Office of Catholic Schools Curriculum | Government Programs | Scholarship Fund SERVICES The Office of Catholic Schools provides leadership and support for Catholic schools to be an integral, viable element of the Diocesan Church's mission of education. The Office establishes the climate and framework for fostering excellence in education in the Catholic elementary and secondary schools of the Diocese. ADMINISTRATION Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Skube Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Technology Dr. Alan Digianantonio Director of Government Programs and Resource Development Mr. Wallace Dunne Director of Certificated Personnel Mrs. Lois Cavucci 2006-2007 PERSONNEL Number of Professional Staff: Elementary 569 High School 178 (teachers and administrators) Number of Students: Preschool 813 Elementary 7,154 High School 2,498 OUR SERVICES The Office of Catholic Schools offers services to educators, schools and parishes in the general operation of our diocesan school system and provides leadership in specific educational initiatives. Curriculum and Instruction, Certificated Personnel, Government Programs, Technology, Pupil Personnel, and Finance are the main service clusters of the Offices of Catholic Schools. While there are many facets to each of these clusters, the integration of their functions in the Office of Catholic Schools allows for a unique delivery of service to the mission of Catholic Education. The Office of Catholic Schools provides the foundation for the growth of excellence in the Catholic schools of the Diocese of Youngstown. OUR SCHOOLS Statistical Information About Schools Number of Schools: 35 Elementaries (plus 1 Byzantine Rite elementary school is served by the Diocese of Youngstown) 5 Diocesan High Schools 1 K-12 School 23 Schools have a Preschool program. Financial Information: Average Tuition 2006-2007 Elementary $1,425 High School $4,365 For more information, contact the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown at 330-744-8451. REPORT CARD Public schools in the State of Ohio are required to submit to the community a report of their standing in relation to the State standards of competency. State public schools are ranked according to their performance in 27 categories of standards. This report card is prepared to give data on how our diocesan schools perform on these categories. The reader must note that of the 27 categories of standards, only 17 apply to our Catholic schools (nonpublic schools do not take the five batteries of the 4th and 6th grade proficiency tests). GOLDEN APPLE AWARDS The Office of Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Youngstown sponsors the Golden Apple Awards, recognizing Catholic school teachers. Funded through a donation from the Donahue Family Foundation, Inc., of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and by the diocese, the Golden Apple Award honors seven elementary teachers and one high school teacher who distinguish themselves as Catholic educators in areas of leadership, professional development and service to Church and community. In announcing the Golden Apple Awards 2002, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin expressed gratitude to the Donahue Family Foundation for its initiative and generosity to the Youngstown Diocese. “It’s a small way, but an important way, of saying ‘thank you’ to our teachers for their sacrifices and commitment.” CURRICULUM Catholic schools provide a challenging curriculum from preschool through high school. All subjects are taught from a Catholic perspective, and Catholic values and beliefs permeate the entire school program. The goal is to prepare students to be active and responsible members of their parish and community. Students are actively engaged in learning the core subjects of Religion, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Technology, Foreign Languages, Fine Arts, Physical Education, and Business Education. In addition, enrichment opportunities for students include: Programs aimed at helping students develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. Cooperative learning that develops teamwork skills. Opportunities to appreciate and participate in the fine arts. Participation in academic competitions in areas such as: art, science, language, and speaking. Students in Catholic schools do well by any standard. On standardized achievement tests, Youngstown Diocesan students score above the national norm. Each year, the Office of Catholic Schools releases its Diocese of Youngstown Catholic Schools Report Card Catholic school students consistently score in the upper percentiles on ACT and SAT tests. Catholic school students are among the National Merit Scholars recognized each year for academic excellence. Over 95% of our graduates go on to higher education. Each year, our graduates receive offers of more than $6 million dollars to further their education. Diocesan schools belong to and are accredited by the Ohio Catholic School Accrediting Association. The goal of the association is "to strengthen Catholic identity and mission and to engage Catholic schools in the ongoing improvement of learning." GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS The Government Programs Office supervises the Diocesan Schools as they comply with the application rules, expenditure guidelines and accountability procedures of government assistance. While all programs are based on the "Child Benefit" principle and no aid flows directly to the religious function of the school, certain guarantees of religious neutrality, student need and eligibility must be met. The State of Ohio and Federal Programs are: State Programs The Auxiliary Services Program provides an annual allocation for the purchase of secular textbooks, educational material, computer software and the services of specified public school educational specialists. The Administrative Cost Reimbursement Program reimburses schools for the expense they incur for performing State of Ohio mandated record keeping. Since 1967 the State of Ohio has provided yellow School Bus Service to nonpublic students. The State requires the local school district to bus nonpublic students if they live within a 30 minute drive to the nonpublic school. The State annually reimburses the local public district and helps provide new buses to transport the nonpublic students. Local districts often share a good deal of the cost of this mandated transportation since the State reimbursement does not cover the whole cost of transportation. Mobile Unit Replacement and Repair Program (State Special Revenue Fund Line Item 200-659) Prior to the U.S. Supreme Court decision issued in June, 1997, services for the benefit of children attending non-public schools were to be provided in public schools, public centers or mobile classrooms located off non-public school premises. Line item 200-659 in the state special fund group provides assistance to public school districts to maintain, repair and replace mobile classrooms that house services to non-public school students. This line item continues to be significant even though auxiliary services personnel may provide their services on premises, because some non-public schools do not have sufficient space to accommodate them. Connection to the Internet (GRF 200-532) Any chartered non-public school that wishes to be connected to the internet via the Ohio Education Computer Network may do so. During the 1999-2000 school year more than 80% were connected. Ninety-five percent of Catholic schools have been connected. State funds pay for the majority of costs associated with providing these connections. Professional Development (GRF 200-410) This program provides funding for schools to develop teacher training and professional development and for the establishment of local professional development committees. Funding for the benefit of non-public school teachers has been distributed to public school districts that are serving as fiscal agents. Each diocesan education office has established Local Professional Development Committees to design professional development activities for teachers in the diocese. Post-Secondary Enrollment Option Program (Chapter 3365.02 of the Revised Code) Students attending non-public schools are eligible to participate in this program. Funding is taken from the Auxiliary Services program. Chapter 3365.02 of the Ohio Revised Code describes this program. Federal Programs Title I provides educational assistance to qualified students in the areas of Math and Reading. Title II, The Eisenhower Program, provides assistance to educators for professional development and for student programs in certain academic areas. Title IV, The Safe and Drug Free Program, offers assistance in the training of students and teachers in school safety, drug education, smoking prevention, self-esteem, and alcohol avoidance efforts. Title VI provides limited amounts of Federal funds for the development of secular innovative educational programs and strategies. Title VI provides a limited amount of funding to assist students who have been identified as handicapped and who have an individual educational plan as the result of a multifactored evaluation. Federal Milk and Lunch Program reduces the student cost of qualifying food programs that are offered by the school. YOUNGSTOWN DIOCESAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP FUND Established in 1998 to honor the memory of Mary Ellen Cushwa Wolsonovich, thus fund has grown to 2.2 million dollars. This is an endowment fund, the interest of which is used to support the tuition needs of deserving students. In June of 2000, the first distribution was made from the fund. That year 152 grants were made that totaled $75,000. Those grants were given to support documented needs for the 2000-2001 school term. In April of 2001 the second distribution was announced for the 2001-2002 school term. In the second year $60,000 was distributed among 136 students. Two facts remain: If a family is in need of assistance to afford Catholic School Education, The Youngstown Diocesan Catholic School Scholarship Fund is ready to help. Continuing, vigorous efforts are being made to increase the scholarship fund and its ability to meet an expanding need. For information on the Youngstown Diocesan Catholic School Scholarship Fund call 330-744-8451, ext. 285 or 290. Back to Office of Catholic Schools