Why Catholic Schools Matter in the School Choice Movement

In a recent episode of Sunday School Choice, EdChoice’s Nathan Sanders sat down with Shawn Peterson, president of Catholic Education Partners, for a discussion on the Catholic Church’s role in advancing educational opportunity.

Founded in 2017, Catholic Education Partners was created to ensure the Catholic voice had a seat at the school choice table. Peterson explained that Catholic schools make up the largest private education system in the U.S., yet until recently, there was no national organization specifically representing them in school choice advocacy.

“As we always kid, if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,” Peterson said. “So, we thought we better get at the table.”

Throughout the conversation, Peterson emphasized that Catholic education is not simply an alternative to public schools—it’s a mission. “We don’t educate children because they’re Catholic,” Peterson said. “We educate them because we’re Catholic.” For Peterson and many others, education is a central part of the Church’s mission.

From its early roots in 1606 to its legacy of desegregation and service to immigrant communities, the Catholic school system has been a consistent force for good. Even in majority-Protestant America, Peterson notes, you’re rarely far from a Catholic school in any major city.

Sanders shared his own Louisiana upbringing and the deeply rooted culture of Catholic schools in places like New Orleans, where it’s common to identify more strongly with one’s Catholic high school than their college. He praised Catholic educators for their commitment to both academics and ministry.

Much of the conversation also focused on the benefits of school choice programs—education savings accounts (ESAs), tax-credit scholarships, and vouchers—and how they support, not sustain, Catholic schools.

Opponents often claim school choice is about bailing out struggling religious schools. Peterson disagrees. “Catholic schools are not a moneymaker,” he said. “We put more in than comes out.”

These programs don’t just help schools—they help families. “We have many schools where the majority of students aren’t even Catholic,” Peterson explained. “Parents simply want a safe, nurturing place where their kids can learn and grow.”

Citing a 1965 Vatican document on Christian education, Peterson argued that parental choice in schooling isn’t just a policy—it’s doctrine. The Church has long taught that parents are the primary educators of their children and that the state has a duty to support their choices, financially and otherwise.

Sanders and Peterson also addressed common misconceptions, like the idea that private schools raise tuition to match ESA funding. Peterson clarified that Catholic schools typically operate below cost and have kept tuition artificially low for decades. When choice programs pass, raising tuition slightly helps schools pay teachers more fairly.

Both agreed that public education should be about outcomes, not systems. “Why are we worried about what door they walk in?” Peterson asked. “As long as they walk out with a good education, that should be the concern.”

Before wrapping up, Sanders asked how pastors, parishioners, and families can get involved. Peterson’s advice? Advocate boldly.

“You’ve got eight choices for coffee within two miles of your house,” Peterson said. “You should have more than one choice for education.”

Listen here for the full podcast conversation.