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"Kentucky showed one of the largest drops in the percentage of uninsured adults since expanded Medicaid went into effect last January, according to a recent Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index poll. The latest state figures show that 512,000 Kentuckians were newly enrolled in health coverage, with nearly three-fourths of them qualifying under Medicaid expansion that happened as part of the Affordable Care Act. One-fourth purchased private insurance through the state-based marketplace, kynect."

"Fifty years ago, at a time when one-fifth of all American families could not afford even their most basic needs, the task of providing citizens with opportunities to succeed became the nation's foremost priority. On Aug. 20, 1964, the Economic Opportunity Act was signed into law, marking the official declaration of our War on Poverty. Now half a century later, we are losing that war. Lower-than-average educational attainment levels, high unemployment and low median average household income levels have led to higher unadjusted poverty levels. Statistically, one in four children today live below the poverty line."

"Released on July 7, the report revealed that black and Latinos are more likely to work and remain in high-poverty, hard-to-staff urban schools and districts than their white counterparts; in fact, they often consider it their duty to do so."

"Chicago's mayor got another national stage to tout his push for an increased minimum wage and expanded earlier educational opportunities as he works to gain the support of liberals whom he has often viscerally disdained. That it came just six months before Emanuel will ask Chicago voters to give him a second term was not lost on his potential opponents."

"The reason, the study concludes, is not a lack of motivation or even money, but a lack of key community and high school resources, such as mentors, tutors and access to challenging classes that are available to children from wealthier households. Without these key supports, the report notes, students from low-income homes are significantly less likely to find the path to college and are more likely to struggle if they get there."

Commentary: Terry Laudick and Robin Brule, New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union

"Wichita will not participate in a new program that would offer free meals to every student regardless of family income at least not this school year, officials said."

"In too many inner-city neighborhoods, schools are dead-ends. Instead of equipping poor children with the skills they need to escape poverty, bad schools lower their expectations and sink their hopes."

"For several years, early childhood professionals have thrown around the number 30 million words. That is the difference between the words children from high-income families hear versus the number children in poverty hear."