Catholic schools adjusting as late-comers arrive

This fall, 52 students are attending non-public schools with the help of the ABC scholarship program, according to ABC deputy director Brian Backstrom. (ABC stands for "A Better Choice.") Of those students, 47 are enrolled in Catholic schools.

The program provides low-income children attending inner-city schools in the Capital District with scholarships that allow them to attend the non-public school of their choice. The scholarships equal 50 percent of the tuition, up to a maximum of $1,000 a year for three years. One child per family is eligible for the scholarship.

The program is one of approximately 30 privately funded scholarship programs across the country to have been established during the past decade. The project is funded by the Empire Foundation for Policy Research.

Opportunity seen

While the program has caused some complications for schools, principals are pleased by the opportunity.

Sister Jane Somerville, principal of Blessed Sacrament School in Albany, explained that her school holds registration in March, but the scholarship program was announced in August. Families were notified that they received a scholarship at the end of August.

"It's been very difficult, but we decided to hang in there," Sister Jane said. "We're still getting calls."

The difficulty has been in completing class lists and statistical reports. She looks at this as a one-time problem due to the late start of the program. "Next year, there'll be lots of time," she said.

Normal fluctuation

Enrollment fluctuations at the beginning of the year aren't peculiar to schools participating in the ABC program, according Sister Ann McCarthy, diocesan superintendent of schools. "Every school's registration is up and down for the first week of school," she said.

While many families receiving scholarships from ABC are choosing Catholic schools for reasons other than religion, Sister Ann said that isn't problematic.

"I wouldn't expect anyone to say they're looking for morals and values in a school," she said. "They want an excellent education."

Values

While ABC families are choosing Catholic schools for academics, discipline and atmosphere, those elements are outgrowths of the schools' Catholic identity, Sister Ann explained.

"We operate schools steeped in Catholic values and identity," she stated. "It is the driving force behind the curriculum, discipline, and the way we treat parents and students."

The issue is not why families choose Catholic schools, but rather what the schools provide once the students are enrolled, according to Sister Ann.

"We never know why anyone comes to our schools," she explained. "Once we have them, we try to do something with them. This is true with ABC families or anyone else."

(09-19-96) [[In-content Ad]]