The University of Notre Dame and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson have created a partnership in an effort to increase the quality of education and enroll more Hispanic students in Catholic schools.
Santa Cruz Catholic School Principal Sister Leonette Kochan, explained that Notre Dame did a study that focused on the enrollment of Hispanics in Catholic schools and on schools that serve Hispanics in economically challenged communities.
"They found out they are under served," Sister Kochan said. "Meaning that only three percent of the Hispanic population is attending Catholic schools."
The three Catholic parish schools that are part of the program are St. Ambrose, St. John the Evangelist and Santa Cruz. Before the partnership, they were already members of the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) program that provides certified teachers to the schools.
The schools will be receiving support from the university in three areas of focus.
The first involves enhancing professional development, meaning the university will provide teacher mentoring and coaching to help them expand their knowledge in teaching.
The second is to strengthen the focus of the schools' teachings of culture and Catholic identity.
The third is in marketing and development.
The university will provide a marketing specialist to help improve the schools' budgets by trying to increase donations, including tax-deductable ones.
Sister Kochan said many parents do not enroll their children in Catholic schools because of the cost.
People are often unaware that they can apply for financial aid, use tax credit and even donations.
Tuition is at about $4,000 per school year at Santa Cruz.
Sonia de la Ossa, who has one child enrolled at the school, said she pays $150 per month but has applied for financial aid.
De la Ossa is also paying the school by volunteering her time there.
De la Ossa, who said she has always worked with ACE teachers, said that she was very excited about the new partnership.
"It's just going to better our school and our kids," she said. "[The teachers] are very dedicated."
Notre Dame chose Tucson because Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas spoke with the university and asked if they could be considered for the partnership.
Tucson schools are the first to join in this program and Notre Dame hopes to partner with many more in the future.
Although the schools do not receive direct money from the university, all teacher training and other university-provided services are funded by Notre Dame through a grant from the Walton Family Foundation.
"We are very grateful to Notre Dame for choosing our schools," Sister Kochan said.
"It's sending a message that we are all in this together, educating."
