Network of Supporters to Lobby for Public Policies that Affect Catholic Schools New Jersey Catholic school families and their supporters have formed a statewide alliance to lobby state and federal legislators to change current policy regarding the education of their children. The New Jersey Alliance of Catholic School Families and Supporters is an expansion of the original Parent Network that garnered enough public interest to convince state assemblyman Scott Garrett of District 24 to introduce a bill, A-2443, establishing a five year tuition voucher pilot program. The Alliance, however, hopes not only to work towards successful passage of a viable voucher bill, but also to address needed reforms in busing and textbook subsidies. Representatives from nearly all of the state's 459 Catholic schools attended one of four training sessions on lobbying techniques, held throughout the state from September through November, 1996. These representatives will work locally with their school communities to organize legislative grass roots for letter writing or phone campaigns. A detailed manual of legislative lobbying techniques was made available to each representative. "We are very pleased with the response from the schools," said Sister Suzanne Bellenoit, SSJ, Alliance Coordinator for the North Jersey region. "Not only have the principals recommended enthusiastic representatives for the Alliance, but they have also backed it with their financial support." Funding for the Alliance is based on an assessment of two dollars per Catholic school student. "The window of opportunity for the Alliance is the 1997 legislative year when everyone in the state legislature will be up for reelection," said Sister Bellenoit. "We realize that successful passage of the voucher bill will not come about merely because the cause is right. It requires a concentration on political activity and the Alliance will provide parents with the expertise they need to effect change." Mobilizing grass roots lobbyists from the Catholic schools may be difficult on one hand, since Catholic school parents are already overextended in the time and support they give to their schools. On the other hand, their political networking may be easier since they are used to pulling together for the good of the schools they have voluntarily chosen for their children. The Alliance coordinators hope to tap the dedicated commitment that parents have to their Catholic schools and turn it outward to promote the Alliance's belief that all parents have the right to direct the education of their children by the choice of the school that best suits their needs. The New Jersey Alliance of Catholic School Families and Supporters is an activity of the New Jersey Catholic Conference and subject to the authority of the New Jersey Catholic Bishops. The following Alliance Coordinators are under the supervision of the Associate Director for Education of the New Jersey Catholic Conference: Sister Suzanne Bellenoit in Newark (201-497-4274); Ms. Marge McCurdy in Perth Amboy (908-826-6616); and Ms. Mary Ellen Procaccini in Robbinsville (609-259-1945).
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