But because all UCAP students trail their peers by at least one grade, they are motivated to catch up quickly. In addition to its core curriculum and state-mandated health and sex education classes, UCAP offers elective classes in computers, animal studies, bowling, dancing, arts, pottery, sign language, and cartooning. Artists, technicians, and other community members teach these classes in the afternoons while teachers grade course work, prepare for classes, work together, and meet in committees. Flexible use of time. Teachers, who have complete control of instructional time, create individual weekly schedules to suit changing instructional needs.
Teachers meet weekly as a group to plan future class schedules.
Teachers rotate the extended classes across all disciplines to give subjects equal time throughout the semester. Elective classes are held in the afternoons, four times a week. Teachers have common planning periods every afternoon, when students take elective classes, and on Fridays, when students are dismissed early. Once a week, teachers discuss individual students' progress and problems. Teachers also have weekly staff meetings with the director to decide on a range of other issues, from policy to upcoming events.