Alliance for Catholic Education

Strengthening and transforming Catholic education around the country and internationally.

Catholic schools are one of our country’s greatest national treasures, sacred places serving vital civic purposes, and have transformed the lives of countless children. The University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) has for more than 25 years sought to strengthen and transform Catholic education around the country and internationally so that Catholic schools can continue to provide an education of the highest quality to as many children as possible.

Nothing is more critical for the future of our nation or our Church than the quality of our schools, and ACE recruits and forms the next generation of teachers and leaders, establishes networks to extend the Catholic school advantage to thousands of new families, and offers an array of programs to strengthen Catholic schools and give disadvantaged children the opportunities they need and deserve.

Since its founding in 1993, ACE has:

  • Impacted 1 in 4 Catholic schools throughout the United States

  • Reached 70% of United States dioceses

  • Formed over 2,000 teachers and leaders

  • Affected 180,000 students

Anchored by the ACE Teaching Fellows program, a Notre Dame tradition which combines professional development, community-building, and spiritual growth, ACE’s dynamic programs and services fall into four categories: