A systematic examination of recent Catholic school closing patterns presents an alarming picture that demands the attention of urban educators, church leaders, and public policymakers. For many inner-city minority children, Catholic schools offer the only hope. This study of 213 Catholic schools closing in 4 major archdioceses shows that they were…

Describes St. Bonaventura, an inner-city Catholic school in Philadelphia, that consistently produces students who outperform public school students. The article discusses the school's financial problems, dwindling enrollment, teacher and administrator attitudes and motivation; and claims that vision, autonomy, and traditional values make Catholic…

This study examined whether private school attendance provides a net benefit with regard to educational achievement and attainment. Results of using additive models which control for family, individual and school variables found that most, but not all, outcome differences attributable to between-sector differences in student attributes.…

Offers educators and students an integrated model for participation in community service. The model focuses students on community service for an entire semester, during which they gain valuable interpersonal interaction and work experience, and wages for both personal and class time. (YKH)

Catholic schools are more multifaceted and diverse than the school-effects debate and rancorous voucher issue indicate. They now educate more affluent kids, as critics claim, since demographics have changed. Catholic schools should be part of the national discussion on education and be viewed as complementary to public schools. (MLH)

Discusses the success of Chicago's Tri-Parish Program in hiring a Director of Religious Education. Describes the development of a comprehensive catechetical plan for the three parish communities by placing a strong emphasis on the training of local catechetical leaders. (VWC)

Describes the community and corporate support that has allowed Catholic inner-city schools to thrive despite initially bleak predictions for the future. Attributes the growing success and generous funding of Catholic inner-city schools to their religious foundations and identities. (YKH)

Examines the academic effectiveness of English and Welsh Catholic schools, showing that there is a distinct Catholic community within English society having its own history, beliefs, values, attitudes, and practices that legitimately constitute a specific lifestyle. In meeting the many needs of their faith communities, Catholic schools accrue…

Toronto Catholic District School Board implemented an early literacy program designed to ensure that all students can read and write to their full potential by the end of Grade 3. Instruction and assessment are integrated in four daily 30-minute blocks: word study, writing, guided reading, and self-selected reading. Students improved on seven of…

A study of national longitudinal data examined effects of rural Catholic high schools on mathematics achievement, high school graduation rates, and the likelihood that high school graduates attend college. Findings indicate that rural Catholic high schools had a positive effect on mathematics test scores and no effect on graduation rates or rates…

States that the outbreak of violence in Northern Ireland in 1969 led to the examination of the role of segregated education in perpetuating divisions between Catholics and Protestants. Focuses on two approaches to bring children from Catholic and Protestant backgrounds together: (1) establishing programs within the denominationally segregated…

Describes a collaboration among St. Philip Elementary School, Canevin Catholic High School and Duquesne University (all in Pennsylvania) to integrate technology into the kindergarten-through 12 curriculum. Wireless technology and transportable laptop computers were funded by a grant, and minimal structural modifications were made to the elementary…

Following previous work on the spiritual health of secondary students, the author wondered if it was possible to develop a spiritual health measure for younger children. Taking Fisher's model of spiritual health as the basis, items were developed to reflect relationships with self, with others, with the environment and with a god. The children's…

This nationwide qualitative study investigated how 25 school leaders, serving in schools with varying resources, perceive the practices they use to support teacher learning. The study discusses how these leaders understand the human resource challenges they face in supporting teacher learning and highlights their creative responses to these…

Little is known about how senior administrators at a university (i.e., vice-presidents and deans) perceive their institution's mission, vision, and values. In the present study, we focused on perceptions of institutional mission statement and activities proposed to support that mission among senior leaders (18 vice-presidents, 17 deans) from a…