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(Jeremiah
31.31)
The Tuition Covenant
is a two-step program that bases elementary school tuition on the
actual cost of educating each pupil C and provides financial assistance
in a confidential manner to families who cannot afford the increased
tuition.
Catholic schools
are central to the mission of the Church.
Over the past 20 years, the Archdiocese of Chicago has donated some
$310 million in grants and other aid to support its schools.
At the same time, the Archdiocese has charged tuition that is substantially
less than the actual cost of educating a student. Many parents are
not aware of this. As the Archdiocese seeks to correct its financial
situation, this practice cannot continue.
The Archdiocese is committed to keeping quality schools available
and viable.
The Archdiocese is reducing grants and other aid to schools to a
total of $5 million for the 2001-2002 school year.
The Archdiocese has a new plan to help schools achieve financial
viability without the Archdiocesan subsidy C and to ensure Catholic
education remains affordable.
- a strong
Catholic identity
- a quality
education program
- a competent
and committed staff
- a fiscal
plan to sustain the school long-term
- a School
Improvement Plan
- a balanced
budget with appropriate management systems
- adequate
enrollment trends
- a workable
development program
- an ongoing
marketing plan
- an endowment
plan
- participation
in federally funded programs
- parent involvement
- a well-maintained,
full-service facility located in a geographically viable area
- a tuition
model that covers the actual cost of educating students and provides
financial assistance in a confidential manner to those who need
it
Many
schools are viable. Others can become more viable by taking appropriate
steps now. Some schools may not achieve viability C and may elect
to close or consolidate.
- There is
a need to increase teacher salaries and offer high quality programs
and a technology-supported curriculum in modern full-service facilities.
- Tuition must
increase. Tuition assistance must be available to families to
ensure they can continue to provide a Catholic education for their
children.
- Chicago has
a reputation for developing creative solutions to a changing society.
The Archdiocese
of Chicago's New Covenant Tuition Plan is inspired by a recurring
biblical theme - agreement on mutual obligations in justice for
the common good.
The Hebrew word, berith, Ato cut a covenant, @literally means Ato
make a new mark or agreement.@
The Tuition Covenant is based on an agreement among parents, parish,
schools and teachers to serve both the common good of the young
people enrolled in our schools C and the mission of our Church.
The Tuition Covenant is a two-step program that bases elementary
school tuition on the actual cost of educating each pupil C and
provides financial assistance in a confidential manner to families
who cannot afford the increased tuition.
Financial assistance is drawn from sources of income such as a parish
investment, endowment, annual fund or income from fundraising.
The New Covenant Tuition Plan is based on three principles:
- fair and
just distribution of resources for the common good
- shared mutual
responsibilities
- assurance
that no family's need will be ignored
The New Covenant Plan establishes the justice of a tuition plan
that:
- determines
tuition that is fiscally responsible
- compensates
teachers fairly
- provides
assistance for families who need it
- helps ensure
the viability of Catholic schools throughout the Archdiocese.
Success in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Washington, D.C. C and here in
the Archdiocese.
The Archdiocese believes that the Tuition Covenant will enable the
Archdiocese of Chicago to make schools available and viable for
future generations of students across the Archdiocese.
January
25, 2001
Sr.
Dawn Tomaszewski, S.P.
Office
of Catholic Schools, 312-751-5334
Jim
Dwyer, Dept. of Communications
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