• About ACE
  • Mission and Goals
  • History
  • Demographics
  • Giving to ACE
  • Grants from ACE
• Academic Programs
• Outreach and Publications
• Current Members
• ACE Fellowship/Alumni
• Contact Us
• Apply Now

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History

ACE Teacher Formation Program

In 1994, in response to the growing need for talented and faithful Catholic school educators, the newly-founded Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) program placed 40 college graduates in under-resourced Catholic elementary and secondary schools in 8 dioceses in the southeastern United States. To prepare these highly motivated new teachers, ACE provides an intensive two-year service experience encompassing professional preparation, community life, and spiritual growth. Currently, ACE annually supports nearly 200 teachers in over 100 elementary and secondary Catholic schools in over 30 communities from coast to coast.

ACE Leadership Program

In 2002, Notre Dame created the ACE Leadership Program in response to the growing shortage of qualified, committed Catholic school administrators. ACE Leadership, originally a 14-month administrative certification program open to candidates who already possessed a Master’s degree, has prepared 85 administrators for Catholic schools since its inception. Recently, Notre Dame’s Academic Council unanimously approved a new Master’s degree in Educational Administration, a 26-month degree program which will allow ACE Leadership to expand its scope and form even more effective administrators for Catholic schools across the country.

ACE Fellowship

To facilitate the continued engagement of the now over 800 ACE graduates in the mission to sustain and strengthen Catholic schools, the ACE Fellowship was founded in 2004. The ACE Fellowship serves as a means to motivate and develop leadership among graduates who are eager to deepen their service to Catholic schools, whether or not they remain working full-time in Catholic education.

ENL Program

In 2006, ACE launched a third academic program. The English as a New Language (ENL) program is a one-year licensure program for Catholic school teachers who instruct English language learners in the United States or abroad. The ENL program will provide these teachers with effective strategies and skills to serve more effectively the growing number of Catholic school students whose native language is not English.