Parochial school, << puh ROH kee uhl, >> is a private school conducted and supervised by a religious group. Many people think the term parochial means schools conducted by the Roman Catholic Church. But parochial comes from the Latin word for parish (church district) and refers to a school operated by any church. The name usually applies to elementary and high schools, but can also describe colleges and universities. Instruction in parochial schools includes religious education as well as many of the subjects taught in public schools. In the United States, parochial schools are the only schools allowed by law to require that teachers and staff hold particular religious beliefs.
The Roman Catholic school network grew rapidly in the 1800’s and 1900’s, becoming the largest parochial school system in the world. Registration in U.S. Catholic schools peaked in the mid-1960’s, when 51/2 million students were enrolled. In the Roman Catholic system, a superintendent appointed by the bishop directs the parish schools. Many high schools are cooperatively directed and supported by several different parishes.
Protestant groups also operate a number of parochial schools. Many Protestant schools are parent-controlled–that is, run by an independent board of elected parents or association members, under the supervision of a congregation or religious body. Protestant denominations that administer schools include Baptists, Lutherans, and Episcopalians. In the late 1900’s, schools run by evangelical Protestant groups grew rapidly. The Association of Christian Schools International is a large group representing a number of evangelical denominations. This association oversees thousands of schools, including more than 100 colleges and universities, in more than 100 countries.
The largest system of Jewish schools in the United States is the National Society for Hebrew Day Schools, also called Torah Umesorah. This society operates Orthodox schools. The Solomon Schechter Day School Association oversees conservative Jewish schools. Many other Jewish groups also maintain parochial schools.
Some religious groups support virtual (online) parochial schools to meet a growing trend in home schooling. These new schools offer full K-12 curriculum and faith-based education, primarily online, to many children across the United States.
Parochial schools operate with funds provided by the religious groups that administer them. Many such schools also charge students a fee called tuition. Some supporters of parochial education feel that parochial schools, like public schools, should also receive tax dollars. They argue that parochial education is a form of school choice for which parents should be given tax subsidies or credits. But the Supreme Court of the United States has ruled several times that laws providing tax funding for parochial education are unconstitutional. These rulings held that such funding violates the constitutional principle of separation of church and state because the schools endorse particular religious beliefs.
A related debate concerns whether parochial schools should be allowed to participate in a school choice plan called a voucher system. In a voucher system, families receive coupons called vouchers. Parents may use their vouchers to pay for tuition at a private school that will accept vouchers and admit their children. Because vouchers are funded with taxes, some people feel that including parochial schools in voucher systems also violates the principle of separation between church and state. But in 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that voucher programs can include parochial schools without violating the Constitution of the United States. See Voucher .
