Established in 1994 by Fr. Timothy R. Scully, C.S.C., and Rev. Mr. Sean D. McGraw, C.S.C., ACE currently places over 150 graduates from the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary's College, and a number of other select colleges and universities. These graduates teach in over 100 parochial schools throughout the urban and rural southern United State.

To carry out its core teaching mission, ACE recruits talented graduates from a broad variety of undergraduate disciplines, representing a diverse set of backgrounds and experiences, and provides an intensive two-year service experience encompassing professional development, community life, and spiritual growth. These three components lie at the heart of the ACE initiative. ACE aims to provide excellence in education and to maximize opportunities for personal and professional growth for program participants.

The most significant changes in ACE to date have involved the academic program. From its origins, ACE's collaboration with the School of Education of the University of Portland has been a tremendous asset. However, the success of ACE, along with its rapid growth, prompted Notre Dame to enter boldly the field of education. In spring 1997, Notre Dame hired a leading figure in teaching and learning, Dr. Michael Pressley, and charged him to develop a Master's in Education (M.Ed.) program equal to the talents and potentials of ACE teachers, one consistent with the ACE conceptualization.

Summer 1998 marked the inaugural year for Notre Dame's Master of Education program, which serves only ACE teacehrs. providing an intensive course of study for the ACE teacher. Over time, ACE has strengthened its academic component, while simultaneously affirming the importance of community life and spiritual growth in the overall development of a Catholic school teacher. In January 2000, the Indiana Professional Standards Board fully accredited Notre Dame's ACE M.Ed. In August 2000, Notre Dame conferred its first Master of Education degrees on the 65 graduating members of the program.

ACE has become a truly innovative and successful model of alternative teacher formation, targeting gifted and service-oriented applicants from a variety of undergraduate disciplines and representing a diverse set of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. ACE seeks to supply and support well-prepared teachers to dioceses and schools that manifest particular need and seek its assistance. And, ACE ultimately looks to add and form new leaders for the future of Catholic education.