The mission of the Children's Defense Fund Action Council is to "Leave No Child Behind," to do what is necessary to meet the needs of children and their parents, and to ensure a healthy, safe, fair, and moral start in life for all children. This guide examines the negative impact of the George W. Bush administration's budget and policy on these goals. The guide's foreword analyzes effects of the Bush administration's budget on children and steps the public can take to protect and invest in rather than hurt children. Part 1 of the guide outlines our investment choices as a nation. Part 2 outlines the key provision of the comprehensive Dodd-Miller Act to Leave No Child Behind, important victories to date, and how this act differs from the Bush Administration's No Child Left Behind Act. Part 3 describes the gap between the Bush administration's compassionate rhetoric and actual policy toward children. Part 4 provides state-by-state tables on child poverty, child health coverage, and state spending per public school pupil and per prisoner. The guide's appendix lists resources and key action dates. (HTH)