Seton Partners

Seton & Notre Dame Symposium on Financing Urban Catholic Schools

Seton Education Partners and the Institute for Educational Initiatives at the University of Notre Dame co-hosted a symposium for over 100 Catholic education leaders on “Financing At-Risk Catholic and Faith-based Schools," held at the University of Notre Dame, September 20-22, 2009. The symposium explored whether philanthropy, tax credits and vouchers, and/or leases to public charter schools (or other leasing/operating changes) can become the answer to the steady extinction of inner-city Catholic and other faith-based schooling. Bishop Thomas Curry, chair of the Education Committee for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, gave the dinner keynote address. Dr. Anthony Bryk, head of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, spoke about the opportunity he sees in public charter school laws for the future of urban Catholic education.

Below is the event schedule.

For pictures from the symposium click here.
To view a PowerPoint on public financing of faith based schools click here.
To view a PowerPoint by Seton partner Scott Hamilton click here.

Financing At-Risk Catholic and Faith-based Schools:
Exploring Alternatives to School Closure

September 20 to September 22, 2009

McKenna Hall, University of Notre Dame

Co-hosted by:

The Institute for Educational Initiatives at the University of Notre Dame &

Seton Education Partners

Sunday, September 20

6:30 pm

Reception and Dinner (Rotunda of the Main Building)
* Prayer led by Meghann Robinson
* Welcome Remarks by Fr. Timothy Scully, CSC, University of Notre Dame

Monday, September 21

8:30 am
Eucharist (Ryan Hall Chapel)

9:00 am
Breakfast (McKenna Hall Atrium)

10:00 am
Facing the Facts and Finding Solutions
* Scott W. Hamilton, Seton Education Partners

10:00 – 10:15 am
Objectives and Organization of the Conversation
* Betsy Bohlen, McKinsey & Company

10:15 – 10:30 am
BREAK

10:30 – 11:50 am
What Is the Role of Private Philanthropy and What Could It Be?
* Stephanie Saroki, Seton Education Partners (Moderator)
* Rob Birdsell, Cristo Rey Network
* Josh Hale, Big Shoulders Fund
* Mary McDonald, Diocese of Memphis
* Darla Romfo, Children’s Scholarship Fund

11:50 am – 12:00 pm
BREAK

12:00 – 1:00 pm
LUNCH (McKenna Dining Room)

1:00 – 2:30 pm
What Is the Role of Public Financing and What Could It Be?
* Nicole Garnett, The Law School, University of Notre Dame (Moderator)

* Ron Bowes, Diocese of Pittsburgh

* Howard Fuller, Black Alliance for Education

* Scott Jensen, Alliance for School Choice

* Stephen Perla, ACE Consulting, University of Notre Dame

2:30 – 2:45 pm

BREAK

2:45 – 3:45 pm

Can Lemons Be Turned into Lemonade? Handling School Closures

* Karen McCartan DeSantis, Kirkland & Ellis LLP (Moderator)

* Margaret Dames, Diocese of Bridgeport

* Mary Anne Stanton, (Formerly) Center City Public Charter Schools

3:45 – 4:00 pm
BREAK

4:00 – 5:15 pm
Learning from Other Traditions

* Mark Berends, University of Notre Dame (Moderator)

* Vernard Gant, Association of Christian Schools International

* Sharon Miller, Ben Gamla Charter School

* Andrew Neumann, Educational Enterprises

5:15 – 5:30 pm
Wrap Up and Preliminary Conclusions

* Betsy Bohlen, McKinsey & Company

5:30 – 6:30 pm

BREAK

6:30 pm

Reception and Dinner (Eck Center Atrium)

Reflections on the National Scene

* Bishop Thomas Curry, Education Committee, USCCB

Tuesday, September 22

8:00 – 8:30 am

Eucharist (Alumni Hall Chapel)

8:30 – 9:00 am

Breakfast (McKenna Hall Atrium)

9:00 – 9:30 am

Can and Should Charters Be Part of the Solution for Faith-based Schools?

* Anthony Bryk, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching

9:30 – 9:40 am
BREAK

9:40 – 11:35 am

Faith-based Charter Schools: Oxymoron or Opportunity?

Roundtable Discussion

* Betsy Bohlen, McKinsey & Company (Moderator)

* Aaron Brenner, KIPP Houston

* Bishop Thomas Curry, Education Committee, USCCB

* Clark Durant, Cornerstone Schools

* Nicole Garnett, The Law School, University of Notre Dame

* Leo Linbeck III, Aquinas Corporation, LLC

* Fr. Ron Nuzzi, University of Notre Dame

* Mary Claire Ryan, NativityMiguel Network of Schools

* Bro. Ed Siderewicz, FSC, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

Can we envision a charter school that is both non-sectarian in required ways but supportive of Catholic identity, mission or ethos, and what would this look like? What forms of alternative religious formation are possible in these circumstances? What kinds of religious involvement can there be with the students/faculty of such schools?

11:35 – 12:00 pm

Review and Next Steps
* Betsy Bohlen, McKinsey & Company