Converting Catholic schools to charters: a mixed blessing

Seven Catholic-turned-charter schools in Washington, D.C., are at the cusp of what is becoming a popular exit strategy for urban parochial schools facing plummeting enrollment and untenable operating costs. The infusion of public dollars enables the schools to increase teacher salaries and per-student spending. But the schools must address a question of mission: Is it possible to impart centuries-old values of Catholic education without crossing the line between church and state? Many veterans of the old schools say there is a noticeable emptiness in classrooms and hallways: Students miss the moments they came together for prayer.

Read The New York Times article.