Is UCAP a public school?
UCAP is an independent public school under
the control of a board comprised of superintendents from the
participating school districts. We adhere to all laws and
regulations of the Rhode Island Department of Education. At the
same time, UCAP tries to employ practices that many individuals
readily associate with good private schools.
How is the school funded?
All school-day operations are funded through
tuitions that are paid by the participating school districts for
each student from their respective district. In addition to
tuition, UCAP raises private funds from individuals,
foundations, businesses, and fundraisers more than $200,000
per year. These funds are used for a range of Beyond School
programs that take place after school, on weekends, during
vacations, and over the summer. In 1996, the Urban Collaborative
completed a successful Capital Campaign of $1 million to
purchase and renovate the building that serves as UCAPs home.
Has UCAP ever been evaluated and is there any information
about the schools progress?
Over the years, there have been many
evaluations of the school, and of the success of its students
after they leave UCAP. The most recent was a comprehensive
two-year study funded by the Jessie B. Cox Foundation.
One of the key findings was that 25% more
UCAP students go on to graduate from high school that their
Providence peers, and that we accomplish this at a lower cost
per pupil. In the absence of the intervention provided by UCAP,
demographic characteristics of the students suggest that 80%
would have dropped out.
Click here for
an Executive Summary, or click here for the full report.
How are students selected?
Our primary qualifier is that each student
must have been retained in grade at least once to be eligible to
enroll at UCAP. We work directly with middle schools from the
participating cities Providence, Cranston and Central Falls -
to identify prospective students.
Our selection process involves a very short
application, an interview, and a review of student records. UCAP
does not weed out difficult students through the application
process: on the contrary, while attendance is voluntary, many of
our students have experience behavioral problems before coming
to UCAP.
Students who do not learn of UCAP through
their middle schools may apply directly to the school. UCAP is a
school of choice for all of these students. Click here for a
copy of the application.
Are there other schools like UCAP?
In Nashua New Hampshire, the Academy of
Learning and Technology (ALT) was created in September 2003,
based upon several key principles of the UCAP model. However,
UCAP is the only school that we know of that employs the
practice of accelerated promotion in grade. This means that a
student can complete more than one grade level in a subject
during a year. In other words, students are promoted in-grade
based upon acquisition of skills and knowledge, rather than upon
time in seat. To learn more about the ALT program in Nashua,
please click here.
Where is UCAP?
UCAP is conveniently located at 75 Carpenter
Street in Providence, RI.
Can I visit UCAP?
Absolutely! Wed love to have you come and
visit, meet our students and talk with Director Rob DeBlois.
Click here to send an email to Andrea Joseph to arrange your
tour, or call her at 401-272-0881 x 325.
