By Kyle Van Frank, Executive Director of FIRE Foundation Denver
The biggest cheers at Sacred Heart’s sixth-grade basketball championship game came before tipoff.
A chant of “Beau” echoed throughout the gym for a teammate who contributes beyond points or assists, but through encouragement and perseverance. Beau’s teammates made sure he was on the bench with them for the championship because he was integral to their success.
A rising seventh grader at Sacred Heart of Jesus in Boulder, Beau has a brain injury that requires special attention to how he learns, but his presence and adaptations in the classroom influence the entire school and the community. As one of his classmates put it, “I’m glad that Beau is in my class because it helps me know that even if you have a disability, you can still do the same things, and you’re not different.
That is just one of the millions of ways thousands of students across the archdiocese benefit from inclusive special education in Denver Catholic schools.
But “millions” takes on a new meaning this year as the FIRE Foundation of Denver surpasses $1 million in grants to archdiocesan schools since its inception just three years ago.
Since 2021, the FIRE Foundation of Denver has worked to make it possible for Catholic schools to create environments where students of all abilities learn, grow and thrive by providing funding to Denver Catholic schools for inclusive special education.
And the need is great.
For next school year alone, Catholic schools across the archdiocese asked for $1.6 million in grants for inclusive special education. That money does not exist… yet.
While the challenge before us is obvious, there is reason to celebrate.
Our board recently approved grants to 18 archdiocesan schools for the 2024-2025 school year. Fourteen of those schools are partner schools, actively including and educating kids with moderate to severe needs alongside their peers in the same classroom, following the same curriculum. Needs and diagnoses range from Autism to Down syndrome, hearing impairments to physical challenges.
When all students are welcomed at a school, the benefits are extended well beyond that student.
First, that student’s family is told they matter to God and their school. Their child is attending school with siblings. They participate in school sports. They play together on the playground. They talk about a school dance as part of a shared experience. And they grow in their faith.
One family enrolled at a partner school to support their son with Autism, and as a result, all three of their children are caught up on Sacraments of Initiation. Practicing our faith grows our faith.
Second, inclusive education also grows enrollment. One of our partner schools shared with us this year that their enrollment has increased significantly since building a Special Education program and becoming a FIRE Denver partner school. As they enter the next school year, the school will welcome 29 students with disabilities along with their siblings — a total of 49 students enrolled in Catholic school because they are practicing their faith and welcoming students of all abilities.
Beyond siblings, teachers tell us the benefits extend to the entire classroom. Teachers quickly learn that inclusive education practices are already in their toolbelt; they just haven’t always needed to pull them out. When they do, various approaches benefit all students’ learning. Their anecdotes are backed by research. And FIRE Denver continues to support those teachers with professional development.
This year marked FIRE Denver’s first four “Spark” school grants to fund dedicated professional development and training through the Program for Inclusive Education (PIE) at the University of Notre Dame. This commitment prepares schools on their path to inclusive special education to apply and enjoy all of the benefits detailed above.
The growth of inclusion in our Catholic schools is the direct result of the growth of our community’s generosity.
In our first year, we supported three schools and, with our community’s support, have taken giant leaps to where we are today.
Principals look to their budgets and to FIRE Denver to make inclusion a reality. It’s a blessing many times over to our kids, their families and classmates, as well as to our teachers, schools and communities.
As Catholics, it is our responsibility to include those who want to learn in faith-driven environments.
This year, FIRE Denver will provide just shy of $500,000 to archdiocesan schools, from St. Mary in Littleton to St. Mary in Greeley, with many schools in between, including Holy Family High School in Broomfield, our first partner school beyond the eighth grade. We’re excited to add Holy Family to the FIRE family, as continuity is vitally important to continue to support kids as they get older.
Additionally, FIRE Denver provides funds to the Office of Catholic Schools to support the Department of Student Support Services.
But the needs outweigh the resources.
Schools across the archdiocese asked FIRE Denver for $1.6 million in grants for next school year. We were able to fund less than a third of the needs identified by our schools.
The momentum to educate every child who wants a Catholic education is real, and that fills us with joy. We know the need will only grow, and so will our pursuit for the resources to make it a reality for all students, families and school communities.
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FIRE Denver holds several fundraisers and giving opportunities each year with the annual BonFIRE Gala headlining the efforts each August. There are several ways to support. Learn more here.