America’s Catholic schools are deep-rooted community institutions, and still make up the largest swath of the nation’s private schools. Yet many of them are in the midst of reinventing themselves, often drawing lessons from top charter school networks to attract new students and strengthen their academics.
Kathleen Porter-Magee reflects on this mix of tradition and transformation, which she navigates as the leader of New York’s Partnership for Inner-City Education.
We are much more than “charter-like schools”; we’re Catholic schools. And our rich history is the foundation of what we do. Some of the differences are obvious: We can wear our faith on our sleeve and teach values unequivocally. We teach religion. We prepare students for the sacraments. We operate on shoestring budgets.
But there are other differences that have a more subtle—but perhaps more profound—impact on the work that Catholic schools have had on their students and their communities.
For starters, Catholic schools in general (and the Partnership Schools in particular) are deeply rooted in the communities they serve. We call our schools “hundred-year-old start-ups” because as much as we seek to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit of charter schools, we know that we are also stewards of deep community roots that were planted long ago.
The New York effort is part of a broader renaissance in Catholic education. Competition from charters and the growth of private school choice scholarships are also part of the story.
Meanwhile…
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and his supporters tout improved educational opportunities for black and Hispanic students at the National Urban League. The politics are complicated.
Charter schools attract Hispanic students in larger numbers. We’ve highlighted a similar trend in Florida.
Charters are more diverse than the rhetoric around them suggests.
A KIPP co-founder calls on charter schools to make the most of their freedom to innovate.
What’s next for New Orleans’ Recovery School District?
The Orange County Register calls on the Anaheim school district to stop fighting a charter school conversion effort.
Charters in Hawaii are starting their own preschools.
Quote of the Week
“We have young geniuses in Mississippi, and all too often, they don’t have the same opportunities based on the zip code.”
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