Alliance for Catholic Education

Listen to Dr. Luis Fraga discuss how Notre Dame's Institute for Educational Initiatives is an ideal place for him to pursue his scholarly goals, particularly his work in Catholic schools. Learn more at iei.nd.edu .

From illuminating the artistic side of a political scientist to two-way immersion and empowering and serving communities of understanding and tolerance Dr. Luis Fraga, Director of the Institute for Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame, reflects on the transformative nature of Catholic education and the potential lasting legacy of building diverse communities of understanding and toleranc...

Listen to Dr. Mark Berends discuss his research findings when working with the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program.

Listen to Dr. Mark Berends discuss the Center for Research on Educational Opportunity (CREO) within Notre Dame's Institute for Educational Initiatives and how CREO strives to be a space that fosters diversity, equity, and inclusion.  Learn more at iei.nd.edu/creo .

Listen to Dr. Mark Berends explain more about the Fellows within Notre Dame's Institute for Educational Initiatives and how he sees them as bridge builders who will further the Institute's educational research and advance its programs.  Learn more at iei.nd.edu .

Listen to Dr. Mark Berends discuss Notre Dame's Program for Interdisciplinary Educational Research (ND PIER), the program within the Institute for Educational Initiatives that trains doctoral students in research design, implementation, analysis, and inference. Learn more at iei.nd.edu/pier .

From imagining running the Olympic 1500m to galvanizing the hearts and minds of those who believe in the power of education. Dr. Mark Berends, Director of the Institute for Educational Initiatives at Notre Dame, talks about looking forward while reflecting on the incredible dedication and spirit of hope that strengthens and sustains the mission to positively affect children in Catholic schools, as...

From daring to compete as a race car driver to discovering how the transactional nature through which children’s interactions with their family, community, and culture can shape the course of their development. Kristin Valentino, Director of the William J. Shaw Center for Children and Families and a Professor of Psychology at Notre Dame, discusses the integration of biological, psychological and e...

From contemplating a guitar duet with Bruce Springsteen to leading the charge for thriving Catholic schools across the United States. Kevin Baxter, Director of the Mary Ann Remick Leadership program at Notre Dame, shares some thoughts about the intangible aspects that make Catholic schools so special, leadership as vision, strategy and tactics, as well as his reflections on silly fears and big fam...

From the origins of Sesame Street and Photovoice, to the pedagogy of vulnerability, to equity, inclusion, and diversity as foundations of education Maria McKenna, Associate Professor of the Practice in the Department of Africana Studies and the Education, Schooling, & Society program at Notre Dame discusses youth empowerment, equity, inclusion, and diversity as foundations of education, as wel...

We began the journey of Grace Period on Noah’s ark, weathering the first global pandemic and the destructive waters of the Great Flood. We continued the journey on the waters of Galilee, where our travels were beset by sudden squalls that threatened to swamp our boat. And last week, Holy Week, we walked the great storm of Jesus’ Way of the Cross. These waters, which disrupted our lives and were th...

From dreaming of mastering Creole overnight to learning through doing and creating sustainable pathways out of adversity for children and youth.  Neil Boothby, Director of the Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child at Notre Dame and an internationally recognized expert and advocate for children in adversity around the world explores inward vulnerability and outward resilience, t...

This week on Grace Period, Fr. Lou invites us to walk during this Holy Week with Jesus through the great storm of His life. Though Christ’s Way of the Cross is utterly singular in human experience, He also teaches us that His journey is one we must all make, each in our own way. And Jesus invites us to make it – like Him, as a journey of self-sacrifice – but also as a journey of hope. Learn more a...

This week on  Grace Period , Fr. Lou focuses on how we can persevere with hope when it seems like Christ is absent during our time of need. We look to the Gospel of Mark, when a furious squall threatens to sink the disciples' boat as Jesus sleeps.  Was Christ powerless against the squall? Did he not care? Jesus was showing them (and us) what it's like to trust, even in a storm,...

This week on Grace Period , Fr. Lou continues with the story of the disciples in the storm and focuses on Saint Peter as an example for all of us amidst the storms of this school year.    While ever so flawed, Peter knows there is one in the storm who is greater than the storm, and sends himself out onto the waves toward Christ. This week, our prayer is that we might always keep our eyes...

This week on Grace Period , Fr. Lou exchanges Noah's ark for a fishing boat and the New Testament story of Jesus and the disciples in the storm. Just as the disciples were overcome with fear in the middle of the storm, we too have shouldered fear and uncertainty this school year. This week, take some time to reflect on the role that fear has played in your life this year. Then ...

This week on Grace Period , Fr. Lou DelFra, CSC, focuses on the stirring in Noah's heart that gets him out of bed and calls him to action—even when that action seems a bit absurd given the circumstances. That stirring is hope. Hope is a gift, a divine gift offered by God right into our hearts that then seeps from our hearts into our limbs. Our prayer this week is to be ever open to this gift, whic...

From Beowulf and hip-hop to the power of literacy transforming lives and changing the world Ernest Morrell, Director of the Center for Literacy Education, Coyle Professor of Literacy Education, and faculty member in the English, and Africana Studies Departments at Notre Dame, discusses the power of literacy, the limitless potential of children, and being a night person all while having Michelangel...

Welcome to Grace Period, a weekly series of audio reflections with Fr. Lou DelFra, CSC, designed for you…to help you pause, listen for God’s voice in your lives, and begin anew. As we move through these final months of the pandemic, Fr. Lou looks at another global crisis, a Biblical one, perhaps the global crisis ever recorded, and the spiritual gifts it called forth among God’s people. Join us ne...

From the delicacy of ice cream to the intersection of mathematics and Catholic Social Teaching Chrissy Trinter , Associate Professor of Mathematics Education of the ACE Teaching Fellows and in the Notre Dame Center for STEM Education, shares some thoughts on mathematics and Catholic Social Teaching, her passion for students’ human flourishing, Star Wars and why you won’t see her singing karaoke an...

From handy super powers to the origins of school choice in America John Schoenig , ACE’s senior director of teacher formation and education policy, shares some thoughts on why school choice matters, Catholic education in light of the pandemic, and how Jack Nicholson and Prince left a stamp on his childhood.

Think. Pair. Share. brings you stories about education and the people who make it happen. We start with the premise that information is being shared all around us in big and small ways, often at the same time. A conversation can teach you how to split an atom even as you learn the favorite color of the person sitting opposite you. Education is not simply about the giving and receiving of informati...

Welcome to spACEs: An ACE Podcast Adventure! Our episodes feature stories about the unexpected things that happen to you and around—shared through a Catholic lens. Episode one takes us to St. Edward Catholic School in Chillicothe, Illinois, on a Wednesday afternoon last fall—a day that ACE 24's Luke Heineman and his principal, Mr. Mike Domico, will never forget.

This month, the ENL team discusses the summer slide, the impact it can have on ELLs, and strategies teachers can implement to prevent this loss of learning and language over the summer months. The conversation is anchored around the Chalkbeat article by Susan Gonzalez entitled "The not-so-secret ELL summer slide problem that no one has quantified". Tune in for great stories and helpful strategies...

This month, we discuss the loaded and vast topic of assessment. We're focusing today's conversation on summative assessments and the specific strategies that classroom teachers can use to more accurately assess their English language learners. The article "Assessing ELLs in ESL or Mainstream Classrooms: Quick Fixes for Busy Teachers" by Laureen A. Fregeau and Robert D. Leier anchors the discussion...