ERIC ED483141: No Child Left Behind and Faith-Based Leaders: Working Together So All Children Succeed.

2004·0.52 MB·English

by  ERIC

faith J faith J
community J cNoo mChimld uLenfti Btyeh iJnd
and
Throughout our education J faith education J faith
Faith-Based Leaders
nation’s history, faith J community J J community J
communities have education J faith education J faith “The indispensable
played an essential role J community J J community J and transforming
in educating children. work of faith-based
education J faith education J faith
and other charitable
Churches, synagogues, mosques and other religious J community J J community J
organizations have supported and extended the work of
service groups must
local schools by offering tutoring, reading instruction, education J faith education J faith
mentoring, after-school programs and a wide range of be encouraged.
other services. Faith communities have met the J community J J community J
educational needs of young people with efforts that Government cannot
have been as generous as they have been effective. education J faith education J faith
be replaced by
The recently passed No Child Left Behind Act—the
J community J J community J
landmark education reform law designed to close the charities, but it can
historic achievement gaps between disadvantaged and
education J faith education J faith
minority students and their more advantaged peers— and should welcome
gives faith-based groups new opportunities to build on
J community J J community J
them as partners.”
the good work they are already doing. No Child Left
Behind resources can help faith-based groups to find
education J faith education J faith
new ways to help meet the learning needs of all children —President
and to discover new ways to partner with local schools.
J community J J community J George W. Bush
With No Child Left Behind, schools and religious
education J faith edWuorckiantgi oTonge tJherf aSoit h
organizations can become even more powerful allies in
the effort to ensure that all children—regardless of All Children Succeed
J community J J community J
their race, family income or the language spoken in
their homes—receive a high-quality education.
education J faith education J faith
J com1-800m-USAu-LEAnRNity J J community J
SM
Here are some ways that No Child Left Behind can help
No Child Left Behind provides HIn addition to becoming supplemental HBecome a supplemental educational services
“Just as Brown v. Board of Education
opportunities for faith-based organizations educational services providers, faith-based provider. Information can be obtained by declared that separate schools are
groups can receive grants from a range of visiting www.ed.gov/faithandcommunity or
to assist in educating children. inherently unequal, No Child
other programs that provide extra academic by calling 1-800-USA-LEARN and asking for
HFaith-based organizations can receive funds Left Behind declares that separate
help. These include activities such as after- the Center for Faith-Based and Community
to provide tutoring and other academic instruction—instruction that is
school programs (21st Century Community Initiatives. Help is also available from state
enrichment services for eligible low-income
Learning Centers); early literacy programs departments of education. based upon assumptions that
students. Religious organizations can become
(Early Reading First); technology programs certain children cannot learn—is
supplemental educational services providers HCall upon state and local officials, including
(Community Technology Centers); and inherently unequal. The new law
by applying to states and then working with
mentoring programs (Safe and Drug-Free school board members, to fully implement
says that we as a nation will not
districts to provide services directly to
Schools). every aspect of No Child Left Behind.
students in reading, language arts and tolerate schools that practice the soft
mathematics. Many faith-based organizations HTo help increase awareness and HInform and educate parents about the new bigotry of low expectations.”
are already providing these services in inner- understanding of No Child Left Behind, the opportunities for children under No Child —Secretary Rod Paige
city and rural communities across the U.S. Department of Education provides free, Left Behind. No Child Left Behind:
country, where assistance is needed most. user-friendly materials in English and A Parents Guide is available from
Faith-based organizations often find it useful Spanish that can strengthen the work of www.ed.gov/parents/landing.jhtml.
to establish their program as a not-for-profit
faith-based organizations. These research-
(501c3) to receive funds. HProvide resources, serve as mentors and act
based publications, including booklets,
as advocates, particularly in schools where
pamphlets and overheads, cover topics such NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND
parental involvement is currently limited. To
as reading, math, homework and character
request free publications while supplies last,
education and are available for distribution The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, signed
call toll-free 1-877-433-7827, or visit
to faith-based groups and their members.
into law on January 8, 2002, opened a new era
www.edpubs.org.
in American education. The act is based on four
To help improve the quality of education
“What better way of reflecting basic education reform principles put forward by
in America under No Child Left Behind, Resources
the president: stronger accountability for results;
our values as a nation than to faith-based groups can ...
For more information on No Child Left Behind, increased flexibility and local control; expanded
say that we believe that every HShare success stories with clergy and
call toll-free 1-800-USA-LEARN, or visit options for parents; and an emphasis on
single child deserves our community leaders so
www.NoChildLeftBehind.gov. For the complete teaching methods that have been proven to
that they too can use resources and
best effort, and we believe
information provided by list of grants available to faith-based and work. This law-with the cooperation of faith-
education is a civil right—just No Child Left Behind. community groups, please visit www.ed.gov/ based organizations, parents, communities,
like the right to vote and the faithandcommunity/ then select “Guide to school leadership and classroom teachers-will
HMeet and talk with members of the
right to be treated equally.” Funding.” ensure that every child in America receives a
congregation. Find out what their skills and
—Secretary Rod Paige interests are and engage their support for a great education and that no child is left behind.
plan of action.