Diocesan educators excited over Senate Bill 2’s potential to increase Catholic education opportunities
Students at Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Denton. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)
FORT WORTH — The recently passed Senate Bill 2, establishing an education savings account program, weathered a turbulent journey through two legislative sessions Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bill into law May 3.
Diocese of Fort Worth officials remain hopeful that SB-2 will help increase enrollment within the diocese’s 17 schools and make possible Catholic education for students previously unable to afford such.
“SB-2, the School Choice Bill, provides parents with meaningful choices in where and how their children receive education,” said Dr. Melissa Kasmeier-Millard, diocesan superintendent of schools. “Parents are the primary educators of their children, and this is historic for them that the state of Texas places the very important decision into the hands of parents.”
Texas state lawmakers refer to the bill’s benefits as an education savings account program rather than a voucher. The bill provides parents up to $10,000 should they wish to enroll their children in a private rather than public school, although credit amounts vary for homeschool and disabled students.
Bishop Michael Olson — who supported the bill along with other Texas bishops — spoke of the benefits for current and potential students in the diocese.
“It offers parents an opportunity to exercise their rights to see to the education of their children,” Bishop Olson said. “Parents who might otherwise be excluded from the opportunity to send their children to private schools or Catholic schools because of costs.”
Improved access
The benefits of the bill, diocese officials argue, will help students whose families could not otherwise afford Catholic school education within the diocese.
Bishop Olson went on to tout the benefits of diocesan schools.
“Catholic schools offer an opportunity for safety and respect the responsibility of parents to be the primary educators of their children,” Bishop Olson said.
This opportunity represents a partnership of quality education and Catholic values, Bishop Olson added.
“Parents as primary but not exclusive educators,” Bishop Olson said. “Because it introduces students into a community and helps them extend their family, thereby strengthening their families while bringing opportunities to directly and intentionally see God’s role in education.”
Kasmeier-Millard agreed.
“We believe that Fort Worth diocesan schools embody the highest standard in faith formation, K-12 academic excellence, and character,” Kasmeier-Millard said. “Under the new law, a Catholic education, with its strong moral foundation, is more accessible than ever to families across Texas.”
A strategic rollout
Exactly how the process and implementation of the awards will play out on the statewide and diocesan levels remains to be determined, Nolan Catholic Principal Oscar Ortiz said while adding that district officials are already in the planning stage.
“At the bishop’s direction, a small team and I are developing a strategic brief to clarify our outreach vision and priorities,” Ortiz said. “Our focus is on helping families — both those already enrolled and those still discerning — understand the opportunities available and prepare well for the upcoming application window. We’re working to reach up to 30,000 families across the diocese.”
Diocesan Associate Superintendent Frank Perez added that the Texas Comptroller’s Office will release official state rules and procedures by September.
Ortiz and others said that most schools within the diocese can comfortably accommodate additional students without adversely affecting low teacher/student ratios or current facilities.
Ortiz expounded on the strategic initiative.
“We’re putting together a playbook for pastors and principals to help them better understand how to promote this initiative and communicate that information to families in their parishes and schools,” Ortiz said. “We’re excited as it’s an opportunity not limited just to Nolan but to all the schools in the diocese.”
The hope, Ortiz said, is to have several hundred new students enrolled into diocesan schools by next year.
A challenge is that many private schools, including Nolan, cost more than $10,000 per year.
“We’ve had tuition assistance for families in need, which can be up to 50 percent depending on circumstances,” Ortiz said. “That will still be available and could help bridge the gap for families still unable to afford tuition. Plus, the ESAs should give us more funds for tuition assistance for other students in need.”
Interest in Catholic School
Andrea Gahler, principal of Denton’s Immaculate Conception Catholic School, which includes grades pre-K through 8, said the ESA grants will cover tuition at her school. Gahler added that her school has capacity for about 120 more students. Gahler said parents of children not currently enrolled at Immaculate Conception have expressed interest and requested school tours.
In addition to rigorous education and faith formation, Gahler highlighted her school’s numerous enrichment and extracurricular courses ranging from athletics to music to languages.
Fort Worth’s St. Peter the Apostle School Principal Ruthie Gomez spoke of her hopes for the bill.
“That it will benefit parish families already here and hopefully remove barriers for families whose children don’t go here but would like to both for excellent education and faith formation.”
A bill to serve
Ortiz and others spoke of the application, interview, and testing process involved in transferring to diocesan schools and stressed that it’s important not to seek enrollment growth for its own sake but rather in a way that best helps families and students seeking quality education fostering Catholic faith.
Bishop Olson shared his long-range hopes for SB-2.
“I hope through this that our Catholic schools continue to make an even better contribution to the broader society directed towards service to our community and the common good,” Bishop Olson said.