Composer John Flaherty has been overseeing renewal and experimentation at the R.E.C.’s worship services for almost three decades.

After World War II, American classrooms swelled with baby boomers. Desperate for English-speaking sisters, some bishops turned to Ireland for help.

While the vast majority of Vermont students are eligible for the vouchers, which pay the full cost of up to two college classes, students who attend religious and other private schools are not.

Most Catholic schools across the country did not sanction walkouts, but planned to support youth-led advocacy through prayer.

"Anxiety is the number one problem," a program spokeswoman said.

Now more than half of the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States have issued such statements.