educate a child, transform the world

Educate A Child…Educate A Child…

Transform The WorldTransform The World

1 out of 5 children in the 1 out of 5 children in the United States lives in poverty.United States lives in poverty.

For children of color, the For children of color, the number is 1 out of 3.number is 1 out of 3.

The Children’s Defense Fund, “The State of America’s Children”, 2014.

Every 9 seconds, a student Every 9 seconds, a student drops out of high school.drops out of high school.

Every 2 seconds, a public Every 2 seconds, a public school student is suspended.school student is suspended.

The Children’s Defense Fund, “The State of America’s Children”, 2014.

In 2013, nearly 60% of all 4In 2013, nearly 60% of all 4thth and 8and 8thth grade public school grade public school students could not read or students could not read or

compute at grade level.compute at grade level.

Nearly 75% of Latin@ Nearly 75% of Latin@ students…students…

Over 80% of Black students…Over 80% of Black students…The Children’s Defense Fund, “The State of America’s Children”, 2014.

1 in 3 African American boys born 1 in 3 African American boys born in 2001 (14 years old) will be in 2001 (14 years old) will be incarcerated in his lifetime.incarcerated in his lifetime.

In 2008, states spent on average In 2008, states spent on average nearly 3 times as much per nearly 3 times as much per

prisoner as they did per public prisoner as they did per public school student.school student.

The Children’s Defense Fund, “America’s Cradle to Prison Pipeline Report”, 2008.

The Biblical and Theological The Biblical and Theological ProblemProblem

- God who executes justice for the - God who executes justice for the poor, the widow, and the orphan – and poor, the widow, and the orphan – and

who calls us to do the same! who calls us to do the same! -Jesus’ vision of abundant life, good -Jesus’ vision of abundant life, good

news for the poor.news for the poor.-Jesus’ care for children – “Let them -Jesus’ care for children – “Let them

come to me…”, healing children.come to me…”, healing children.-Jesus the Rabbi – the Teacher!-Jesus the Rabbi – the Teacher!

The Presbyterian ProblemThe Presbyterian Problem

- Reformed heritage—education transforms - Reformed heritage—education transforms lives and systems.lives and systems.

- Calvin in Geneva: Literacy essential to Bible - Calvin in Geneva: Literacy essential to Bible study and citizenshipstudy and citizenship

- Presbyterian Mission in the U.S. and around - Presbyterian Mission in the U.S. and around

the world: Legacy of schools, colleges, and the world: Legacy of schools, colleges, and seminariesseminaries

- Baptismal Vows to care for children- Baptismal Vows to care for children

““...better for you to have a ...better for you to have a millstone hung about your millstone hung about your

neck…than to cause the little neck…than to cause the little ones to stumble.”ones to stumble.”

Matthew Matthew 18:1-618:1-6

The 221The 221stst General Assembly General Assembly (Detroit 2014)(Detroit 2014)

…Launches a churchchwide initiative …Launches a churchchwide initiative to inspire, equip and connect to inspire, equip and connect

……to improve the quality of education to improve the quality of education for 1,000,0000 children in the U.S. for 1,000,0000 children in the U.S.

and globally by 2020. and globally by 2020.

Globally – Globally – World Mission acts with Mission World Mission acts with Mission

partners to:partners to:

* Strengthen capacity to provide * Strengthen capacity to provide quality educationquality education

*Improve training for teachers at all *Improve training for teachers at all levelslevels

*Create a safe environment for *Create a safe environment for learning especially for girlslearning especially for girls

Nationally – Nationally – Compassion, Peace and Justice Compassion, Peace and Justice

acts to:acts to:

*Identify the strengths and models of *Identify the strengths and models of current educational missioncurrent educational mission

*Builds upon unique Presbyterian history *Builds upon unique Presbyterian history and organization for education advocacyand organization for education advocacy

*Engages individuals and congregations in *Engages individuals and congregations in educational advocacy, especially for educational advocacy, especially for

poor children.poor children.

CURRENTCURRENT DIRECT CONGREGATIONAL DIRECT CONGREGATIONAL EDUCATIONAL WORKEDUCATIONAL WORK

Host Scouting Program 50%

Operate/House Preschool 40%

Mentoring/Tutoring Program 22%

Operate/House K-12 School 5%

Two FociTwo Foci

1)1) Strengthen Early Childhood Strengthen Early Childhood EducationEducation

2)2) Decrease Drop Out RateDecrease Drop Out Rate• Including addressing the “Cradle to Prison Including addressing the “Cradle to Prison

Pipeline”)Pipeline”)

The Cradle to Prison The Cradle to Prison PipelinePipeline

A Grassroots Initiative…A Grassroots Initiative…from Louisville?from Louisville?

ResourcesResources Training EventsTraining Events Telling congregations’ storiesTelling congregations’ stories Awareness and consciousness Awareness and consciousness

raisingraising Networking – by area, issue, etc. Networking – by area, issue, etc.

The Educate A Child The Educate A Child ToolkitToolkit

Available online and for free Available online and for free download at: download at: http://www.presbyterianmission.org/mihttp://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/child/toolkit/ nistries/child/toolkit/

The Educate A Child The Educate A Child ToolkitToolkit

http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministriehttp://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/child/toolkit/ s/child/toolkit/ Includes:Includes:•Introduction: Why Education?Introduction: Why Education?•Congregational Assessment ToolsCongregational Assessment Tools•Direct Action Asset Identification ProcessDirect Action Asset Identification Process•School Board Advocacy 101School Board Advocacy 101•Pentecost Offering 101Pentecost Offering 101•Tell us Your Story! Vignette guidelinesTell us Your Story! Vignette guidelines•Keep in Touch! Key links and contact Keep in Touch! Key links and contact informationinformation•BibliographyBibliography

Things You and Your Things You and Your Congregation Can DoCongregation Can Do

Adopt an elementary schoolAdopt an elementary school Organize an after school centerOrganize an after school center Volunteer to tutor or mentorVolunteer to tutor or mentor Develop a summer lunch, Develop a summer lunch,

education, and/or learning education, and/or learning retention programretention program

Form or upgrade an early Form or upgrade an early childhood centerchildhood center


Go to school board meetings Go to school board meetings and and learn about issues learn about issues affecting your affecting your communitycommunity

Get involved in your school Get involved in your school board, board, PTA/PTO, and other PTA/PTO, and other school school organizationsorganizations

Buy and donate children’s Buy and donate children’s books books

to family homeless sheltersto family homeless shelters


Build or improve a school Build or improve a school playgroundplayground

Pack backpacks with school Pack backpacks with school supplies supplies

Become a “big brother/sister” to Become a “big brother/sister” to an an

at-risk childat-risk child Attend school functions such as Attend school functions such as

plays, plays, concerts, sporting concerts, sporting events, fundraisers, events, fundraisers, and open and open houseshouses


Start a Freedom School in Start a Freedom School in your your congregationcongregation

Learn about the “Cradle to Learn about the “Cradle to Prison Prison Pipeline”Pipeline”

Get involved with English Get involved with English Language Learners Language Learners

programs – programs – or start a class or start a class at your churchat your church


Learn about the demographic Learn about the demographic data data in your community, such in your community, such as as property levels and dropout property levels and dropout raterate

Develop relationships with the Develop relationships with the educators in your educators in your

communitycommunity Advocate for legislation for Advocate for legislation for

schools schools that are equitable and that are equitable and high quality – high quality – pcusa.org/washingtonpcusa.org/washington

The Pentecost OfferingThe Pentecost Offering

Walk with us in this Walk with us in this InitiativeInitiative

1.) Tell Us What You’re 1.) Tell Us What You’re DoingDoing

Send us your stories! – email Send us your stories! – email [email protected]. For [email protected]. For guidelines, see: guidelines, see:

http://www.presbyterianmission.org/http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/child/vignette-guidelines/ ministries/child/vignette-guidelines/

Connect us with Presbyterians Connect us with Presbyterians involved in involved in education – and them education – and them with each otherwith each other

Goal: “Educate a Child” Covenant Goal: “Educate a Child” Covenant CongregationsCongregations

2.) Keep Up With What 2.) Keep Up With What We’re DoingWe’re Doing

Spread the word about the Spread the word about the initiative!initiative!

Become part of the network Become part of the network we’re forming – email we’re forming – email [email protected] [email protected]

Look for upcoming leadership Look for upcoming leadership trainingstrainings(http://www.presbyterianmission.org(http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/child/leadership-training-/ministries/child/leadership-training-opportunities/) opportunities/)

Invite us to speak at gatherings, Invite us to speak at gatherings, congregations, presbytery congregations, presbytery

events – email events – email [email protected] [email protected]

2.) Keep Up With What 2.) Keep Up With What We’re DoingWe’re Doing

Educate a Child Events at GA in Educate a Child Events at GA in PortlandPortland

Stay tuned for upcoming webinarsStay tuned for upcoming webinars Visit pcusa.org/child Visit pcusa.org/child

3.) Financial Support for 3.) Financial Support for the Initiativethe Initiative

Give Directly – ECO – E052178 (or Give Directly – ECO – E052178 (or the the “Donate” button on the “Donate” button on the website – website – pcusa.org/child pcusa.org/child

Take up offerings at events to Take up offerings at events to support the support the initiative as a whole or initiative as a whole or particular projectsparticular projects

Pentecost Offering – 40% stays with Pentecost Offering – 40% stays with your your congregation to do exactly congregation to do exactly this kind of this kind of work!work!

Questions?Questions?

pcusa.org/child