wfn.org | Public School - Religious Partner Guidelines

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Contact: NCC News, 212-870-2227
Email: news@ncccusa.org  Web: www.ncccusa.org

84NCC7/13/99    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WHAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS, RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS CAN DO TOGETHER

 NEW YORK - Despite their different missions, public 
schools and religious institutions can do much together to 
enhance the well-being of children, according to new 
guidelines on public school-religious community 
partnerships.

 The National Council of Churches is among 14 co-signers 
of the guidelines, just published by the American Jewish 
Congress, Christian Legal Society and First Amendment 
Center.

 "Public Schools and Religious Communities: A First 
Amendment Guide," released on July 7, describes the many 
collaborative efforts possible under the First Amendment to 
enhance the mission of public education, while ensuring the 
necessary public school neutrality concerning religion.

The new guide "will provide useful information to 
thousands of schools and faith communities across the nation 
as they seek to work cooperatively for children," said the 
Rev. Oliver Thomas, NCC Special Counsel for Religious and 
Civil Liberties, who helped write the guidelines.  

Examined are general principles for cooperative 
arrangements, with specific attention to crisis counseling, 
mentoring programs and shelters.  Guidelines also are 
included for school use of facilities owned by religious 
institutions and released-time religious education.

"Through literacy classes, before and after-school 
programs for latchkey kids, tutoring, adopt-a-school 
programs and the like, churches can provide invaluable 
resources to neighborhood schools," he said.  "This new set 
of consensus guidelines will provide a blueprint for 
structuring such creative partnerships in ways that are both 
constitutionally permissible and educationally sound."

The NCC, with 35 Protestant and Orthodox member 
communions, is in the process of reviewing its own proposed 
new policy statement, "The Churches and the Public Schools 
at the Close of the 20th Century."  Approved on "first 
reading" by the NCC's General Assembly last November, it is 
set for final action this November.

Besides the NCC and the three organizations that 
published "Public Schools and Religious Communities: A First 
Amendment Guide," co-signers are the American Association of 
School Administrators, Association for Supervision and 
Curriculum Development, Baptist Joint Committee on Public 
Affairs, Council on Islamic Education, National Association 
of Evangelicals, National Association of Elementary School 
Principals, National Association of Secondary School 
Principals, National PTA, National School Boards Association 
and United States Catholic Conference.
 -0-