President-elect Barack Obama Then a senator from Illinois, Barack Obama shared his thoughts about public education in America with The Christian Citizen in 2006.

In a 2006 interview with The Christian Citizen, Sen. Barack Obama was asked what role American Baptists could play in the debate over reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), the omnibus federal education law signed by President Bush in January 2002.

Obama, now president-elect, responded in part, "American Baptists can play the same role that should be urged on all committed parents and community members: know your rights under the law and get involved in advocating, not just for your own children but for all children."

With the advent of a new administration and a new Congress, now is an opportune time for American Baptists to prepare to be part of the debate over reauthorization of NCLB.

Through its Children in Poverty initiative, National Ministries, American Baptist Churches USA has sought to encourage and equip American Baptists to respond to the needs of children in poverty through ministries of caring and prophetic justice. National Ministries has highlighted existing resources and opportunities for ministry with children and has provided leadership in the development of new resources and opportunities for service to children.

Among these resources is the "Good Schools for All" issue of The Christian Citizen, published in 2006, which won an Award of Excellence from the national Religion Communicators Council in 2007. Given that public schools are the primary route for most children—especially children in poverty—into full participation in our economic, political and community life, "Good Schools for All" addresses what it would take for American Baptists to have a significant and positive impact on public education and, by extension, the poverty that touches the lives of so many children in our society.

In addition to the Obama interview, the magazine features articles about churches partnering with public schools and community organizations like the PTA to improve education outcomes for all children. Also included is helpful background about federal education policy and other concerns related to NCLB. The magazine remains a valuable resource for American Baptists and other people of faith and good will interested in what they can do to improve public schools in their communities and beyond to advocate, not just for their own children, but for all children.

A wide range of worship and study resources related to public education and the American Baptist Children in Poverty initiative are available on the Children in Poverty Web pages .

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