University Charter School

Why University Charter School was nominated

The impact that UCS has had on the local community that it serves is transformational. The TODAY show did a feature story on UCS as well as it has been recognized by the USDOE as spotlight school. UCS is truly �rooted� in place and is grounded by the place-based educational philosophy that education has a local to global context, establishes community, and focuses on a learner-centered, design thinking approach. The school climate at UCS is focused on students as individuals and schools as communities, tapping into resources and interests in students and all stakeholders to foster an engaging, collaborative learning environment focused on growth. University Charter School is a PK-10 community, not just a school, as evidenced by the level of community engagement and partnership. The formal place-based education approach at UCS is linked to higher academic achievement, energized teachers, transformative school culture, improved student learning, and an impact on students to become active citizens and improving connections between schools and �place�, the local community. UCS is truly �rooted in place� in rural, Sumter County. Serving students in the west Alabama region of Alabama�s Black Belt brings many unique challenges that UCS embraces as opportunities to make a real difference in the lives of the students, families and communities that it serves. UCS was established to change the educational and economic landscape of the community. UCS is intentionally designed to equip students with essential skills to help revitalize their community and to attract business and industries back to the community by focusing on a robust interdisciplinary curriculum focused on college and career preparation. The community, the place, is instrumental and foundational to the mission of UCS., In partnership with the University of West Alabama, the UCS model embraces place-based education and immerses students in their local communities and uses the community as the foundation for study., University Charter implments the Teton Place Based Learning model. , University Charter School implements an innovative Place-Based Education model that connects learning with the ecological, cultural, and economic context and community that surround it to increase student engagement, boost academic outcomes, and impact communities.