Recruitment, Preparation, and Retention of Catholic High School Religion Teachers

In September 2000, this journal announced an important national study, funded by grants from the Lilly Endowment, the Knights of Columbus McGivney Fund, and the Chief Administrators of Catholic Education, on the impending shortage of religion teachers in Catholic high schools. This article reports the findings of that study in three important areas: recruitment, preparation, and retention. The study summarizes the results of surveys to nearly 200 Catholic high schools and 1000 religion teachers throughout the United States. Extensive recommendations are offered for each area studied, with a view to securing a stable future pool of highly qualified high school religion teachers