► May 2008: The Committee on Public Education and Literacy provides a study guide for congregations to discuss Linda Perlstein's TESTED, a shocking new book that exposes problems with federal test-and-punish philosophy of education.

► Questions to Consider About Charter Schools

► The Committee on Public Education and Literacy Resources has released a new brochure on the teaching of evolution in science classes in public schools. Download it  here.

REPORTS

►March 13, 2009, Conference frames agenda for Transforming No Child Left Behind 

► Click here for the report of the March 9, 2007, 'Fixing No Child Left Behind'

MISSION

Formerly known as the Basic Education and Literacy Working Group, the committee's major focus is now public education and the need for the churches to recover their history of support for public schools and the children and teachers in them. The committee seeks to reinforce the importance of the separation of church and state, both for the churches and the schools.  It works to strengthen support for public education in our faith communities and to encourage active, appropriate involvement in public schools by congregations.

Affirming that each child is made in God's image, we believe that each child deserves the best education available.  This is achieved, we are convinced, through quality public schools. The Committee's primary focus is supporting quality public education.   At a time when public education is under attack from a variety of sources for a variety of reasons, our mission is to call the member communions of the National Council of Churches and our nation as well to remember first and foremost our children, all our children. 

We believe our children deserve the opportunity to explore and develop their God-given abilities.  Public education provides the best opportunity for most children.   While we recognize the role of private schools in the educational enterprise, we strongly believe the focus of our efforts needs to be placed on public schools.   People of faith can play an important role in support of public education and in the life of local schools.  We believe this role must be informed by the constitutional understanding of the separation of church and state, an understanding that protects the integrity of both our schools and our faith communities.

Guided by the Policy Statement "The Churches and the Public Schools at the close of the Twentieth Century", we work in a variety of capacities.

• Sharing information: At our meetings representatives from denominations and other private and public entities gather to share information and strategies related to support of public education.
• Collaborating with partners: We collaborate with partners from the church and government.  Currently we are collaborating with several agencies on a pilot project in Pennsylvania, "Quality Public Education for all our Children."   We hope this pilot project will provide a model for church-school partnership that can be used in other states.  The Committee has a close working relationship with the U.S. Dept. of Education and anticipates co-sponsoring a national conference for those who are working to establish faith community-public school partnerships.
• Developing and sharing resources with member denominations: The Committee has produced annual "Honor education Sunday" resources.  We share these resources with member denominations.  One goal for the future is to learn what new resources can be developed to help congregations understand public education issues and work appropriately with neighborhood schools.
• Encouraging Dialogue: An important role of this committee is to encourage conversation, dialogue and new strategies in support of public education within the NCC and our constituencies.  In 1999, we held two dialogues on the proposed NCC statement on public education.  At the NCC's 50th Anniversary General Assembly, we sponsored a day-long forum: Public Education at the Edge of a New Millennium.

► See the General Assembly resolution, The Churches and Public School, adopted November 5, 2003, in Jackson, Miss.