Faith Based Education Options Present Unique Opportunities for Idaho Students

Guest Contributor /// Jim Reed Superintendent of the Catholic Schools of Idaho

Faith-based schools offer a unique opportunity for children to grow and succeed. There is a need in society and a desire among parents, regardless of their church affiliation, to have their children receive an education that focuses on intellectual, spiritual and moral formation. An education dedicated to the whole person leads to a society that is more just and hopeful, and results in greater civic engagement.

Catholic schools provide an education that prepares individuals for success in this life and, through the grace of God, for eternal life. Students are educated in a way that brings joy, peace and hope to our society; as adults, they strive to make our state and our world more humane and just.

Here are some interesting facts about Catholic schools:

• During the 2015–16 school year, 1,915,000 students enrolled in 6,525 US Catholic schools.
• In Idaho, there are 3,300 students enrolled in 13 Catholic elementary schools and two high schools.
• The average Idaho Catholic elementary school tuition is $3,490 per year. About one in four students receive some type of financial assistance. The final cost, at $280 per month, is less than the cost of child care. In addition, many Catholic schools have before- and after-school programs to accommodate parents’ work schedules.
• High school graduation rates are one positive outcome of attending a Catholic School. The following are recent Idaho graduation rates by classification of high schools: Catholic schools — 99 percent graduate; other religious affiliated schools — 97.8 percent; schools with no religious affiliation — 95.2 percent; public schools — 82.3 percent.
• The percentage of high school seniors who attend a four-year college is also a good measure of success: Catholic schools — 85.7 percent; other religious affiliated schools — 62.1 percent; schools with no religious affiliation — 56.1 percent; public schools — 39.5 percent.
• The potential benefits of private schools accrue from their independence. Many private schools do not receive tax revenues, so they are not encumbered by the regulations and bureaucratic processes that govern public schools. This allows private schools to be highly specialized, offering differentiated learning, advanced curriculum or programs geared toward specific religious beliefs.
• Private schools can elevate curriculum standards and focus on the academic achievement of all students.
• Parent involvement is the expectation, not the exception, in private schools.
• The compelling attraction, or charisma, of a Catholic school is based on an atmosphere of order, respect, trust and kindness that exists when Jesus is at the center of all things. Students thrive in a culture in which the spirit, mind and body can mature and prosper.

It’s a sacrifice for parents to send their children to a Catholic school, but it is worth it. It may be the best investment parents will ever make.

Policy makers in many states have seen the positive results when a variety of educational opportunities exist. The way students learn and the tools available for teaching have changed dramatically. One size no longer fits all.

Students and families are best served when they are able to choose from a variety of educational options. It is time for Idaho’s educational leaders to work together to do what is best for all children. It is not a matter of which system “wins.” When parents have the opportunity to choose what works best for their child and the resources to access that choice, good things happen. Everyone wins!

Pay close attention to educational reform in Idaho. Your advocacy — your voice — can go a long way to significantly improve the quality of life for Idaho and its families for generations to come.

Jim Reed is the Superintendent of the Catholic Schools of Idaho at the Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise. He can be reached at jreed@rcdb.org