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 the 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 and years 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.

Building on the best practices and recognizing that children do not come in pieces, but in families and communities, the comprehensive Act to Leave No Child Behind gives the President, Congress, state and local officials and all Americans the opportunity to:

• Make sure that there is quality child care and Head Start for all eligible 3- and 4- year olds so that parents can work and children can go to school ready to learn.
• Lift every child from poverty; 50% by 2004; 100% by 2010.
• Ensure health coverage for all of America's uninsured children.
• End child hunger through the expansion of food programs.
• Additional funding to strengthen our education system by improving teacher training and quality, increasing public school accountability, reducing class size, and modernizing school facilities.
• Provide every child safe, quality after-school and summer programs so that children can learn, serve, work, and stay out of trouble.
• Ensure every child has a place called home in decent and affordable housing.
• Help to ensure that more children are in safe, nurturing, and permanent families. The Act would extend support to families before they suffer family breakdown and would help encourage permanency for children who cannot safely stay at home.
• Ensure families leaving welfare the support needed to be successful in the workplace, including health care, child care, education, and training.

The estimated $75 billion annual investment for the Act to Leave No Child Behind would ensure basic investments in our children’s health, education, social development and security in their homes and communities. This investment equals less than seven-tenths of one percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product in 2003. This is also less than the tax giveaway for the top one percent in the 2001 tax bill when fully phased in.

To join the Leave No Child Behind Movement, please contact Ron Browder by phone at (614) 221-2244 or via email to rbrowder@cdfohio.org

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