NEW: Bill Will Help UCAP Expand Education Facilities

NEW: Bill Will Help UCAP Expand Education Facilities

The Urban Collaborative Accelerated Program (UCAP) could gain the capacity borrow up to $4.75 million for expanded facilities through a new bill introduced by Rep. Michael Tarro. The money would be used to finance a new gym, science lab, art room and meeting rooms for the school and neighborhood to use.

UCAP, an independent public school for grades 7, 8 and 9 located on Carpenter St. in Providence,would be able to move forward with construction which is planned for late summer or early fall. The school received a $1 million low-interest loan from the Rhode Island Foundation last year to purchase the former Engle Tire and Providence Auto Ignition buildings, which are located adjacent to the school and will be renovated for the project. The school, which is funded in part by the districts sending students, and also by contributions from individuals, foundations and businesses, is currently in the midst of a capital campaign to help fund the construction. The Department of Education will provide some reimbursement, in the same way it helps fund school housing projects at public schools statewide.

UCAP, which was founded in 1989, currently has no gym or science labs. The new facility would also be used by the Textron Chamber of Commerce Academy, around the corner on Broadway.

UCAP serves 140 at-risk middle-school students from Providence, Central Falls and Cranston. Its programs target students who have repeated a grade, helping them to complete three years of learning in two to help catch up with peers and better position them to complete high school.

A "Phenomenal Program"

“UCAP is a phenomenal program that invests in at-risk kids at a pivotal time in their young lives," said Representative Tarro. 'This school gives them the opportunities and the support they need to make up for lost time and lets them know that their community wants them to succeed, but ultimately, it’s up to them. And the results are good. The kids there work hard, its alumni are successfully graduating from high school, and the school is meeting all its targets."

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“This project will be a great improvement to the school, giving kids better opportunities and inspiration to learn and grow in a healthy and attractive environment,” he added.

 Representative Tarro submitted the bond legislation yesterday, during a visit to the House of Representatives by the school’s director, Rob DeBlois.

DeBlois said that besides sharing the facility with Textron Academy, UCAP also intends the facility to be used by the neighborhood.

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