School of Education Centers

Contact Information

Executive Director: Robert Walsh, S.J.
Phone: 310.338.7303
Location: University Hall 1760

Introduction

Catholic schools are an integral part of the educational systems of urban centers across the United States, serving as pillars for many communities, particularly in economically disadvantaged areas. In Los Angeles, more than 80,000 children and their families rely on these schools to provide the moral, spiritual and intellectual underpinnings that have enabled so many Catholic school graduates to become productive, socially conscious adults. But these schools are facing significant challenges. Enrollment in Catholic schools has declined 12 percent nationally in the last decade. Many schools are struggling financially. Catholic school systems are in need of professional development for teachers and administrators, along with research into the most effective approaches to running the schools and educating increasingly diverse student bodies.

With the Center for Catholic Education, the LMU School of Education will be better positioned to assist the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, as well as Catholic school systems across the country, in ensuring that the rich tradition of Catholic education endures and grows. The CCE brings together a broad range of successful programs at SOE to advance PK-12 Catholic education by training school leaders and teachers, increasing awareness of Catholic schools’ impact on communities, and developing innovative ways to support Catholic schools. The Center for Catholic Education will serve as an anchor for Catholic schools in Los Angeles and nationally so that the rich tradition of Catholic education continues to shape morally and socially conscious men and women.

The Center for Catholic Education is committed to leadership development, teacher preparation, and research and outreach.

Programs

The Center for Catholic Education offers programs in specialized cohorts:

LMU|LA CAST: For teachers employed by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
PLACE Corps: Teachers who are part of a teaching service corps in partnership with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles