[ad_1]
After public schools reopened, there was much speculation about whether these families would return to public education. But it’s not. So they came for one reason and it was the fact that we were open, but they stayed for the community.
There seems to be no easy answer when it comes to making Catholic schools more affordable for families. What is currently being done and what do you think is going well in this regard?
In general I think our Catholic schools work very hard to keep prices affordable. I think you’ve done a really good job. Many people are surprised that they can afford to attend Catholic school.
Not that it’s not a sacrifice. Everyone sacrifices something in order to send their child to a Catholic school. But our schools are all much more proactive and sophisticated in offering things like financial aid. What used to boast of providing financial aid of $180,000 at one time is now well over $3 million. My abilities have definitely improved. I know that our parishes and other religious institutions are doing a good job of helping families get an education.
But, of course, the fact remains that we are asking families to pay for education in an environment where public education is free. So a few things are really important to make Catholic schools more affordable. The obvious but not obvious is going to church and supporting the parish. We are part of a larger overall church mission and one of the reasons we exist is because people have traditionally been willing to help children who were not their own to attend Catholic schools. is. It helps churches better maintain schools.
We rely on philanthropy and are exploring different models to work with businesses to help us raise more money. But at the end of the day, someone has to pay for every child sitting at a Catholic school desk, and it doesn’t have to be their own child. We know that we are helping to maintain our appeal to our wider community and rely on our communities to carry their children. This is not just the parent’s responsibility.
NCEA works with USCCB and other groups to support school selection. The Church strongly believes that parents, as primary educators, should have the ability to choose the best education for their children. Clearly, elective programs are starting to make a big difference in Catholic school enrollment. of children with disabilities, and well over 70% of them use Choice Dollars to attend school. So we know that without these programs, making Catholic education affordable will be a much bigger challenge for our community. We are adamant about seeing growth, but that is not our only strategy. I expect
How does the NCEA work with Catholic schools to help sustain their missionary mission in an increasingly secular society?
Many of the families who come to us do not, broadly speaking, participate in church life. Maybe they weren’t even Catholics to begin with, or perhaps they were Catholics but never observed. I know I have to help. This is a new approach for our church, but I think it’s something we should keep in mind.
The good news we see is that all new families have started school. They were open minded, engaged with their communities, and entrusted their children to us. 1.7 million children attend Catholic schools. Families believe in the Church’s ability to serve their children. So we have a truly unique opportunity for evangelization now, but we must always look at it first.
I think our Catholic schools must always be vigilant to maintain a strong Catholic spirit in the school. And there are many facets to how we defend our faith. But I think what you’re talking about comes back to culture in a lot of ways. As such, protecting that identity should always be a top priority for schools.
(Story continues below)
I think the training is in progress. I think that as a church we need to be always vigilant, always evangelize and doctrine from within, especially when we are witnessing cultural change. So this is a lifelong process for all of us as Catholics, and starting with Jesus and getting closer to Him is something that must always be put before us as Catholic educators.
This interview has been edited.
[ad_2]
Source link