Alliance for Catholic Education
Dr. Howard Fuller, a leading champion for school choice, has participated in a number of Parental Choice Symposia.
Kelsey Klupchak may not spend her days in the classroom anymore, but she still deeply believes in the mission of Catholic schools and parents' right to direct their children's education. The ACE 15 graduate of the ACE Teaching Fellows program taught chemistry at Bourgade Catholic High School in Phoenix, Arizona, where she was first exposed to the issue of school choice; many of her students received tuition assistance through the state's tax credit scholarship program. Although Klupchak has since left the classroom, she said wanted to remain active in education, and ACE's Parental Choice Symposium provided the perfect launch point.
The Parental Choice Symposium (PCS) is an intensive formation program designed to develop high-quality leaders for the parental choice movement, with a particular focus on strengthening state-based institutions engaged in grassroots mobilization, advocacy, and improving school quality. Sponsored by ACE's Program for Educational Access, it is the only event of its kind in the country. The PCS annually selects 30-35 talented and dedicated candidates for participation, including ACE graduates, leadership of state and national choice ventures, and other aspiring policy leaders.
Klupchak, who admitted she did not have extensive background knowledge about parental choice prior to the symposium, applied to participate in the PCS to learn more about a grassroots-turned-national movement from some of the preeminent thinkers in the field, and she was not disappointed. She praised the conference for giving her a foundation from which she could learn more about the issue on her own.
"Going in, I had almost no understanding of what this could mean for our children and for Catholic schools," she said. "The presentations, discussion, and knowledge of the other participants really helped set the stage for me to get involved."
Since returning to Chicago, Klupchak has taken a leadership role within her local ACE Advocates community and has actively worked toward increasing awareness about parental choice initiatives through presentations after Masses and at social events.
"We're just trying to get the word out, attend school choice rallies and meetings, learn as much as we can, and hopefully position ourselves to help as the movement gains steam in Chicago and Illinois," she said.
Klupchak wholeheartedly endorsed the PCS for anyone considering applying to participate.
"It's an excellent introduction to parental choice, and it was great exposure to its leaders and forefront thinkers," she said. "It was a whirlwind of information, people and places, and it helped stir the passion within to then send me forth to learn more and support parental choice in my own community."
This year's Parental Choice Symposium is scheduled for June 19-23 in New Orleans and Tampa, and there is no cost to participants. Those interested in applying or looking for more information about the PCS should contact Eric Prister at eprister@nd.edu.