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Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity leads research and consulting initiatives that identify and address barriers to economic well-being.
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State
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The Cincinnati Enquirer, May 05, 2014: (Op-Ed) Ohio's challenge: no more high-school dropouts
"The graduation gaps in Ohio merit an urgent response. The gap between white students and African-Americans in Ohio is 25 percentage points; among whites and Hispanics, it is 18 percentage points. If you are a student from a middle- or high-income family in Ohio, your chances of graduating on time are nearly 9 in 10. If you come from a low-income family or are a student with a disability, your chances are just 68 percent."
The Boston Globe, April 30, 2014: New school ratings bring criticism from charter backers
"The change, charter school advocates say, goes against the spirit of a four-year-old state law that aims to double charter-school enrollment in the lowest-performing districts, which tend to have the greatest concentration of high-needs students, such as those from low-income households."
The New York Times, April 29, 2014: Up in Years and All but Priced Out of New York
"Finding adequate housing has become an all-consuming preoccupation for many older New Yorkers, a group whose explosive growth and changing housing needs pose new challenges for the city. As serious as New York's affordable housing shortage has become, the squeeze has been perhaps harshest on older adults. At a certain age, substandard living conditions become less tolerable, walk-ups are no longer viable, even stabilized rents become too high, and the need for housing with special services grows."
The Thomaston Times, April 22, 2014: Free breakfast and lunch for students next school year under CEP program
"Starting in the 2014-2015 school year, all students in the Thomaston-Upson School System will receive free breakfast and lunch. That decision came at the Board of Education meeting on April 8 when the BOE voted unanimously to apply for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). The CEP allows schools that serve a large percentage of low-income children to offer free school meals to all students."
The Arizona Daily, April 21, 2014: TUSD leases space to preschool for children in poverty
"The Tucson Unified School District will lease unused space to an organization that will provide a preschool for children in poverty on the southwest side."
The Los Angeles Times, April 19, 2014: For LGBT seniors, affordable housing is scarce and often unwelcoming
"Leaders in Los Angeles' gay community say Herman's predicament is increasingly common. Though society has changed rapidly over the last several years and gay people overall feel greater acceptance, gay seniors face a unique set of challenges as they age, particularly when trying to find affordable housing."
The Stanton Island Live, April 17, 2014: Gov. Cuomo funds low-income housing for seniors on Staten Island
"Governor Andrew Cuomo on Thursday announced over $95 million in awards to build affordable housing across the state including $1.5 million for the Bay Street Senior Housing construction project in Stapleton."
2014 Building a Grad Nation
Earn to Learn: How States Can Reimagine and Reinvest in Work-Study to Help Low-Income Adults Pay for College, Enhance Their Academic Studies, and Prepare for Post-College Careers
The Times of San Diego, April 09, 2014: San Diego Unified Backs Higher Minimum Wage Locally
"The San Diego Unified School Districts board Tuesday threw its unanimous backing behind a proposal to ask voters in November to raise the minimum wage and require five paid sick days for all people working in San Diego."
