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Academics

Academic opportunities and Grace.

The Grace School is committed to ensuring each student meets-or-exceeds grade-level learning standards while nurturing their creativity and individuality to create tomorrow’s open-minded and thoughtful leaders.

Core Curriculum Special Subjects Inclusion

The strength of our core curriculum.

Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies: These are the building blocks of a Grace School education.

Literacy

At The Grace School, Language Arts includes reading, writing and word study, explored through the workshop model (i.e. focused group lessons, guided practice, independent study, conferencing and sharing).

At the heart of our literacy program is the Lucy Calkins Workshop Model, which helps every child grow as a reader and writer. Each day begins with a short mini lesson, followed by time for students to practice in pairs, small groups, or one-on-one with their teacher. This approach allows every child to learn at just the right level for them. Students dive into fiction and nonfiction books, write stories, informational pieces, and opinions they’re proud to share, and celebrate their accomplishments at the end of each unit.

In grades K–2, students build strong reading foundations with UFLI Foundations, a hands-on phonics program based on the Science of Reading. They practice hearing, blending, and changing sounds in words and apply their new skills in short, engaging reading passages. In grades 3–4, UFLI continues as extra spelling and phonics support tailored to each student’s needs.

Math

At the Grace School, we employ the Eureka math curriculum created by the state of NY also known as Engage NY, or Great Minds. Lessons are designed to support deep understanding of concepts and procedures by using critical thinking skills where students go beyond rote memory to develop fluency and flexible thinking. Students are encouraged to think deeply in order to discover and develop multiple pathways and procedures to solve real-world problems.

Social Studies

The social studies curriculum at The Grace School embodies a commitment to learning about people and their cultures, civics, and social justice. Using an inquiry-based framework, essential questions are posed and answered throughout each unit. These units put students at the center of their learning, honoring their ability to devise questions, analyze materials, and find solutions.

Science

Our science curriculum, utilizing the FOSS Program, gives students the opportunity for a hands-on science experience. Students are able build an understanding of science concepts through individual investigation and analysis, using age-appropriate readings, lab equipment, and interactive technology. Each lesson brings science to life!

“My son attended The Grace School for nine years. I believe this is one of the primary reasons for his current success, both academically and personally.”

– Christine McCaffery

Special Subjects

To complement our strong academic curriculum, The Grace School offers a variety of special subject areas.

Students develop a love of reading and an understanding of digital media and technology in our Library and Digital Studies classes.

During Music, students learn how to read music, they study music history and music appreciation – and they even learn to play the recorder and ukulele!

Physical Education/Health class develops students’ minds and bodies. Students learn to develop a healthy practice of regular exercise and healthy eating. They also learn to exhibit good sportsmanship and respect for others whether it is in our gymnasium, our indoor pool, our outdoor track and multi-sport turf field, or on our outdoor basketball court.

Water Safety is provided to all of our students in K and 1st grades. We believe every child should have a foundation in water safety, especially in our beautiful Ocean State!

Spanish is offered for students to broaden their linguistic skills and develop an appreciation for those who use dual languages to communicate.

Lastly, students benefit from a school-wide mission of developing Social & Emotional Skills tailored for each class, and individual students, as the need arises.

teacher at table with students reading

The Grace School: An Inclusive Model.

What makes The Grace School’s approach to inclusion unique? Fully inclusive classrooms – all day, every day. At The Grace School, students with and without special needs learn and play together in the same environment. This strengths-based approach to education not only yields higher achievement, it fosters compassion and the belief that every person has potential, a purpose, and a gift to share with the world.

So, what is inclusion?

At The Grace School, we describe inclusion as a flexible and dynamic approach to learning in which students of all abilities work together to achieve developmentally appropriate social and academic goals. Effective inclusion programs such as ours include:

  • Raising academic, social and behavioral expectations for all students;
  • Practicing understanding, independence, patience, and diversity;
  • Nurturing a culture of differentiated, intuitive and responsive instruction that imagines greater possibilities for all students’ learning;
  • Understanding the whole child and challenging each student to meet their maximum potential; and
  • Fostering effective communication between co-teachers, therapists and support staff.

Students with Special Needs

If you are visiting this page, you are likely on the often-times confusing and frustrating journey to understand your child’s educational rights and the local services available to best support their needs. Meeting Street is here to help.

Let’s start with the basics.

Meeting Street’s Rhode Island special education program is a continuum spanning three schools: The Early Learning Center (Ages 6 weeks – 5 years); The Grace School (K-8) and The Carter School (Ages 14 – 22). If your child has special needs (e.g. an IEP or 504 plan), they will be a student of Meeting Street who is placed in one of the three schools listed above, based on their age.

There are two ways to attend Meeting Street as a student with special needs:

  1. District Placement (i.e. your local school district cannot accommodate your child’s needs, as outlined in their Individual Education Plan [IEP], and the district agrees to pay the tuition to “place” your child in a non-district school like Meeting Street).
  2. Out-of-Pocket Placement (i.e. you personally pay the tuition estimated by Meeting Street to accommodate your child’s needs. Please note: financial assistance is not available for special education tuition.)

So, where do you start?

  • If your child is turning 3 and needs additional support or accommodations, the first step is to contact your local school district, in writing, to request a special education evaluation for your child.
  • If you child does have an IEP and you wish to pursue a placement at Meeting Street, you must contact your local school district’s special education director to discuss options. School districts offer a diverse range of programs and services for children with special needs, which may meet the needs of your child.  Please note: Meeting Street is not able to discuss or review your child’s IEP without a referral from your local school district.
  • If you disagree with the findings of your local school district, you have options. Click here to learn about your rights. For a comprehensive overview of the laws and systems governing special education in Rhode Island, please visit the RI Department of Education (RIDE) website here. For Massachusetts regulations, please visit the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) website here.
  • Please note: Meeting Street / The Grace School is not an appropriate placement for children with significant behavioral needs.

Thank you visiting!  Let’s start with the basics.

Meeting Street’s Rhode Island special education program is a continuum spanning three schools: The Early Learning Center (Ages 6 weeks – 5 years); The Grace School (K-8) and The Carter School (Ages 14 – 22). If a student has an IEP, they will be a student of Meeting Street who is placed in one of the three schools listed above, based on their age.

We have created this page to help clarify the services available through Meeting Street’s special education programs.  We also love talking to you, so please do not hesitate to contact us with questions about our programs and services.  

Meeting Street is a great option for students who:

  • have severe or multiple disabilities;
  • are medically complex;
  • have an autism spectrum diagnosis; or
  • have mild-to-moderate needs.

Please note: Meeting Street is not an appropriate placement for students with significant behavioral needs. 

Meeting Street’s Rhode Island special education program is a continuum spanning three schools:

  • The Early Learning Center (3 years – 5 years) 
    Meeting Street’s Early Learning Center, or ELC, places children with IEPs in the same classrooms as children without IEPs, creating a full-day, fully inclusive educational environment.  Located on Meeting Street’s Providence campus, the newly constructed ELC features a multi-lingual Young Learners’ Library, adaptive playground and sensory integration gymnasium.  The ELC is BrightStars rated, NAYEC accredited and all teachers are RIDE-certified.  The ELC program is able to accommodate students who require a 1:1 nurse.
  • The Grace School (Kindergarten – Grade 8)
    Also located on Meeting Street’s Providence campus, The Grace School continues the fully inclusive classroom model of the ELC, capping classroom enrollment at 18 students.  Each classroom has a RIDE-certified general education teacher and special education teacher, with adaptive spaces to accommodate students using wheelchairs or other adaptive equipment.  The school boasts and adaptive track and multi-sport field, therapeutic pool, on-site skills nursing staff and physical, occupational and speech-language therapists who utilize a team approach to bring out the best in each child.  Please note: nursing and therapy services are only provided in accordance with a child’s IEP.
  • The Carter School (Ages 14 – 22)
    Meeting Street’s Providence high school for students with multiple disabilities utilizes a “centers-based” approach to prepare students for adulthood and life after Meeting Street.  The school’s three centers include:
    • Academics, with students receiving an RIDE-certified high school diploma at age 18;
    • Vocational Skills, where students work with a job coach to identify career interests, a team of therapists to develop necessary skills, and ultimately, to receive on-the-job-training through a community-based work placements; and
    • Life Skills, where students practice Activities of Daily Living – learning how to do laundry, cook, clean, and care for their personal hygiene – in a mock apartment.