The Identity of the Catholic School for a Culture of Dialogue​, issued by the Dicastery for Culture and Education, instructs all those who work in the field of Catholic education.​​​​​

All faculty and administrators are responsible for the religious formation and instruction of students in accordance with the principles of the Gospel and the Catechism of the Cath​olic Church. In a Catholic school, all personnel, not solely religion teachers, participate as ministers of the Church and ​​support the religious instruction and formation program of the school.  The ​Dicastery for​ Culture and Education has described this principle in a series of documents, among them Lay Catholics in ​Schools: Witnesses to Faith​.  All teachers need to be knowledgeable about the Catholic faith and supportive of Church teaching. The principal is responsiblve for providing personnel with adequate opportunities for religious formation and an understanding of Church teaching. 

Teachers in a Catholic school have a particular ministerial role.

To assist in meeting the standards for all teachers, the Department ​of Ca​tholic Schools provides programs for certification​ as well as workshops and opportunities for ongoing formation and learning. In addition, the Department of Catholic Schools sponsors in-servic​​​e training and recommends participation in the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, national and regional religious education conferences, and courses at Catholic colleges and universities.

Teachers in a Catholic school are expected to become familiar with the purpose and philosophy of Catholic education, a basic theology of Catholic ministry, and the charism, mission, and history of the school in which they teach. 

• ​All schools should offer at least 10 hours of catechetical/spiritual formation every academic year that all teachers are required to attend.​  This formation program is offered in a four year cycle that follows the parameters established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the California Catholic Conference.​
  

• All elementary school teachers who are Catholic and all high school religion teachers (including teachers at private Catholic schools) are required to obtain and maintain certification as catechists​ as set forth by the California Catholic Conference. 
  

The ADLA Catholic Schools Ministry Profile must be completed and submitted to the Department of Catholic Schools by June 30 each year.

Religion teachers are required to be practicing Catholics and meet the professional and personal standards set forth in policies for hi​ring, certification​, and renewal of certifi​cation for religion teachers and campus ministers. ​

See Qualifications of the High School Religion Teacher​.​

4-1-2022​, 8-14-2025​