Engaging Latinos to Participate in Catholic Education

To Nurture the Soul of a Nation:Latino Families, Catholic Schools, and Educational Opportunities

A Report of the Notre Dame Task Force on the Participation of Latino Children and Families in Catholic Schools.

Since 2000, more that 1,400 Catholic Schools have closed and nearly half a million students are no longer in Catholic schools.

Yet in many of the areas where schools have closed, there are school age Latino children within walking distance of the schools.

Areas that were once largely populated by another culture, such as Italian or German, now have an area population made up primarily of Latinos.

Why Catholic Schools?

The Notre Dame study indicates that Latino children who attend Catholic schools are 42% more likely to graduate high school and two and a half times more likely to graduate from college.

Even with that evidence, nationally, only 3% of school age Latino children attend Catholic Schools.

Why?

Some Statistics Currently in the United States, Latinos now comprise 35% of all Catholics.

67% of practicing Catholics ages 18-34 are Latino.

The Census Bureau predicts that this will grow and by 2050 more than 30% of Americans will identify themselves as Hispanic.

And yet, they are still under-represented in our schools.

St. James the Less and Sacred Heart

Booming enrollment in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. THEN ~ the perfect storm

Declining numbers of Catholics living in the neighborhood Families moving to the suburbs Worsening economy for the residents of our

neighborhood, our city, and our state Declining outside financial resources Declining numbers of school-age children generally HOPE comes in the form of Fr. Joe and Latino Enrollment

Institute (LEI)

A History of Two Schools

What is it?Why is Latino enrollment important?Purpose of the LEIFounder of the LEIProgress of the LEICan a school be flipped?What can each of you do?

Latino Enrollment Institute

A connection to the Latino community – pastor starting the Spanish Ministry and the continued support of the entire St. James parish.

Personally invite them! Recruit from you parish religion program Go to other churches and preschools, head starts Go to local businesses where they shop Hold informational meetings when they can attend Be visible in their community- Mass, grocery store, shops etc. Know some Spanish---word ring Build relationships! Work to overcome language barriers Embrace diversity – incorporate cultural icons into décor Make school affordable, accessible, and available

FLIPPING St. James & Sacred Heart

Pastor

Principal

Teachers

Students

Other Families

Parishioners

RE Director

Secretary

Support personnel

Everyone Has an Important Role

Belief that Catholic Education is an important parish ministry

Engaged, visible, and invites families to come and see

Pastor

Accompanies new families on school tours with principal

Active participation in school activities

From the ambo, tells benefits of a Catholic education

Always speaks positively about the parish school in all venues

Be personable, inviting and friendly – SMILE!

Belief and understanding that Catholic education is an important ministry of the parish

Understanding of the alternative school systems (public, charter)

Principal

Make the most of every opportunity or event to promote the school

Express expectation that all members of faculty and staff share the responsibility of creating a welcoming environment to all families

Build relationships with DRE, other pastors, and parishioners

Be sure others know what to do/say when they are approached

Provide materials in Spanish

Always have business card with you

Become involved and visible in parish activities

Speak often at Masses championing the school (not just at Catholic Schools Week), advertise availability of tuition assistance

Attend Masses other than your usual Mass

Be willing to fill out required school forms for parents if necessary

Keep immigration status confidential

Principal

Learn a few phrases in Spanish, then add a few more

Help recruit volunteers to translate

during P/T/S conferences

Learn the Latino culture particular to their school

Teachers

Use Google translator for notes to parents (be sure to have it proofread!) Don’t assume or make generalizations that parents are not interested in their child’s education

Command SpanishBook StudiesESL for students and parentsStrategies for teaching English Language

LearnersEncourage Faculty sharing

Professional Development

Be personable, inviting, and friendly – SMILE!

Learn a few words in Spanish to speak, and develop a listening Spanish vocabulary

Don’t talk louder

Be resourceful

When new families register, give them school information packet

Provide name and contact information to Principal

Have available information about the school: business card, tuition information, and tuition assistance application

Recommend students in the RE program who would be good students for the school

School Secretary & Parish Staff

Different culture/value system

Different language

Belief that Catholic education is for the rich (or extreme poor)

Potential for greater financial sacrifice

Potential difference in appreciation of education

Lack of Spanish speaking personnel

Time demands and constraints

Prejudices and biases

Challenges

The Latino community is made up of a diverse variety of people from different:

Countries

Races

Economic backgrounds

Education levels

Latino Diversity

Consider accepting payments in time frames that work for them, i.e., ad hoc, daily, weekly, twice a month, on their payday

Divide tuition into 12 monthly payments as an option

Tuition Challenges

Accept cash payments for tuition, even large amounts

Enrollment –for those who can’t come up with the entire required enrollment fee, consider:

They pay a portion of enrollment fee to reserve their space

Roll the rest of the enrollment fee into tuition

Consider opening tuition assistance to all students who apply and not limiting to parishioners.

Offer tuition assistance as a means of filling classrooms to capacity

An empty seat = zero income with the same overhead costs. Therefore, a student paying $1,500 is better than an empty seat

More students receive a Catholic education

More operating revenue for school, less parish subsidy

Potential Sources of additional funding Private Donors Religious orders Diocese

Tuition Assistance

Work grants – require helping school with time and talent

Need someone to coordinate

Any adult can come to work the hours for the family

Work Grant

The student in grades sixth, seventh or eighth can work and receive credit

Work hour requirements vary by amount of assistance

Embracing Cultural Diversity

Welcoming New Latino Families to Your School

Familiar Religious Symbols

Familiar Religious Symbols

Familiar Religious Symbols

Cultural Celebrations

Las Posadas

Pastorela

May Crowning

We Are Family

We have fun at school! Every idea has value and we will try anything Community homerooms Saint Families Service learning Mime Stations of the Cross Christmas shop, coat and hat drive, food baskets Legal advice, medical and dental information,

immunizations ESL for adults Double dutch, drama, chess, bison boot camp We ask, “what do you need?” we will find a way to get it. Our Kids are Worth Whatever It Takes!

Why Do We Do This?

Do we teach them because they are Catholic?

Do we teach them because we are Catholic?

Our faith calls us to do this because truly all are welcome.

Catholic Identity