From the Director: Celebrate Catholic Schools Week "Early and Often"

If you’re an ACE Advocate, you know very well what starts this Sunday:  Catholic Schools Week 2011.  This year’s theme, “Catholic Schools: A+ for America,” speaks to a very basic belief of the ACE Advocates:  In addition to being good for the Church, Catholic schools are good for children, families, communities, and the nation.
 
Millions of children receive an education in Catholic schools.  Known for their high academic standards and impressive graduation rates, our Catholic elementary and secondary schools collaborate with parents to form children into the values-driven adults our country and our world badly need.  And let’s not forget that in providing this service to the country, Catholic schools save the government billions of dollars.

It’s no coincidence that Catholic Schools Week comes right after National School Choice Week.  There is no more fundamental Church teaching on education than this: Parents are the primary educators of their children, and they “must enjoy true liberty in their choice of schools.”  In fact, in 2005, the Bishops of the United States wrote:  “The entire Catholic community should be encouraged to advocate for parental choice” in education.
 
Of course, many people in the United States already have a large degree of school choice.  Those with financial means to pay for tuition or to move to a better school district already have a choice.  Who’s left without an option?  It’s the poor.  In a country whose creed is based on equal opportunity, that’s a serious miscarriage of justice which should move all people to action.
 
ACE Advocates invites you to celebrate Catholic Schools Week 2011 early – and often – by joining the campaign in support of school choice.