About UA
About UA
Learning science by doing science
Our core components
Family Engagement Opportunities
Partnership with Science-Rich Cultural Institutions
Professional Learning (PL) for Teachers and Administrators
Teacher Leader Development
Classroom Materials Orders
Evaluation of Program Effectiveness
What we do
Parent Coordinator workshops, family and student events at institutions, and partner attendance at school events.
Why we do it
UA’s Family Engagement initiative creates events for families to explore, learn about, and make memories at partner institutions. UA holds annual PC workshops to help plan and execute school community trips and to help PCs gain valuable professional learning experience. Partners also attend school events to support learning and expand access to the whole school community.
Effect on students
Students participate in Scientific Exploration with their families. Students who learned in UA-participating schools have consistently been prompted to seek intergenerational knowledge, to ask curiosity questions, and to make connections, all practices that support solid science practice and family engagement.
Research & Evaluation
FY25 Research and Evaluation in Urban Advantage
Author: MacPherson et al
Museums, Zoos, and Gardens: How Formal-Informal Partnerships Can Impact Urban Students’ Performance in Science
Author: Weinstein et al.
What does it take to sustain a productive partnership in education?
Author: Hammerness et al.
Staying Put: Positive Spillovers on Teacher Retention From a Middle School Science Initiative
Author: Shiferaw et al.
FY26 Research and Evaluation in Urban Advantage
Author: MacPherson et al
Media
UA in the news
How do kids learn best? An old truth states that kids do better in school when their families and communities are involved in their education.
Urban Advantage’s middle school science program pairs students and teachers with some of the top cultural institutions in the city to help them delve into research projects.
In the dimly lit Hall of Mammals in the American Museum of Natural History here, small clusters of teachers scrutinized dioramas of animal habitats from around the world, filling in sheets of field observations
#ThrowbackThursday to June 2017... UA Partners and Lead Teachers up at Black Rock Forest for the annual overnight retreat. So many of these faces are still part of the UA program!! ...
Spend your day off on Mon, October 12 at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for the first UA Community Science Day of the year! Free entry with your UA vouchers. Enjoy crafts, pot home a plant to take home, have fun with seeds, and go on a tree tour! 🍁🍂
(Let us know if you are coming with multiple family groups from your school, so you can create a planter box together for the school building.)
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Mark your calendars! Urban Advantage Community Science Days begin this month! Use your Student vouchers for free entry!
Visit the link in our profile for more information.
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Parks are great places to engage with science and enjoy nature. As we near the end of #NationalParkWeek we thought we`d share some of our UA partners favorite parks we`ve visited!
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Did you know U.S. fourth graders get free annual entry with the Every Kid Outdoors Pass? Military members and veterans get free lifetime America the Beautiful Passes.
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1 - Bryce Canyon NP: you can see the galaxy in this certified dark sky park
2 - Joshua Tree NP: even though you`re in the desert every trail feels like a completely new place
3 - Badlands NP: perfect to drive through with pull outs along the road to capture the beautiful views
4 - Arches NP: the hike to Delicate Arch is no joke but once you`re up there you can`t help but wonder how the landscape formed like this
5 - Sequoia NP: great for camping under the giant trees
6 - Glenwood SP: even if NPs are a far trip don`t forget your local parks which are often hidden gems in their own right
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On Tuesday, UA Staff and Teacher Leaders visited Ridgewood Reservoir hosted by @nych2o . We learned the history of the area, walked around the basins, and participated in an activity that models how water travels throughout the state of NY (gravity!) Thanks @nych2o for a fun and informative morning! ...
The last UA Community Day of the school year is this Friday! Come hang with us at Brooklyn Botanic Garden for some science learning, a craft, potting up plants to take home, and meeting the plants that are ingredients for the traditional Hibiscus Drink. Use your Student+3 voucher for free admission! You won`t want to miss our early summer bloomers! ...
Speakers at UA EXPO including a 5th grade student from a UA school! ...
🌷UA Community Day is coming to @queensbotanicalgarden ! 🌷
Bring your friends and families to enjoy exclusive access to our farm, engage in planting activities and crafts, and take home prizes! Swipe for more info + translations!
🗓️ Thursday, June 4th: 10 AM - 12 PM
🎟️ Free admission for UA families when you bring your S+3 Voucher!
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🌷 ¡El Día de la Comunidad de UA llega al @queensbotanicalgarden! 🌷
¡Trae a tus amigos y familiares para disfrutar de acceso exclusivo a nuestra granja, participar en actividades de siembra y manualidades, y llevarse premios a casa!
🗓️ Jueves, 4 de junio: 10:00 a. m. – 12:00 p. m.
🎟️ ¡Entrada gratuita para las familias de UA al presentar su cupón S+3!
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🌷 Le UA Community Day arrive au @queensbotanicalgarden ! 🌷
Venez en famille et entre amis pour profiter d’un accès exclusif à notre ferme, participer à des activités de plantation et d’artisanat, et ganger avec des prix !
🗓️ Jeudi 4 juin : 10 h – 12 h
🎟️ Entrée gratuite pour les familles UA sur présentation de votre bon S+3 !
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All of our Family Science Days have past for this school year but here are a few scenes of families enjoying the event at Brooklyn Botanic Garden earlier this month. Mark your calendars went next year`s dates come out! ...
Pre-register now for the final Family Science Day of the year! You won`t want to miss an exclusive evening of science fun and sea life galore! 🐟🦈🐙 #urbanadvantage ...

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