Where can I find a list of schools that will be open for the 2010-2011 school year?
A complete list of Catholic schools can be found at here.
How do I know my child will have a seat in another Catholic school in the Archdiocese?
The Archbishop made a commitment that there would be a seat for every child currently enrolled in a Catholic school in the Archdiocese for the 2010-11 school year. In addition, the average distance between consolidating elementary schools and the nearest Catholic school is less than three miles.
Will counselors be available at each consolidated school to help students and teachers cope with this news?
Yes. The Archdiocese has directed its “Archdiocesan Response Team” to each affected school to ensure that students, faculty and administrators receive the support they need in the days immediately following the announcement.
Where can I find tuition rates for each of the schools?
Information for each school’s tuition can be found on their website. You can link to their websites through our schools page.
How can I find out information about tuition assistance and financial aid?
Information about the tuition assistance programs available here in the Archdiocese can be found here.
How will the consolidation plan impact the Partners in Excellence Scholarship Program?
Partners in Excellence will continue to be a crucial source of scholarship assistance for students wishing to attend Catholic schools. Scholarships represent only a portion of the total cost of tuition, supplementing what families can afford to pay. As in past years, families need to reapply each year for financial assistance. Students impacted by the consolidation will be eligible to apply for a scholarship at their new school, assuming that the family continues to be financially qualified and that funds are available.
When do I have to enroll my student for the 2010-2011 school year?
You can enroll your student for the 2010-2011 school from now until the time the next school year begins. We encourage you to begin the process immediately. There will be meetings held at each of the consolidated schools during the month of March where parents/guardians can meet staff members from those schools identified as receiving schools for students currently enrolled in a consolidated school.
How do I enroll my student in another Catholic School?
The fastest and easiest way to enroll your child is to contact the school you would like your child to attend to schedule a time to visit. You may do this when representatives visit your current school in March or you may contact the school directly by phone or email. The receiving schools are prepared to answer questions and provide registration/enrollment information to make the process as easy and smooth as possible. Information regarding special welcoming activities and gatherings for students and families will also be available (see below). If you prefer, you may also request that the school mail registration information to you. If you need additional assistance or information, please call 1-800-5-CATHOLIC or email: schools@archbalt.org.
What will happen to my child’s academic records?
Files of students who have graduated from the elementary school are kept by the parish that sponsored that school. Regional Catholic elementary schools store records of students who have graduated at the parish where the school resides. (e.g. The records of students of Mother Mary Lange School will be kept at St. Anthony of Padua Parish).
Files of students who have graduated from a consolidated or closed high school are turned over to the Maryland State Department of Education, as required by Maryland law.
Is the Archdiocese looking into providing transportation to schools further away?
The Archdiocese will be conducting a survey to determine if there is sufficient interest in establishing bus transportation.
How will the receiving schools assist the students from consolidating schools?
Parents/guardians will have an opportunity to meet staff members from receiving schools at meetings to be held at each consolidating school during the month of March. In addition, parents/guardians can contact receiving schools to set up “shadow” days where students can visit during a school day and interact with other students and see the facility. The Archdiocese is working closely with both consolidating schools and receiving schools to streamline the registration process and to assist both students and teachers through every step of the transition from the current school year to the next.
Where can I find performance data about the receiving schools?
Through the years, Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore have been recognized nationally for their academic excellence with 11 receiving the U.S. Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon Award. Dedicated teachers provide rigorous academics taught in a nurturing, Christ-centered environment in Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. As a result, 97 percent of our students graduate from high school, 95 percent go on to attend college and 100 percent participate in community outreach.
In September 2009, the Archdiocese of Baltimore announced that its elementary school students exceeded the national average on standardized test scores and that most of its schools’ students scored in the top third nationally. Test scores for each elementary school can be found on each school’s page of the Archdiocesan web site, search for a school.
How will the remaining schools be strengthened?
Last February, Archbishop O’Brien appointed a Blue Ribbon Committee on Catholic Schools and charged it with developing a comprehensive Strategic Plan for Catholic Schools. He also created an Office of Schools Planning to research a number of new academic programs and initiatives for implementation in Archdiocesan schools. The new programs include a dual language school, a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) program at four Catholic elementary schools, and a Montessori program in partnership with Loyola University’s Center for Montessori Education.
The Blue Ribbon Committee has recommended adoption of key concepts that will be contained in their plan. The Committee will continue to work on these recommendations and will provide greater detail to the Archbishop about these components, as well as many other recommendations, in June. The following is a summary of recommendations from the Committee that are included in the report Preserving the Tradition, Transforming the Future, click here to download the full report.
Goverance
- Archdiocesan Collaborative School Model
- Archdiocesan Catholic School Board
Catholic Identity & Acedemics
- Professional Development for Educators
- Principals Leadership Institute
- Collaborative Project with Religious Communities on Catholic Identity
Stewardship
- Tuition Assistance
- Funding Support
- All Parishes Support Catholic Schools
- BOAST Legislation
Who can I speak to about these preview recommendations?
Please refer to Msgr. Bob Hartnett, 410-547-5475
Did the BRC approve the Consolidation Plan?
The Blue Ribbon Committee on Catholic Schools reviewed the Consolidation Plan and found it to be consistent with their work on a Strategic Plan for Catholic schools.
Why wasn’t the BRC involved in formulating the Consolidation Plan?
It was made clear to the Committee at the outset that the Archdiocese would focus on those schools with immediate needs. The Blue Ribbon Committee was charged with making strategic recommendations that will help the Archbishop succeed in his goal of developing a school system from a system of schools. This enabled the Committee to utilize its experience and expertise to assess the current systemic needs, and research and discuss the various program models and initiatives, locally and nationally, that would form the basis of its recommendations.
Is the BRC finished its work?
No. The Committee’s work continues and it will present its report and recommended Strategic Plan for Catholic Schools to the Archbishop this June. The Committee thought it important to share at this time a preview of some of those elements of the Strategic Plan that it is finished discussing.
Will my child, who is at a school that is not consolidating, be impacted?
Only students of consolidating schools will be directly impacted by this plan. However, many Archdiocesan schools will benefit from the financial and enrollment implications of the consolidation plan. Operating Catholic schools more efficiently will enable the Archdiocese to further invest in quality programming and to maximize its resources—namely our excellent educators and facilities--to ensure the academic excellence that is a hallmark of Catholic schools.
Can my child wear his/her existing uniform next year or do I have to purchase a new one?
Receiving schools have been asked to work with families on issues such as uniforms, including holding “uniform drives” among existing families willing to donate gently used uniforms to new families.
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