The
Urban Collaborative Accelerated Program (UCAP), is located
in Providence, Rhode Island. Founded in 1989, we are a
unique independent public school dedicated to reducing the
dropout rates in Providence, Central Falls and Cranston.
Urban children who have been held back a
grade are at serious risk of dropping out. UCAP is the only
public middle school in the country to offer students who
have repeated a grade the chance to condense three years of
learning into two.
UCAP is unique
We provide potential
dropouts the chance to accelerate and
get credit for the work they complete,
not just the time they spend in their
seats.
UCAP sets high expectations
We create an
atmosphere of high status to help
students achieve those expectations.
UCAP is a school of choice
The attendance of
all students is voluntary.
UCAP is changing young lives
UCAP students
discover that learning extends beyond
the traditional school day and school
building.
A comprehensive
evaluation, completed in the spring of
2007, demonstrated that more than 25%
more UCAP students graduate from high
school, extend their education or begin
productive lives of work than their
Providence peers. |
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Each year, UCAP works with approximately
140 students in grades 7, 8, and 9. At UCAP, they get the
personal attention they need to develop the skills,
attitudes, habits, and behaviors that will enable them to
stay in school and succeed. Since opening in 1989, UCAP has
helped over 1200 at-risk students achieve their academic
potential.
The Urban Collaborative operates as a
non-profit organization and a public school. The board is
comprised of the Superintendents of the participating school
districts, and is assisted by an advisory board comprised of
individuals throughout the community.
In addition to a core academic program,
UCAP offers a vast array of out-of-school programs that we
call Beyond School. Beyond School programs take place after
school, on weekends, during school vacations, and over the
summer that are essential to giving its students an equal
playing field from which to succeed in high school. These
programs are not covered by the tuition. They are funded by
private contributions.
To facilitate this fundraising effort,
the new Fund for UCAP, was established in the spring of
2007. The Fund for UCAP is a private, non-profit corporation
that raises, holds, and invests funds for the benefit of the
Urban Collaborative. These funds are used for Beyond School
student programs, capital needs, staff incentives, and
special initiatives identified by the boards of the Urban
Collaborative or the Fund for UCAP.
The extraordinary staff at UCAP tries to
help students realize that learning extends beyond the
traditional school day and school building. As a result of
their experience at UCAP, most of the students graduate from
high school, and either extend their education or begin
productive lives of work.
