Opening its doors to students in September of 2010, the Creative Learning Academy (CLA) is an accelerated learning program that provides a high school education to students between the ages of 17 and 21 who have been absent from a traditional high school for six months or more. The Creative Learning Academy was developed as a cooperative effort between Opportunities Industrialization Centers (OIC) of America, a non-profit organization, designated to serve the community with the mantra, “helping people help themselves,” and the School District of Philadelphia. CLA serves students who are over-aged and under-credited through an accelerated learning program that allows students to receive their high school diploma at a faster pace than a traditional high school, while still adhering to the educational requirements of the Philadelphia School District. CLA is accredited by the School District of Philadelphia.