARC Coordinator will create a Learning Support Agreement (LSA) that offers academic accommodations for any student with diagnosed learning differences.
After school ARC tutor hours:
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 3:35 - 4:00pm
- Tuesday and Thursday: 3:35 - 4:30pm
Families must provide ARC with documentation from either a healthcare professional, a psychological evaluation report, and/or an Individualized Education Plan(IEP) or a 504 plan (if they attended a public school). Valid documentation must be within three years of establishing an LSA.
Students who are eligible for an LSA are offered only accommodations in the general education classroom. Similar to in the collegiate-level, students with accommodations are expected to self-advocate for their accommodations and communicate with all of their teachers. De La Salle North Catholic acknowledges previous academic learning plans (Private School Learning Plan, 504 Plan, or IEP), but cannot guarantee that all accommodations and supports are transferable to a DLSNC LSA. Below are common accommodations provided to students with documented, diagnosed learning difficulties:
- Access to some audio books and texts (Learning Ally)
- Extended time (homework, projects, tests when approved by teachers)
- Alternative assessments (e.g. reduced # of problems, oral vs. written)
- Exams in an alternate setting
- Time and a half on tests (50%)
- Testing over multiple days (Chunking tests)
- Access to teacher notes and outlines
- Access to assistive technology in the classroom
- Frequent and consistent check-in with counseling support staff
- Tutors (through paid tutors, volunteers, University of Portland, and our DLSNC National Honor Society)
- Extracurricular activities (Lasallian Youth Ministry, clubs, talent shows, service immersions, volunteer opportunities, etc.)
- Athletics
- Preferential seating
- Teacher support and classroom interventions
- Ability to retake tests in some classes
- School counseling services
- Attendance monitoring
- Behavior plans and interventions
- Academic contracts
- Referral to outside tutors, counselors, and community agencies
- Virtual access to grades and assignments (PowerSchool)
- Special scheduling (e.g. Read 180, Guided Studies)
Student enrollment is dependent on a student's previous educational history. The ARC Coordinator, guidance counselors, and administrators review NWEA test scores and previous academic grades as well as receive teacher input when determining class placement. When enrolled in an ARC class, students have access to tutors every day they are at school.
Testing accommodations for the PSAT, SAT and AP Exams are managed by the College Board. DLSNC does not determine who does and does not qualify for these exams. When an eligible student enters their Junior year, the ARC Coordinator will upload documentation to the College Board. The College Board vets eligibility based on accommodation data sent by The ARC Coordinator. The ACT is not affiliated with the College Board and is a separate entity. The ARC Coordinator is responsible for submitting accommodation data of the student to the ACT, and the ACT will determine who qualifies for accommodations.
At the beginning of each school year, students meet with their teachers to discuss their LSA’s and accommodations. Students are expected to self-advocate and communicate the accommodations they feel will benefit them most in the classroom. Students who qualify for exams in a distraction-free environment, may take their assessments in the testing center, located in the back of ARC, room 123A. Students who qualify for these accommodations must fill out the Assessment Request Form at least one (1) school day in advance of the known exam. Students who qualify for these accommodations who wish to take their final exams in the testing center must fill out the Assessment Request Form at least three (3) school days in advance of the known final exam. The ARC Coordinator schedules and proctors all accommodated exams in the Testing Center.
Learning Support Agreements (LSA’s) do not transfer to the university level. However, most universities require updated documentation within three years of enrolling at the university. Although LSA’s do not transfer, universities often provide similar accommodations for students with learning differences and use your student’s previous plan as a guide. When applying to universities, please contact Amanda Rodela Weingarten '05, the College Counselor at x138 or aweingarten@dlsnc.org for guidance. Below are links to support resource commonly attended by De La Salle North Catholic students.
- University of Portland:
https://www.up.edu/sarc - Portland State University:
https://www.pdx.edu/student-life/support-services - George Fox University:
https://www.georgefox.edu/offices/student-life/student_services.html - Western Oregon University:
https://wou.edu/resources/student-resources/