ACE DC Fellowship Blog

Let Me Rise

acedcfellowship — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:06:45 +0000

Opportunity Scholarship Program update

acedcfellowship — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:15:59 +0000

Some congressional Democrats, including Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, have indicated that they may be rethinking their positions on the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program.

Read the Wall Street Journal’s coverage here.

Fighting For Our Children

acedcfellowship — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 01:48:52 +0000

Don Bosco article

acedcfellowship — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:16:29 +0000

The Washington Hispanic recently published a Spanish-language article on Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School. Read it here.

“New Models for Catholic Schools”

acedcfellowship — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:37:17 +0000

Recently, WAMU’s Kojo Nnadmi discussed K-12 Catholic education in a lengthy segment. Guests included:

Patricia Weitzel-O’Neill, Superintendent of Schools, Archdiocese of Washington

Daniel Porterfield, Senior Vice President and Professor of English, Georgetown University

Michael Petrilli, Vice President for National Programs and Policy, Thomas B. Fordham Institute

Listen to the show here.

Clean-up at St. Thomas More

acedcfellowship — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:38:08 +0000

The ACE Fellowship and Notre Dame alums helped get St. Thomas More Catholic Academy ready for anther school year with a clean-up day on August 22.

CUA profs on Catholic school “best practices” in Atlanta

acedcfellowship — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:26:35 +0000

Professors John C. Convey and Leonard DeFiore of the Catholic University of America have reported that innovative reforms instituted by the Archdiocese of Atlanta have met success in supporting local Catholic schools.

They praised the funding model in particular, citing the fact that it is a “progressive” tax that bypasses parishes with a smaller offertory entirely and is applied as a percentage to offertory revenue over $300,000, which provides a sliding scale even in more affluent parishes.

The net tax rate of less than 12 percent of eligible income “is far below the national average for subsidy levels for school parishes” which is typically 25 percent or higher, they said.

. . .

The report also outlines what the writers call the “Catholic school effect,” stating that there are demonstrable ways to show that the church receives much in return for investing in children through Catholic schools. Among the results are a lifetime tendency to support the church, to practice the faith and follow moral teachings of the church, to achieve higher academic outcomes, particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and to consider serving in ministry or a religious vocation.

Read the rest of the article here.

Update: Senators Call For Expanding Opportunity Scholarships For DC Kids

acedcfellowship — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:32:54 +0000

An update from DC Children First . . .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Elizabeth Plant

Phone: 202-280-9785

Email: eplant@dcchildrenfirst.org

Senators Call For Expanding Opportunity Scholarships For DC Kids

Bipartisan Bill Respects The Wishes Of District Residents

Washington, D.C. – July 30, 2009 – District of Columbia parents would continue to be able to select the right schools for their children under the Opportunity Scholarship program, with a 5-year reauthorization bill introduced today by a bi-partisan group of United States Senators.

The bill, introduced by Senators Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), Susan Collins (R-ME), Diane Feinstein, (D-CA), George Voinovich (R-OH), Robert Byrd (D-WV), and John Ensign (R-NV) would continue the popular three-sector D.C. education funding for five more years. The bill provides additional funding for the D.C. public schools, public charter schools, and the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP). Students participating in the OSP are from low-income D.C. families and able to use scholarships to attend private schools in the district. In addition to extending the program, the Senate bill strengthens the program in a number of key areas.

“I ask Senators to please reauthorize this program that I fought so hard to bring to Washington D.C. and allow the city’s neediest residents, not just those currently in the program, the foundation they need to succeed in life ‐ a good education. The long term prospects for our city depend on educating our children” said Anthony A. Williams, former D.C. Mayor and Chairman of the Board of DC Children First.

“These senators recognized that there are families in DC who need hope,” said Kevin P. Chavous, a former DC Councilman and board member for DC Children First. “This is the first step in helping these young people realize the kinds of opportunities that many families in America take for granted.”

The Senate bill reflects the wishes of a majority of DC residents and a majority of the DC City Council. Council members recently signed a letter urging for the continuation and expansion of the program. A bill was also introduced in the House of Representatives on May 21, 2009. Additionally, a new poll sponsored by a coalition of groups including DC Children First, showed that DC residents want school choice and reform. In particular, there is overwhelming community support for the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program. Seventy-four percent of respondents said they favor or strongly favor the Opportunity Scholarship Program which offers scholarships for low-income families to find the right school for their child. Support for the program is even higher –over eighty percent – for parents with school aged children.

DC Children First is a coalition of families, educators, business and community leaders dedicated to education reform in Washington, DC. DC Children First strongly supports the continuation of the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program, as a part of an ambitious school reform agenda that includes continuing the three‐part federal investments in this program as well as federal dollars for D.C. public and public charter schools. For more information, please visit our Web site:www.dcchildrenfirst.org.

New study on DC voters and education

acedcfellowship — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:53:59 +0000

KEY FINDINGS INCLUDE:

Education is the top priority for D.C. voters.

• Despite the current economy, a plurality of registered voters (29%) say “K-12 education and schools” is

currently their top priority.

Survey transmits high approval ratings for city leaders.

• D.C. registered voters give high approval for how city leaders are handling their jobs:

65% D.C. City Council

63% Mayor Adrian Fenty

62% Chancellor Michelle Rhee

• Chancellor Rhee has the highest proportion of respondents (27%) who “strongly approve” of job performance.

There is clear support for D.C. Opportunity Scholarships and charter schools.

• 74% have a favorable view of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program; and 79% of parents of schoolage

children oppose ending the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program.

• 74% have a favorable view of public charter schools.

Private schools are appealing.

• 47% of respondents say they prefer a private school over other school types.

Voters give the public school system low marks, but anecdotal evidence indicates

hope for improvement.

• 76% rate the DC public school system as “fair” or “poor;” in a follow-up open-end question, voters most

frequently describe their fi rst impression of D.C.’s education system as “poor,” “fair,” “good,” and “improving.”

(see page 14 for Wordle illustration)DC Children

A new study of the opinions of District voters has been released. Notably, 74% of voters surveyed have a favorable view of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, and 79% of parents of schoolage children oppose ending the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program. (Let’s hope that Congressional Democrats modify their views to reflect those of African-American Democrats in the District!)

You can find the 38-page report here.

Fr. Pat Smith on Catholic education

acedcfellowship — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:42:47 +0000

St. Augustine pastor Fr. Pat Smith has long been an intelligent, charismatic, and prophetic voice for K-12 Catholic education in the DC area. He recently penned an article on Catholic education in the Black Catholic community.

He points out the historical success of Catholic schools in educating black children:

Historically, Catholic schools in our cities have been an extraordinary and unparalleled success story! These schools are arguably more responsible for the black middle class today than any other institution in our country. Graduates of our elementary and junior high schools of various economic backgrounds go on to complete their high school education and enter four year colleges at remarkably high rates. An extraordinary number of African American men and women who have completed doctoral degrees in this country claim a Catholic education somewhere in their schooling background.

Fr. Pat then addresses a question frequently raised: Are Catholic schools for Catholics only? He answers:

This question seems to be the debate that rears its head every so often especially around budget time in parishes and dioceses across the country. I think it is the wrong question. The real question is whether Catholic schools are really an extension of the Catholic Church. If they are then it would follow that they share in the mission of the Catholic Church given to her by her Founder, Jesus Christ. The Great Commission at the end of Matthew’s gospel when Jesus declared; “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations… teaching them all that I have commanded you” (28:19) is at the heart of the Church’s charge to evangelize the unevangelized; to make disciples of the “non-disciples”! Clearly, according to everything from Papal encyclicals and pastoral letters, Canon Law, official statements from Vatican offices such as the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, U.S. Bishop Pastorals, etc., Catholic schools in fact do share in the evangelization mission of the Catholic Church. When they refuse to do so, they are less Catholic. To quote the former Archbishop of Washington, James Cardinal Hickey: “We don’t educate the children because they are Catholic; we educate them because we are Catholic”. In other words, we follow that same principle with our schools as we do with our other Catholic institutions. Are Catholic hospitals for Catholics only? Is Catholic Charities for Catholics only? Clearly, the idea that “Catholic Schools are for Catholics only” is a profoundly un-Catholic concept. . . . For a Church hierarchy that adamantly refused to accept responsibility for evangelizing black children for a good part of a century after the end of the civil war and who clung to every possible excuse for doing so even to the point of ignoring and even opposing the Roman Curia’s calls over several decades for the evangelization of black children, our shepherds today must make every effort not to appear to neglect the same population that were not afforded their help in the past when it was needed the most.

The full article can be found here.