Who Will Save Catholic Schools?
A Conference for Philanthropists
Co-sponsored with New York Regional Association of Grantmakers
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
7:30 am (site visit) - 5:30 pm
New York City
Sofitel New York Hotel

View meeting notes

What has happened to the Catholic school system that at one time educated one of every eight American children – and did it quite well?

Catholic schooling in America isn’t what it used to be. Catholic school enrollment has plummeted, from 5.2 million students in 1960 to 2.3 million in 2006. This trend is especially troubling because research indicates that Catholic schools do a better job educating children, especially poor and minority children, than public schools.

How can philanthropists—both Catholic and non-Catholic—revitalize Catholic schools and strengthen the education they provide, especially for underserved children?

Agenda:  Who Will Save Catholic Schools?
7:30 am – 10:30 am Morning Site Visit, Ascension School *The bus to the site visit departs from the Sofitel New York Hotel at 7:30am sharp and will return to the hotel in time for the opening plenary. Ascension is a Catholic elementary school in the Archdiocese of New York. 64% of students are Hispanic, 23% are African-American, and all qualify for the federal meals program. Under the leadership of Father Sean McCaughley (principal since 2004), the number of fourth- and eighth-grade students who met state standards in language arts and math increased dramatically. With a content-rich preschool program, intensive professional development for teachers, classical arts integrated in a strong academic curriculum, and staff dedicated to "nurturing the whole child," Ascension succeeds where other urban schools, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, continue to struggle.
10:30 am – 11:30 am Opening Plenary Session, Sofitel New York Hotel
	Welcome Remarks - Ronna D. Brown, president, New York Regional Association of Grantmakers - Adam Meyerson, president, The Philanthropy Roundtable Opening Prayer - His Eminence Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of New York
	The Place of Catholic Schools in Public Education - Karl Zinsmeister, White House Domestic Policy Advisor
11:30 am – 12:00 pm Networking Break
12:00 pm – 1:45 pm Luncheon & Plenary Panel
	Who Will Save Catholic Schools?
	- Russell L. Carson, chairman, The Endowment for Inner-City Education - Peter Flanigan, advisor, UBS Securities - Frank J. Hanna III, CEO, Hanna Capital LLC - Chaired by J. Peter Simon, co-chairman of the board, William E. Simon Foundation
1:45 pm – 2:00 pm Break
2:00 pm – 3:10 pm Breakout Session
	Should Catholic Schools Convert to Charter Schools? -  Thomas Carroll, chairman and founder, Brighter Choice Foundation -  Father Kieran Harrington, vicar of communications, Diocese of Brooklyn -  Tim King, founder and CEO, Urban Prep Academies -  Moderator: Ed Kirby, Walton Family Foundation
	Great Catholic School Models and Why They Work - David Card, president, Escuela de Guadalupe - Brendan J. Cassin, president, Cassin Educational Initiative Foundation - Brother Ed Siderewicz, president and co-founder,San Miguel Schools Chicago - Moderator: Scott Hamilton, senior fellow, Thomas B. Fordham Foundation
3:10 pm – 3:30 pm Break
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Closing Plenary
	How Philanthropists Can Strengthen Catholic Education: 8 Great Ideas
	- Rev. Louis A. DelFra CSC, chaplain, Notre Dame's Alliance for Catholic Education - Dan Gaby, executive director, Excellent Education for Everyone - Mary Ellen Hrutka, executive director, Mid-Atlantic Catholic Schools Consortium - Dan McKinley, president and CEO, Partners Advancing Values in Education - Jane B. O'Connell, president, Altman Foundation - Brendan Quinn, president and owner, Ernest Maier Block - Darla M. Romfo, president, Children's Scholarship Fund - John J. Stollenwerk, chairman, Allen-Edmonds Shoe Corporation - Chaired by Stephanie Saroki, senior director of K-12 education programs, The Philanthropy Roundtable
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm Reception & Informal Discussion with Experts

For more information, contact Stephanie Saroki, Senior Director of K-12 Education Programs, at ssaroki@PhilanthropyRoundtable.org.