This document outlines an initiative by the 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church to improve education for 1 million children in the US and globally by 2020. It provides statistics on poverty rates and educational outcomes for children in the US. The initiative will focus on strengthening early childhood education and decreasing dropout rates, including addressing the school-to-prison pipeline. The document encourages congregations to get involved through activities like tutoring, donating supplies, and advocating for legislation. It provides resources for congregations and asks for their support of the initiative.

1. Educate A Child…Educate A Child…
Transform The WorldTransform The World

2. 1 out of 5 children in the United1 out of 5 children in the United
States lives in poverty.States lives in poverty.
For children of color, the number isFor children of color, the number is
1 out of 3.1 out of 3.
The Children’s Defense Fund, “The State of America’s Children”, 2014.

3. Every 9 seconds, a student drops outEvery 9 seconds, a student drops out
of high school.of high school.
Every 2 seconds, a public schoolEvery 2 seconds, a public school
student is suspended.student is suspended.
The Children’s Defense Fund, “The State of America’s Children”, 2014.

4. In 2013, nearly 60% of all 4In 2013, nearly 60% of all 4thth
and 8and 8thth
grade public school students couldgrade public school students could
not read or compute at grade level.not read or compute at grade level.
Nearly 75% of Latin@ students…Nearly 75% of Latin@ students…
Over 80% of Black students…Over 80% of Black students…
The Children’s Defense Fund, “The State of America’s Children”, 2014.

5. 1 in 3 African American boys born in1 in 3 African American boys born in
2001 (14 years old) will be incarcerated2001 (14 years old) will be incarcerated
in his lifetime.in his lifetime.
In 2008, states spent on average nearlyIn 2008, states spent on average nearly
3 times as much per prisoner as they did3 times as much per prisoner as they did
per public school student.per public school student.
The Children’s Defense Fund, “America’s Cradle to Prison Pipeline Report”, 2008.

6. The Biblical and Theological ProblemThe Biblical and Theological Problem
- God who executes justice for the poor, the- God who executes justice for the poor, the
widow, and the orphan – and who calls us to dowidow, and the orphan – and who calls us to do
the same!the same!
-Jesus’ vision of abundant life, good news for-Jesus’ vision of abundant life, good news for
the poor.the poor.
-Jesus’ care for children – “Let them come to-Jesus’ care for children – “Let them come to
me…”, healing children.me…”, healing children.
-Jesus the Rabbi – the Teacher!-Jesus the Rabbi – the Teacher!

7. 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 study- Calvin in Geneva: Literacy essential to Bible study
and citizenshipand citizenship
- Presbyterian Mission in the U.S. and around the- Presbyterian Mission in the U.S. and around the
world: Legacy of schools, colleges, and seminariesworld: Legacy of schools, colleges, and seminaries
- Baptismal Vows to care for children- Baptismal Vows to care for children

8. ““...better for you to have a millstone...better for you to have a millstone
hung about your neck…than to causehung about your neck…than to cause
the little ones to stumble.”the little ones to stumble.”
Matthew 18:1-6Matthew 18:1-6

9. The 221The 221stst
General AssemblyGeneral Assembly
(Detroit 2014)(Detroit 2014)
…Launches a churchchwide initiative to…Launches a churchchwide initiative to
inspire, equip and connectinspire, equip and connect
……to improve the quality of education forto improve the quality of education for
1,000,0000 children in the U.S. and globally1,000,0000 children in the U.S. and globally
by 2020.by 2020.

10. Globally –Globally –
World Mission acts with MissionWorld 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 levels*Improve training for teachers at all levels
*Create a safe environment for learning*Create a safe environment for learning
especially for girlsespecially for girls

11. Nationally –Nationally –
Compassion, Peace and JusticeCompassion, Peace and Justice
acts to:acts to:
*Identify the strengths and models of current*Identify the strengths and models of current
educational missioneducational 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 foreducational advocacy, especially for
poor children.poor children.

12. CURRENTCURRENT DIRECT CONGREGATIONALDIRECT CONGREGATIONAL
EDUCATIONAL WORKEDUCATIONAL WORK
Host Scouting Program 50%
Operate/House Preschool 40%
Mentoring/Tutoring Program 22%
Operate/House K-12 School 5%

13. Two FociTwo Foci
1)1) Strengthen Early ChildhoodStrengthen Early Childhood
EducationEducation
2)2) Decrease Drop Out RateDecrease Drop Out Rate
• Including addressing the “Cradle to PrisonIncluding addressing the “Cradle to Prison
Pipeline”)Pipeline”)

14. The Cradle to Prison PipelineThe Cradle to Prison Pipeline

16. A Grassroots Initiative…fromA Grassroots Initiative…from
Louisville?Louisville?
 ResourcesResources
 Training EventsTraining Events
 Telling congregations’ storiesTelling congregations’ stories
 Awareness and consciousness raisingAwareness and consciousness raising
 Networking – by area, issue, etc.Networking – by area, issue, etc.

17. The Educate A Child ToolkitThe Educate A Child Toolkit
Available online and for free downloadAvailable online and for free download
at:at:
http://www.presbyterianmission.org/minishttp://www.presbyterianmission.org/minis
tries/child/toolkit/tries/child/toolkit/

18. The Educate A Child ToolkitThe Educate A Child Toolkit
http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/chttp://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/c
hild/toolkit/hild/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 informationKeep in Touch! Key links and contact information
•BibliographyBibliography

19. Things You and YourThings 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 learningeducation, and/or learning
retention programretention program
 Form or upgrade an earlyForm or upgrade an early
childhood centerchildhood center

20. Things You and YourThings You and Your
Congregation Can DoCongregation Can Do
 Go to school board meetings andGo to school board meetings and
learn about issues affecting yourlearn about issues affecting your
communitycommunity
 Get involved in your school board,Get involved in your school board,
PTA/PTO, and other schoolPTA/PTO, and other school
organizationsorganizations
 Buy and donate children’s booksBuy and donate children’s books
to family homeless sheltersto family homeless shelters

21. Things You and YourThings You and Your
Congregation Can DoCongregation Can Do
 Build or improve a schoolBuild or improve a school
playgroundplayground
 Pack backpacks with school suppliesPack backpacks with school supplies
 Become a “big brother/sister” to anBecome a “big brother/sister” to an
at-risk childat-risk child
 Attend school functions such asAttend school functions such as
plays,plays, concerts, sporting events,concerts, sporting events,
fundraisers,fundraisers, and open housesand open houses

22. Things You and YourThings You and Your
Congregation Can DoCongregation Can Do
 Start a Freedom School in yourStart a Freedom School in your
congregationcongregation
 Learn about the “Cradle toLearn about the “Cradle to
PrisonPrison Pipeline”Pipeline”
 Get involved with EnglishGet involved with English
Language Learners programs –Language Learners programs –
or start a class at your churchor start a class at your church

23. Things You and YourThings You and Your
Congregation Can DoCongregation Can Do
 Learn about the demographicLearn about the demographic
datadata in your community, such asin your community, such as
property levels and dropout rateproperty levels and dropout rate
 Develop relationships with theDevelop relationships with the
educators in your communityeducators in your community
 Advocate for legislation forAdvocate for legislation for
schoolsschools that are equitable andthat are equitable and
high quality –high quality –

24. The Pentecost OfferingThe Pentecost Offering

25. Walk with us in this InitiativeWalk with us in this Initiative

26. 1.) Tell Us What You’re Doing1.) Tell Us What You’re Doing
 Send us your stories! – emailSend us your stories! – email
ginna.bairby@pcusa.org. For guidelines,ginna.bairby@pcusa.org. For guidelines,
see:see:
http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministhttp://www.presbyterianmission.org/minist
ries/child/vignette-guidelines/ries/child/vignette-guidelines/
 Connect us with Presbyterians involvedConnect us with Presbyterians involved
inin education – and them with eacheducation – and them with each
otherother
 Goal: “Educate a Child” CovenantGoal: “Educate a Child” Covenant
CongregationsCongregations

27. 2.) Keep Up With What We’re2.) Keep Up With What We’re
DoingDoing
 Spread the word about the initiative!Spread the word about the initiative!
 Become part of the network we’reBecome part of the network we’re
forming – email ginna.bairby@pcusa.orgforming – email ginna.bairby@pcusa.org
 Look for upcoming leadershipLook for upcoming leadership
trainingstrainings
(http://www.presbyterianmission.org/mi(http://www.presbyterianmission.org/mi
nistries/child/leadership-training-nistries/child/leadership-training-
opportunities/)opportunities/)
 Invite us to speak at gatherings,Invite us to speak at gatherings,
congregations, presbytery events – emailcongregations, presbytery events – email

28. 2.) Keep Up With What We’re2.) Keep Up With What We’re
DoingDoing
 Educate a Child Events at GA inEducate a Child Events at GA in
PortlandPortland
 Stay tuned for upcoming webinarsStay tuned for upcoming webinars
 Visit pcusa.org/childVisit pcusa.org/child

29. 3.) Financial Support for the3.) Financial Support for the
InitiativeInitiative
 Give Directly – ECO – E052178 (or theGive Directly – ECO – E052178 (or the
“Donate” button on the website –“Donate” button on the website –
pcusa.org/childpcusa.org/child
 Take up offerings at events to supportTake up offerings at events to support
thethe initiative as a whole or particularinitiative as a whole or particular
projectsprojects
 Pentecost Offering – 40% stays withPentecost Offering – 40% stays with
youryour congregation to do exactly thiscongregation to do exactly this
kind ofkind of work!work!

30. Questions?Questions?
pcusa.org/child