A Message From The

ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

secretariat for catholic education

222 North Seventeenth Street · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-1299

Telephone (215) 587-3700  ·  Fax (215) 587-5644  ·  e-mail:  mrochford@adphila.org

OFFICE OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION

September 17, 2009

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As the state budget crisis remains at a stalemate in Harrisburg, the frustrating legislative process continues to impact our teachers and students in the classroom through the lack of certain educational materials funded by the state.

As you may know, textbooks, workbooks and other educational resources are funded through Pennsylvania’s Act 90/195 Programs established by the state Department of Education for students attending nonpublic and private schools. Although our schools ordered the books/materials this past spring, the state will not release the orders for distribution until the budget is passed. Meanwhile, our teachers and students are being penalized.

The impact has been felt most acutely in the absence of updated textbooks and workbooks purchased each year for use in Mathematics, Science and other core curriculum classes. These are the books sitting in warehouses. This temporary crisis has not hindered our teachers’ ability to provide all of our students with a quality Catholic education. They are focused on the curriculum guidelines and standards that are the hallmark of the excellent academic program in our schools as well as employing creative methods to incorporate the most current resources available for class work.  Teachers are preparing materials as well as downloading online resources made available by publishers of our textbooks.

During this difficult time, please know that I am extremely appreciative of your patience and understanding. The Archdiocese continues to speak to our legislators to ensure that our families and students receive equity in funding, especially where it involves resources for their classrooms. We also are concerned about the ultimate budget figure of the Act 90/195 programs, which may be cut substantially and penalize our schools and students unfairly.

I urge you to become involved in this process by contacting Governor Rendell via http://www.governor.state.pa.us and your State Representative and Senator (www.legis.state.pa.us) by phone and email to express your concerns as a tax-paying parent and constituent and push for a swift and equitable resolution to the budget crisis that is impacting our children.

May God bless you for your understanding, sacrifice and support of Catholic Education.

Sincerely yours,                                                                      

Mary E. Rochford
Superintendent of Schools