At least partly thanks to a growing wave of states enacting school voucher programs, many Catholic schools are again seeing increased enrolments.
Indiana began offering vouchers in 2011, as did Douglas County, Colo., while Congress reinstated the District of Columbia’s voucher system that had been defunded by the Obama administration. Now, nine states, the District of Columbia and a single school board in Colorado offer vouchers, while four other states offer educational savings accounts, scholarships or other aid. These plans cover 210,000 students across America, up sevenfold from 2000.
Estimating that more than 50% of the students using vouchers in many cities are going to Catholic schools, John Schilling, the chief operating officer of the non-sectarian Alliance for School Choice, offered this explanation: “The Catholic schools have been successfully educating children from every economic and ethnic background for decades, and doing it very well. Tragically, we are seeing a lot of Catholic schools closing. One of the promising things about the expansion of vouchers is that it could keep those schools and opportunities open.”
From 2002 to 2010, enrollment at Catholic schools across America fell from 2.6 million to 2 million, while more than 1,000 schools closed. Meanwhile, public-school enrolment has climbed steadily from 53.3 million in 2000 to 55.3 million in 2010. But while Catholic enrolment fell 2.5% a year over the first decade of the century, last year it dropped only 1.7%.
Karen Ristau, president of the National Catholic Education Association, believes she knows why.
The decline in enrollment is “definitely slowing,” she said, “and vouchers are a part of it.”
Catholic schools appear to be the main beneficiaries of vouchers — and for good reason, Ristau said. “Our schools are very good, they are very welcoming, and they are faith-based. They are what people want.”
Moreover, the graduation rate at Catholic schools is above 99%, compared to 75% at America’s public schools — or 56% for public schools in the 50 biggest U.S. cities.
Intrinsic Worth
It also helps that Catholic tuition rates are reasonably low — at $3,600 on average for elementary school and $8,100 for high school, compared with the slightly more than $10,000 spent — on average — on each public-school student. The average scholarship amount across the nine states with vouchers is $5,900. (The public schools receive on average $10,000 per pupil.) It also helps that Catholic schools are well established in inner cities.
So schools such as St. Augustine’s in Barberton, Ohio, just south of Cleveland, and St. Stanislaus in East Chicago, Ind., have dusted the cobwebs off the desks and removed them from attics and crawlspaces for students using vouchers provided by their state governments. Indiana’s is the newest voucher program; Ohio’s is among the country’s oldest.
Though Catholic schools are open to all, said Ristau, the main users of vouchers are Catholics who simply couldn’t afford the tuition without state support.
But why do students do so much better at Catholic schools? Ristau credits the higher level of commitment from both the school staff and parents. “The parents and students have chosen us. They want to be here, and they want to stay here, so they do the work. And the school staff believe in the intrinsic worth of each person as one of God’s children.”
The Second Vatican Council discussed the importance of Christian education in Gravissimum Educationis: “Since all Christians have become by rebirth of water and the Holy Spirit a new creature so that they should be called and should be children of God, they have a right to a Christian education. A Christian education … has as its principal purpose this goal: that the baptized, while they are gradually introduced the knowledge of the mystery of salvation, become ever more aware of the gift of Faith they have received, and that they learn in addition how to worship God the Father in spirit and truth (cf. John 4:23) especially in liturgical action, and be conformed in their personal lives according to the new man created in justice and holiness of truth (Eph. 4:22-24); also that they develop into perfect manhood, to the mature measure of the fullness of Christ (cf. Eph. 4:13) and strive for the growth of the Mystical Body; moreover, that aware of their calling, they learn not only how to bear witness to the hope that is in them (cf. Peter 3:15) but also how to help in the Christian formation of the world that takes place when natural powers viewed in the full consideration of man redeemed by Christ contribute to the good of the whole society. Wherefore this sacred synod recalls to pastors of souls their most serious obligation to see to it that all the faithful, but especially the youth who are the hope of the Church, enjoy this Christian education.”
Catching Up
Although children generally do better in Catholic schools, hard work is required of everyone when students who transfer into Catholic schools are already two to three years behind where they should be in academics, said Judy Nakasian, special projects coordinator for the Diocese of Cleveland’s Office of Education. “The earlier they come to us, the more we can do for them. If they are already in high school, it is really difficult.”
Ohio has had vouchers for more than a decade, and its program cleared the way for others by winning a Supreme Court challenge in 2002.
While the diocese’s schools have declined in enrolment from 50,000 to 47,000 in the last decade, Cleveland’s public schools have fallen from 54,000 to 47,000. Students on vouchers or state scholarships account for 12% of the Catholic school enrollment. “Because of vouchers, our enrolment is stabilizing,” said Nakasian. She cited St. Augustine School in Barberton, which increased its enrolment by 64 this year.
Ohio’s voucher system is intended to offer an alternative to inferior public schools, and only students enrolled or about to be enrolled in schools that have been evaluated as inferior are eligible. Throughout the state, 140 public schools are rated low enough for their students to get vouchers. There are 220 private schools that are eligible, most of them Catholic.
Public Divided
Across the U.S., the public is divided on the merits of vouchers. The National School Board Association, a strong opponent of any form of state support for private schools, including vouchers, lists 11 referendums since 1972 in which state (or District of Columbia) voters have rejected such measures.
But a Friedman Foundation for Education Choice national poll released on Mother’s Day showed 56% of those surveyed supported vouchers vs. 28% opposed. On the other hand, a 2011 poll by Phi Delta Kappa, the professional organization for educators, shows Americans’ support for vouchers or similar programs diminishing from 46% in 2002 to 34% last year.
There is similar disagreement over results of educational-choice measures. The National School Board Association cites studies showing public-school students do no better after transferring to private schools, while the Alliance for School Choice lists other studies showing such students are 20% more likely to graduate than the classmates they left behind. As well, according to ASC data, parents of such children are happier with their schools and rate them as safer.
Register correspondent Steve Weatherbe writes from Victoria, British Columbia.
Dan Burke: The Light of God in Nashville, Tennessee
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Catholic schools must remain open. I am praying that my two tiny grandsons will be going to one. Vouchers for anyone would be my hope as even though my daughter and son-in-law are not poverty-stricken, paying for tuition would be very tough for them. Everyone should be able to send their children to ANY school they choose and not be inhibited due to cost. If the government provided vouchers to anyone, people would actually HAVE the option to do what they feel is best for their children.
Have we learned nothing from the HHS contraception mandate? Why, oh why, are we looking toward our secular, Godless government to fix our Catholic education system? How long before the government begins imposing rules on the schools using voucher money? Also, how do parents in inner city neighborhoods who have struggled for years to send their kids to Catholic schools feel about kids who begin coming there essentially because it’s free? How invested will these new parents be when they’re not sacrificing of themselves for their children’s education?
I, also, am very concerned about the strings attached to the ‘gift’ of vouchers. Will Obama and his ilk force the Catholic schools to teach about homosexual ‘marriage’? Will the government demand union teachers? Will Catholic teachers be forced to remain silent about their beliefs or lose 501(c)3 status? “Free” money is never free.
Eileen, I understand your philosophical point, that the Church should not depend/focus on government aid or hang its hat on vouchers. There is a downside to it, and the situation in Canada shows how the (publicly funded, ethnic/religion/language separated) education system can be controlled by dictates from the state to violate or water down our values.
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However, remember that ‘we the people’ pay our taxes, participate in our government, and have the right to educate our children as we see fit, and to send our children to schools of our choosing. Here in Massachusetts, the state constitution prohibits aid to Cathlolic schools, (a remnant of the very-alive and cowardly ‘Know Nothing’ era.) It is virtually impossible to change the constitution, because the wrong side controls the ENTIRE state. We have no choice about vouchers here, because the place is direly secular and anti-religion, (read - liberal Democrat controlled.) Godspeed and blessings to the valiant Christians elsewhere! We pray for you even as we live in the Gulag.
Why should it be the responsibility of government to bail out failing businesses? If these schools cannot sustain themselves, and the parishes in which they are located are unwilling or unable to keep them open without government subsidies, then they should be closed. Anything else is motivated by sentimentality, which we can ill-afford, or greed, which would seem to contradict the purpose of faith-based education.
Whoa, whoa, Eileen. This has nothing to do with government fixing Catholic education. As a parent that sends my kids to our parochial elementary school, I’m paying taxes that go to the public school system AND paying to support the Catholic school. Vouchers would simply redirect my tax money back to MY hands for disbursement. The public education system is failing (both educationally and morally)...why should I continue to support it with my tax dollars? Competition would be good for everyone.
I understand the want for vouchers, but it makes far more sense to simply privatize the education system and be done with it. No more “third party payer.” Getting hooked on government money ultimately leads to ruin.
Hope NJ starts using vouchers soon.
Eileen, you are so correct. It would be better to close struggling Catholic schools than to take tax money/vouchers and let the government “mandate” us into oblivion. We can always open Catholic schools later if money is raised. The HHS mandate should be a huge red flag to those who support vouchers. Money comes with strings and these strings will be the demise of Catholic schooling. Hiring, firing, curriculum, sex education, hate speech, gay marriage, and many other hot button issues will be mandated to schools accepting vouchers. Beware. Nothing in this world is free.
@Bryan - In an ivory tower, I wouldn’t disagree with you. But I live in the real world where the government inevitably attaches strings to its money. In light of the HHS mandate, how can you trust the government to do the right thing? There are already stipulations on the money - Only people of limited means qualify for it. How long will it be before we get stipulations on the schools receiving the voucher money?
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If colleges take any federal money (even from students attending on the GI Bill), they need to enforce Title IX which forbids any discrimination of any kind. What’s to stop local governments from instituting the same types of conditions? So when your kid is forced to attend the parish grade school with the 13 y.o. militant lesbian Wiccan, you can at least be glad that you aren’t paying property taxes and tuition. I wonder - what has the government done well lately that you trust them so much to return your property taxes to you without any strings attached?
We have been educating our children in the Catholic school system for fifteen years and this year we decided to call it quits. Our last three boys will not go to Catholic school. I found it interesting that the average high school, according to the article, cost $8,100. Our sons’ high school cost $13,250 with no sibling discount. We had three in high school last year and we paid less for our daugher to attend a Catholic university than for one son to go to the Catholic high school. Catholics who are open to life cannot afford that. We also concluded that the Catholic school we are looking for doesn’t exist anymore. Most students from Catholic schools are indistinguishable in terms of their faith life from their public school peers.
Eileen ,
I hear some of what you’re saying but no Catholic school is forced to keep a student on the voucher program & the same rules would apply for expelling those students as for any non-voucher student.
If a 13 yr. old such as you describe exhibited behavior suitable for expulsion, the school would have that option.On the other hand, 13 yr. old children deserve to be exposed to Christian faith & charity & I’d be looking at ways to show Christ’s love to that little girl.
But yes, govt. strings do tend to be attached to govt. money & we need to be very careful & prudent as we move forward.At least in America, it’s been “so far, so good” with school vouchers.We’ll see if that remains the case in the future.
You jumped the gun in proclaiming Douglas County, CO is issuing vouchers. While they would like to have done this, they are currently prohibited by the courts on the basis that public funds cannot be used for religious education. Your article will add fuel for those who argue this case against vouchers on religious terms.
Sheryl,
Like you, we have come to the conclusion that “
the Catholic school we are looking for doesn’t exist anymore”. My husband(1 of 9 children and I (1 of 8 children) grew up in the 60’s and 70’s, and each of us as well as our siblings attended Catholic schools through high school. Of course, my HS tuition was $350.00/yr and my husbands was even less, and there were significant discounts for siblings. There were also many more religious teaching, which kept some costs down. The support structure for our Catholic schools today has crumbled. Even our pastor, when we discussed moving our 12 year old, said “Catholic school education is now for the rich people - and they dictate what happens in the school”. I live in MA and the ‘I say I’m Catholic but follow few of the laws’ mentality rules. There is no voucher program, but there are financial aid programs in “qualifying area” (read ‘low income, supported housing…). Until the catholic leaders stop caving into special interest groups and take firm stands on supporting all aspects of our Catholic faith, there is little hope that Catholic education for “Catholic” will survice.
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
2229 As those first responsible for the education of their children, parents have the right to choose a school for them which corresponds to their own convictions. This right is fundamental. As far as possible parents have the duty of choosing schools that will best help them in their task as Christian educators. Public authorities have the duty of guaranteeing this parental right and of ensuring the concrete conditions for its exercise.
In 1955, future Nobel Prize winning economist, Milton Friedman, introduced the idea of parental choice in education, via a voucher, in America. That was fifty-seven years ago. What are we waiting for? Do we actually want our children attending atheistic, socialistic, government schools, or do we simply not care? Catholic schools in America are going extinct. Vouchers would save them. Does the institutional Catholic Church care? If so, where’s the evidence?
Does anyone think it’s a coincidence that Friedman proposed vouchers one year after the Supreme Court decided Brown v. Board fo Education, when Southern states were desperate for a strategy to help them avoid the constitutional mandate to integrate? Vouchers became a primary mechanism in what became known as “massive resistance.”
Vouchers as currently used are contributing to a de facto re-segregation of our urban schools, to an even worse degree than housing patterns would predict. How could a person of faith want to be associated with a funding mechanism that has that shameful history, and is being used now to similar effect? If you don’t want your children to attend public school, there is no law requiring you to send them. Parents and/or the church should be picking up the tab, however, to avoid all the negative implications summarized on this board.
Hi How do you apply for a voucher for school my grand daughter is 3
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