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Leave No Child Behind

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Index Page

As we enter the 21st century, America's strength reflects our courage, our compassion, our hard work, our moral values, and our commitment to justice. Today, we can extend the American dream of our forefathers and foremothers to every child and family. We have the know-how, the experience, the tools, and the resources. And we have the responsibility as mothers, fathers, grandparents, and concerned and sensible people across our country.

We can build a nation where families have the support they need to make it at work and at home; where every child enters school ready to learn and leaves on the path to a productive future; where babies are likely to be born healthy and sick children have the health care they need; where no child has to grow up in poverty; where all children are safe in their community and every child has a place to call home-and all Americans can proudly say, "We Leave No Child Behind."

Our mission and vision in the months ahead is to do what it takes to meet the needs of children and their parents by building on the strengths and sense of fairness of the American people, learning from the best public and private ideas and successes, and moving forward to a renewed commitment to all our children.

Why now? Because it's time! A magical moment in history which few human beings have been blessed to experience. A new millennium. A new century. A new president who has promised to Leave No Child Behind . A new Congress. Thousands of new state, county, and city officials. It's time because after eight years of unprecedented prosperity:

• Every 44 seconds, a baby is born into poverty.
• Every minute, a baby is born without health insurance.
• Every 11 seconds, a child is neglected or abused.
• Every 2 hours, 20 minutes, a child or youth is killed by guns.

These facts are not acts of God. They are the moral and political choices of men and women which we can change. It's time to do better!What can we do? Set forth a comprehensive national policy vision to Leave No Child Behind and mount a mighty witness of presence to achieve it. Working with a range of child advocacy networks and members of Congress, CDF has developed the Act to Leave No Child Behind as a key way to embody this vision and to move forward for children. The Act (S.940/H.R.1990) introduced by Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and Representative George Miller (D-CA) on May 23, 2001, gives the President, Congress, and all Americans the opportunity to:

• Get every child ready for school through full funding of quality Head Start, child care, and preschool programs.
• Ensure every child and their parents health insurance.
• Lift every child from poverty-half by 2004; all by 2010.
• End child hunger through the expansion of food programs.
• Make sure every child can read by fourth grade and can graduate from school able to succeed at work and in life.
• Provide every child safe, quality after-school and summer programs so children can learn, serve, work, and stay out of trouble.
• Ensure every child a place called home and decent affordable housing.
• Protect all children from neglect, abuse, and violence and ensure them the care they need.
• Ensure families leaving welfare the supports needed to be successful in the workplace, including health care, child care, and transportation.

The Act to Leave No Child Behind is comprehensive because children do not come in pieces. They live in families and communities who need the capacity to support them. The Act is achievable because we know the best practices for helping children and have all the resources we need to protect them. The Act is timely because our nation is at a pivotal point as we debate what kind of moral, community, policy, and political choices we are prepared to make at this turn of century and millennium to realize a more just and compassionate society-one where no child is left behind.

How can we make sure no child is left behind in the richest nation on earth? By building a powerful grassroots movement across America through Wednesdays in Washington and Back Home and other public awareness and engagement efforts. In 1964, interracial teams of women with a variety of talents and skills went to Mississippi every Wednesday to bear witness for racial justice and to build bridges between White and Black women across income and racial lines. Each was required to commit to work back home to inform and mobilize their communities about what they saw and what could be done. On Wednesdays--in Washington and Back Home--we are calling on women, grandparents, people of faith, youths, and concerned citizens from all walks of life, to bear witness for children in this new era until the words Leave No Child Behind and the Act to Leave No Child Behind become reality for every child. Everybody can be a part of it who shares our mission.

In addition to Wednesdays in Washington and At Home, we will use every means possible to raise public awareness about children's needs and what can be done including: Stand For Children Day events in all 50 states on June 1st; Child Watch visits to expose community leaders and policymakers to children's needs and what they can do; TV, radio and print media campaigns; town meetings; prayer vigils and study circles; and house parties. Coalition building, nonviolence, and media skills training to build a critical mass of effective spokespeople and advocates will be an ongoing and integral part of our movement building.

Each year, we will establish specific goals to achieve for children. We know how to make a difference for our children and to build stronger communities for all Americans. Now it's time to build the spiritual and political will to do it. For more information on how you can join the movement to Leave No Child Behind: