Frequently Asked Questions for ARL-Based Academies - May 2009
1. Who is eligible to take classes at the ARL?
Juniors and seniors at all Howard County Public Schools are eligible to take classes at the ARL provided they meet
specific requirements for the courses. Each course has prerequisites for participation, which are listed in the Catalogue
of Approved High School Courses (the “Course Catalogue”).
2. How do students get to and from the ARL?
Students accepted for enrollment in the ARL will take a bus from their home school to the ARL and back each day.
The student will meet the ARL bus at a designated location at the home school and should return in time for the student’s
3rd period class. Students returning to the ARL for the second year of a course will arrive to the ARL in the afternoon and
return to their home school for dismissal provided they are not participating in an internship during their senior year.
Transportation to and from an internship site is the responsibility of the student/parent. Missing the bus to the ARL will
result in missing the entire class period and is considered an unexcused absence.
3. Are there any concerns with being on two school campuses?
On rare occasions, a change to the regular ARL bus schedule may result in a late arrival to another class, especially 3rd
period. In such a case, the absence from class is excused, but it is the student’s responsibility to make up any missed work.
Absences from any ARL courses may occur when there is testing at the home school or other special events that require or
allow students to remain in their home school. These absences from the ARL are often problematic, as each class here
comprises 2-3 credits worth of work in any given day. Also, some ARL classes involve labs that usually cannot be made up.
So, whenever possible, students will need to arrange their own transportation and make up labs immediately before or after
school with prior teacher approval.
4. Can students drive to the ARL?
Unfortunately, parking spaces are limited at the ARL. Therefore, students are not permitted to drive to the ARL. Prior
administrative approval from the ARL is needed for any exception to this policy.
5. How will this program apply towards graduation requirements?
Students who successfully complete a two-year, two-course sequence of courses at the ARL have fulfilled the “completer”
requirement for high school graduation.
6. How do the one-year ARL courses, EMT (Emergency Technician/Paramedic Academy) and C N A (Certified Nursing
Assistant Academy) satisfy this requirement?
These one-year, 4-credit ARL courses also satisfy “completer” requirements because the clinical hours required of the
students are completed on weekends or after school. These are also the only two ARL-based courses now limited to seniors.
7. What is a “completer?”
The term “completer” is used synonymously with the term “Program Choice” as listed on pages 7-9 of the Course Catalogue.
Students must complete at least one of 3 options towards satisfying completer or program choice requirements for graduation.
It is generally a series of courses under one category that students must complete in a sequence. World Languages are one
option for a completer. Advanced Technology Sequences are another option that meet completer requirements. Finally, all of the
courses offered at the ARL fall under a third option, Career and Technology Education Completer. Students must have one
completer option fulfilled in order to graduate, but they may enroll in more options if their schedules permit. These additional
courses will be listed as electives.
8. How do the Centralized Academies at the ARL differ from courses available in the home schools?
Our schedule at the ARL and our centralized location allows us to provide more extensive programs and to work with more
specialized equipment than those available in the home schools. Students also have an opportunity to meet and work with a diversity
of students from other Howard County high schools who share a similar interest and seek a more in-depth exposure to a career field.
9. How can teachers be contacted at the ARL?
All teachers can be contacted by e-mail as linked on the staff page of our website. A phone message can also be left at
(410)-313-6998. We will ask that you leave a message if classes are in session, but calls will be responded to promptly.
10. Who do students/parents contact with questions about a mentorship?
Mentorship placements are made through a collaborative effort of the community liaisons, teachers, mentors and families.
The process varies among the different academies. Please contact the community liaisons at (410) 313- 7483 or (410) 313-7482.
They can be of help or direct you to the appropriate person.
11. How do students get help if they are struggling in an ARL class?
A wide range of help is available to students who are struggling in classes. If the student can get transportation back to the ARL
and home, teachers are available for after school help. Prior approval is needed as teachers are frequently off site visiting mentors.
The ARL guidance counselor may also be contacted to help coordinate support for the student with ARL staff and with services at
the home school. You may contact the ARL guidance counselor at (410) 313-1298.
12. If a student has a “D” in mathematics in 10th grade, can he/she still sign up for an academy?
Some academies require a 2.0 or C average as a prerequisite in Algebra. If mathematics is not a prerequisite for an academy, the
student may still need to maintain at least a 2.0 GPA (or C average by the end of the year) in math and/or science while enrolled in
the academy. If a student is doing poorly in math or science prior to enrolling in the ARL, he/she may not be successful in applying
those skills in the academy coursework and may not earn his/her Career Academy Certificate. (Refer to the Course Catalogue for
program specific requirements).
13. Can a student return to a Level 2 class if he/she has not maintained eligibility requirements in the academy course and/or
any math or science co-requisite class?
Students may take the Level 2 class as an elective pending space availability and teacher recommendation. The student will not
receive a Career Academy Certificate of completion or be eligible for additional opportunities such as articulated credit, scholarships, etc.
However, if this is the student’s only opportunity to meet completer requirements, then he/she will be allowed to return to the Level 2
class but may not earn the Career Academy Certificate or other special benefits.
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