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Bush Announces Federal Help for Faith-based and Community Groups

President Bush recently announced several new federal steps that will make it easier for faith-based and community groups to provide extra academic help to low-income students.

A Dec. 12 press release on the No Child Left Behind Web site at www.nochildleftbehind.gov/media/news/121202.html highlights the steps taken by the U.S. Department of Education under the landmark No Child Left Behind Act. Under the Act, federal funds may be used to give disadvantaged children who attend Title I-funded schools that are in need of improvement extra academic help, or "supplemental services." Supplemental services provide extra help before or after school, on weekends or during the summer, in reading, language arts and math.

The announcement says that faith-based and community groups may provide services to these students as long as they meet the criteria for approval of such providers and comply with the legal requirements that apply to faith-based organizations that receive government funds.

For details, visit www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/SASA/suppsvcsguid.doc. Information about President Bush's Faith-Based and Community Initiative can be found at www.fbci.gov.