What are CLIA's Leadership Law Acadamies?
Law and Leadership Academies (LLA) are high school career pathways that introduce youth to law and policy-related professions while preparing them to be problem solvers, active citizens and community leaders. LLA’s feature a Maryland State Department of Education approved curriculum emphasizing core academic skills and critical thinking in and out of the classroom. Students learn how to advocate for themselves and others by organizing community projects, becoming certified mediators and participating in peer mediation activities.
LLAs create a culture of success through specialized classes, and a variety of positive activities. The core academic component consists of three required courses:
- 10th Grade: Introduction to Constitutional Principles
- 11th Grade: Law and Community Justice
- 12th Grade: Youth Action Clinic
Academic courses are supplemented with additional electives and extracurricular activities such as job and college fairs, summer programs, internships, mentoring, job shadowing, and field trips.
Some Academies even have their own courtrooms where students can practice mock trial and debate. Students also have an opportunity to enroll in college courses and receive advanced credit prior to graduation.
CLIA's current Law & Leadership Academies:
- Heritage High School
- Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School
- National Academy Foundation High School
- Patterson High School
- Reginald F. Lewis High School
Law and Leadership Students have demonstrated significant increases in graduation rates, attendance, and college acceptance as well as a decrease in disciplinary actions. Students also consistently demonstrate more positive attitudes towards civic engagement and community service.
- Doris M. Johnson High School students have had a 0% drop out rate for three years in a row
- 100% of participating students at Northwestern High School graduated and applied to college or career school between 2001 and 2007
- 90% of the 2008 class at Reginald F. Lewis High School passed their HSA tests and 100% graduated
- 100% of the LLA students at Patterson High School participated in mentoring four years in a row
Connect
520 W. Fayette Street Baltimore, MD 21201 | P 410 706 3875 | P 410 706 0041