WHEREAS, Catholic schools ensure a broad, values-added education emphasizing the life-long development of moral, intellectual, physical and social values in America's young people; and

WHEREAS, Catholic schools produce students who are strongly dedicated to their faith, values, families and communities by providing a safe, disciplined, intellectually stimulating environment rich in spiritual character and moral development; and

WHEREAS, Rhode Island's Catholic schools are acclaimed for their academic excellence. Their elementary school students consistently score above the norm in the national standardized tests in all subject areas; the high school graduation rate is 98% and 95% of their high school graduates go on to college; and

WHEREAS, Total Catholic school enrollment for 2001-2002, pre-K through 12^th grade, was 18,921. This accounts for 10% of all students in Rhode Island's schools. The average elementary school size is 274 and the average elementary class size is 22. The student to teacher ratio in secondary schools is 10-1; and

WHEREAS, Rhode Island Catholic schools teach a diverse group of students, over 16% of its elementary students are minorities, 12% are non-Catholic, and 7 of its 49 elementary schools are located in inner-city areas; and

WHEREAS, Educational research demonstrates that Catholic schools, better than any other type of school, successfully close the learning achievement gap between high and low socio-economic groups; and

WHEREAS, Catholic schools provide educational and construction savings of more than $600 million every year to the state and local communities of Rhode Island; and

WHEREAS, Catholic school alumni, students and parents contribute to, are involved in, and are dedicated to the life of their parish communities well beyond their proportion in numbers; and

WHEREAS, In the 1972 pastoral message concerning Catholic education, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops stated, "Education is one of the most important ways by which the Church fulfills its commitment to the dignity of the person and building of community. Community is central to education ministry, both as a necessary condition and an ardently desired goal. The educational efforts of the Church, therefore, must be directed to forming persons in community; for the education of the individual Christian is important not only to his solitary destiny, but also the destinies of the many communities in which he lives"; and

WHEREAS, We honor, congratulate and support the goals of Rhode Island's 58 Catholic elementary and secondary schools, as well as the parents, teachers, and administrators for their ongoing dedication to the education of Rhode Island's children and the key role they play in promoting and ensuring a brighter, stronger future for the state of Rhode Island; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby proclaims April 10, 2002 as "Appreciation for Catholic Schools Day"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Most Reverend Robert E. Mulvee, Bishop of Providence, the Most Reverend Robert J. McManus, Auxiliary Bishop of Providence, Vicar for Education, and Brother William Dygert, C.S.C., Superintendent of Schools.