More About
Selected Programs for Improving Catholic Education
PURPOSE/GOALS of the PROJECT
One of the strengths of Catholic schools has been making the most of limited resources. By sharing their ideas and experiences, Catholic schools are an invaluable resource to one another.
The National Congress for Catholic Schools for the 21st Century provided a blueprint for ensuring a successful future. It extended a challenge and invitation to all who share a conviction about the importance of Catholic schools to build on past practices and creatively address future needs. That invitation says, "Now is the time to use the wisdom and talent we have to build a stronger and larger network of schools."
Selected Programs for Improving Catholic Education is a response to that invitation. Organized at the national level, the project provides a process to identify, validate, and systematically share creative Catholic elementary and secondary school programs that are successfully addressing the new challenges facing Catholic schools, so that educators in other settings can replicate or adapt them. The conversations that are opened up between the program leaders and national leaders in the field also may spark the creation of new models.
CRITERIA for SELECTION
To be selected as a SPICE program, the application must demonstrate that the program:
- Is congruent with the spirit of the National Congress for Catholic Schools for the 21st Century.
- Enhanced the goals of the program and increased effectiveness.
- Meets the needs of students and is tied to the mission of the school.
- Has validated effectiveness.
- Has been in operation at least three years.
- Involved parents/guardians.
- Received documented support from the diocesan or religious community administrator.
- Can be adapted or used in other settings.
- Is willing to provide additional details to other educators, if requested.
EXPECTATIONS of the SELECTED PROGRAMS
Selected programs agree to:
- Send a team of up to 3 leaders to showcase their program at the summer Conversations in Excellence symposium at Boston College.
- Submit the materials requested for inclusion in the Dissemination Kit that will be distributed at the Boston symposium.
- Send up to 3 leaders to showcase the program at the next annual NCEA Convention.
- Dialogue in the future with anyone who seeks additional information for the purpose of improving their own program.
BENEFITS to the SELECTED PROGRAMS
Selected programs will benefit by receiving:
- Expenses paid for up to 3 leaders to present at the Conversations in Excellence symposium at Boston College.
- A certificate of recognition.
- Waiver of the NCEA Convention registration fee for up to 3 leaders who will present at the next convention.
- National attention through articles published in Momentum, NCEA Notes, Issue-Gram, and other publications.
- Listing in the SPICE Catalogue and Web site.
- The satisfaction of improving the education of other students.
APPLICATION PROCESS
- The process may be initiated by leaders of a successful program that meets the criteria listed above, or another educator may nominate the program.
- Written application / description of the program is submitted by the program leaders on the application form provided for the current year.
- The diocesan superintendent (or community representative for schools sponsored by a religious community) or a designee serves as site visitor and writes a letter of support following the visit.
- SPICE Committee reviews all applications and makes the selection, taking into consideration the variety and balance of types of programs.
- The program's contact person is notified of the program's selection or non-selection, and of details for attending the upcoming symposium at Boston College.
