Is converting Catholic schools into charter schools better than letting them close? In a growing number of dioceses, that’s precisely the step bishops are taking. In the Archdiocese of Washington, seven previously Catholic schools are in their second year as publicly funded charter institutions. This fall, eight formerly Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Miami opened as (...)
Short Take
The Public Option
WILL CATHOLIC SCHOOLS BECOME CHARTER SCHOOLS?
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Discussion of charter schools seems to be the 'third rail' of Catholic education. We seem to be caught up in the nostalgia of the 1950's when Catholic schools were overflowing with enrollment and costs were very cheap due to virtually free labor from the religious who taught in our schools.
Today, we cannot afford the huge subsidies required to keep our schools open Serial budget cutting has reduced the quality of Catholic schools to bare bones programming. We are finding it difficult to attract staffing that has any spiritual formation whatsoever. Our leadership is burdened with constant fund-raising and recruitment.
It is time to give charter schools a chance in a parish framework that truly tries to educate and form a religious, Catholic person.