  Replicating New School Models
| The traditional Catholic education model is one that has withstood the test of time. However, declining enrollment numbers and school closures, as well as increased competition from other private and charter schools, are clear indicators that the old model is due for some renovation. Educators looking for ways to improve or save their schools are turning to successful new models often found in innovative, urban Catholic schools, such as in the Nativity Miguel Network and the Cristo Rey Network or in charter education. |
 |
|
Closures of urban-based Catholic schools and poor performance at many inner-city public schools has spurred the creation of these types of highly innovative school models. Many of these new schools are outperforming both their public and parochial counterparts. They bear the markings of traditional Catholic schools, with uniformed students experiencing familiar emphasis on academic rigor and discipline. However, Catholic educators hoping to replicate these new schools need to consider what makes the new model different from traditional Catholic education and choose those elements that will work best for their schools. |
 |
Most Catholic schools already exhibit many of these attributes, but some of the common characteristics of successful new model schools include:
-
A clear mission
-
Charismatic, visionary, involved leadership
-
Energetic, committed teaching staff
-
Strong partnerships and involvement with parents
-
Schools that are part of a network or consortium with other Catholic schools external to the local diocese or a diocese-managed system, both with centralized top-level leadership
-
A strong business model that leverages economies of scale among the group of schools
-
Engagement with professional marketing services
-
Modern technological infrastructure that is enterprise-wide—across the consortium or diocese
-
Ability to collect and analyze data at the student, classroom, grade, school, parish, and diocese or consortium level
-
Thriving arts and music curricula
-
Outstanding fundraising and philanthropy program that includes patronage and involvement from business leaders committed to Catholic education
-
Accountability at all levels, with consequences for poor performance or behavior—for both staff and students
-
Willingness to innovate in areas such as multi-grade classrooms, extended learning periods, elongated learning days
-
Flexibility to react and refine curriculum and instruction to meet students' needs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|