Washington D.C., Sep 12, 2007 / 08:44 am
Archbishop Donald Wuerl has proposed converting eight of the District's 28 Catholic schools into secular charter schools in an effort to save them from closure. The archbishop said the archdiocese can no longer afford to keep them open.
The schools, which are located in some of the city's poorest neighborhoods, would receive operating and facilities funds from the District if converted. At this time, the archdiocese subsidizes a large portion of the students’ tuition. The schools would remain in their current buildings and pay rent to the parishes.
According to a report by the Washington Post, the archdiocese sent letters home with students yesterday explaining the proposal, which would take effect as soon as fall 2008 and impact 1,400 current students. Starting next week, individual schools will hold information sessions to solicit parent and community feedback. Archbishop Wuerl is expected to make a final decision next month.
The reaction to date has been negative. Some parents argue that the proposal strips the majority black student population of high-quality education.