Catholic Schools Turn to 'Blended Learning' to Get More Students

By Michelle R. Davis and Nikhita Venugopal

As Roman Catholic schools aggressively seek solutions to curb tumbling enrollment numbers, they are turning increasingly to an approach that blends online learning and face-to-face instruction as a way to cut expenses and appeal to new students and their families.

This blended approach comes as Catholic schools face competition not only from traditional public schools, but also from a growing number of charter schools, many of which are offering blended learning programs. ( "Catholic Schools Feeling Squeeze From Charters ," Aug. 29, 2012.)

Last week, educators, researchers, and religious leaders from Catholic schools and organizations around the country met at the Catholic University of America in Washington to discuss the difficulties these schools are having keeping and attracting students, and the role that approaches such as blended learning might play...