The State of Connecticut is fortunate to have excellent private and religious schools.  However, due to preconceived notions about public versus private education the doors to these fine education institutions remain closed to many children.  Too many children, especially poor minority children, continue to be denied a chance for a quality education.

Almost 38,000 students attend over 130 Catholic schools in Connecticut.   Despite the varying economic and social background of our students, most of these students are academically successful.  The standardized tests used by Catholic schools indicate above satisfactory results.  The high school graduation rate of our schools is approximately 99%.  This same 99% of students continue onto some form of higher education or military services.

Parochial schools have long provided parents an alternative to public education at a very reasonable cost, even though many parents make a difficult financial decision to send their children to Catholic school.   The average cost to educate a child at a Catholic school is $4,755, while the cost to educate a public school student is in excess of $11,000 per pupil.  Catholic schools save the taxpayers of Connecticut over $400 million per year.  However, many Catholic schools are facing financial demands and it would be unfortunate if more of our schools were to close.

All levels of Government should enact policies that assist these schools in educating Connecticut’s children.  Private and religious schools can be useful in helping our nation address its educational concerns. 

The Connecticut Federation is proposing the following initiatives to help ensure future access to private and religious schools for middle class families and poor urban families.

State Level

Tax Credits for Corporations that Donate to a Scholarship Fund

• The Connecticut Federation of Catholic School Parents supports legislation that would allow C corporations to donate funds to a fund that would provide scholarship aid to lower and middle income families, from distressed municipalities, to attend a private or religious school. 

• The corporation tax credit would have a statewide cap of $2 million and tax credits would be granted on a first come first serve basis.  The tax credit would be capped at $50,000 per corporation.  Scholarships would be capped at $2,500 per student.   

• Scholarships would only be given to children whose family income does not exceed 250 percent of the income requirements of the federal poverty line.  (A family of four would have an income of less then $55,125 per year.) 

Textbook Funding

• The Connecticut Federation of Catholic School Parents supports legislation that would provide per pupil textbook financial assistance to religious schools, with special consideration for students who receive a free or reduced lunch.  Aid should only apply to students attending schools whose tuition is at or below the state average net current expenditure per pupil.

• The Federation supports a program similar to the one in the state of New York that would require parents of school children or a principal to complete an application with their local school board.  The application would be submitted through the non-public school.   The State of Connecticut would allocate $2.3 million or an average of $30 per religious and private school student.  Funds to each municipality would be earmarked solely for the use of the purchase of textbooks to loan to private religious schools. 

Interdistrict Transportation

• The Connecticut Federation of Catholic School Parents supports legislation that would allow interdistrict transportation to parochial and private schools.  Interdistrict transportation would address the issue of racial isolation within our urban areas. 

• The Connecticut Federation of Catholic School Parents supports expansion of Connecticut’s Open Choice Program to include religious and private schools.  If there are open seats on a bus transporting children to a public school, these seats should be allocated to children attending nonpublic schools. 

Repeal of Provision Eliminating Experience Teaching in a Nonpublic School for Purpose of Issuing a Professional Educator Certificate

• The Connecticut Federation of Catholic School Parents supports the repeal of the provision in Public Act 09-1 that eliminates the ability of nonpublic school teachers to obtain a professional educator certificate.
• Public Act 09-1 passed during the June 19, 2009 Special Session of the Connecticut General Assembly and would become effective July 1, 2012.   The provision was implemented without consultation of private or religious schools.   

Permit College Students to Obtain State Certification by Student Teaching in Private or Religious Schools

• The Connecticut Federation of Catholic School Parents supports legislation that would allow college students to student teach in a private or religious school setting

• Currently student teachers are not allowed to obtain state certification in Connecticut’s private and religious schools.  Massachusetts and New York allow student teachers to obtain certification at Catholic schools.   

• The student teaching experience is one of the most important components of the teacher certification process.  Allowing college students to student teach in a private or religious school setting would provide them with the skills to serve others and further the values and practices of their profession.