The first four clusters that engaged in planning (7, 9, 10, 12) have set tuitions for the 2007-08 school year and are now registering students for the new school year. These first four clusters have adopted a process of open enrollment. Tuition is set at a consistent rate for each school in the cluster and parents are free to choose the school of their choice, regardless of the parish in which they are registered. Also, as previously announced, the diocese will begin a new funding model for its elementary schools moving from the current “Tuition-parish Subsidy” model to a “Need-Based Tuition Assistance/Cost-Based Tuition” model to be phased in over a three-year period beginning with the 2009-10 school year. Under the current financing model parishes are required to subsidize schools directly at the average rate of 23% of total parish ordinary income. Under the new financing model, parish support will be paid into a central fund to be used for tuition assistance and school support. It is anticipated by the end of the phased-in period (2011-12 school year), total required parish support will be reduced to 15% of total parish ordinary income.
Under the new model, parishes, rather than directly subsidizing a school, will send their support to this central fund from which a Catholic School Foundation will be formed for the sole purpose of providing tuition assistance for those who need it. In the past, everyone has received tuition assistance in the form of parish subsidies, whether they needed it or not. This has placed an undue strain on parish finances, and therefore, the change to need-based tuition assistance and cost-based tuition will provide a more equitable means of financing as well as provide more funding for those who cannot afford to pay the full cost.
Bishop Galante’s intention is that no child will be deprived of a Catholic education because of finances and all families will be encouraged to apply for tuition assistance regardless of their circumstances. Based on the experience in other dioceses, the Camden Diocese expects that the majority of families will receive assistance.