What We Do

The Rhode Island Consortium of Alternative Programs (RICAP) is a group of educators and schools working together to support alternative education across the state. We focus on helping students succeed by promoting flexible, personalized learning environments that meet a wide range of needs.

Many students in alternative education programs face different challenges than those in traditional schools. With this in mind, RICAP seeks to support ongoing conversations about how student progress and school success can be measured in ways that fully capture the impact of alternative education. We believe additional measures and indicators can help highlight student growth, engagement, persistence, and postsecondary readiness across diverse learning environments.

RICAP works to connect alternative programs across Rhode Island, share ideas and resources, and advocate for better ways to support and evaluate student success. We aim to raise awareness and improve understanding of alternative education.

Our mission is to collaborate with state leaders and educational partners to advance a shared understanding of alternative education schools and programs. Through this work, we hope to support the development of policies and a parallel accountability system that reflects the unique pathways, growth, and successes of students in alternative settings—especially those who are over-aged, under-credited, system-impacted, or historically underserved.