The forthcoming issue of The Christian Citizen magazine features an interview with U.S. Senator Barack Obama on the subject of public school reform and the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). "Senator Obama, who was not a senator when the No Child Left Behind Act passed, brings a fresh perspective to this issue," said Curtis Ramsey-Lucas, National Ministries' national coordinator for public and social advocacy. "He has spoken eloquently of the need to reform and improve public education over the past year and we are pleased he has taken this opportunity to share his perspective with our readers."

In 2007, Congress is scheduled to begin reauthorizing NCLB. This issue of The Christian Citizen on "Good Schools for All" is particularly timely for American Baptist churches and individuals who want to become engaged in this process. Its articles offer constructive critique of NCLB and outline a number of partnership possibilities for churches who are interested in working to improve educational outcomes for all children. A variety of perspectives are included on accessing, engaging and advocating for public schools and the students they serve.

"We are hopeful this issue of the magazine will equip American Baptists to advocate for improvements in NCLB and that it will inspire creative partnerships between churches and public schools to the benefit of the children they serve," added Ramsey-Lucas.

A resource that will be of interest to American Baptists is a Web page created by FaithfulAmerica and the National Council of Churches USA's Committee on Public Education and Literacy. Based on its online resource, "Ten Moral Concerns in the Implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act," the Web page is designed to enable people of faith to share their concern for justice while preparing for reauthorization of NCLB in 2007.

The online Congressional Letters project urges people of faith: "Take action to address the 10 moral concerns of this act by writing to your elected officials." The page at www.faithfulamerica.org provides ten different letters, one for each of the ten moral concerns the committee has identified. Letter writers are encouraged to add a personal story about how they see NCLB impacting a particular school, child, teacher or community.

"The personal stories are important because the one-size-fits-all NCLB affects schools differently depending on the special needs of each school district," said Jan Resseger, National Council of Churches Committee on Public Education and Literacy chair. "Letter writers are not expected to suggest specific changes to the law," said Resseger, "but instead to share their own truth about specific injustices in the implementation of NCLB."

Commenting on the urgency of the issue at this time, Ramsey-Lucas said, "Public schools are the primary route for most children—especially children of poverty—into full participation in our economic, political and community life. Through participation in NCC's Congressional Letters project and implementation of suggestions in the new issue of The Christian Citizen, American Baptists can lead the way in making good schools a reality for all children."

The Children in Poverty Initiative, adopted in 2005 as a denomination-wide issue of concern for American Baptist Churches USA, seeks to encourage and equip American Baptists to respond to the needs of children in poverty through ministries of caring and prophetic justice. This initiative identifies and highlights existing resources and opportunities for response, along with providing leadership for the development of new resources and opportunities for ministry to children.