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"Instead of just placing a heavy emphasis on outputs' of the educational system test scores and graduation rates the nation also must focus on inputs,' or what it invests in schools, said Stanford University's Linda Darling-Hammond, one of 20 academics who contributed to the book, Closing the Opportunity Gap.'"

"A House panel has approved legislation that would strip some welfare benefits for families whose children don't meet school attendance requirements."

"A partnership between the nonprofit Monarch School Project and the San Diego County Office of Education, the unusual educational program serves students from kindergarten through high school who are affected by homelessness. San Diego is one of just four counties nationwide to be given permission from the federal government to run public schools specifically for homeless students."

"Across Illinois, the state counted some 1 million low-income students more than twice the federal numbers in calculating poverty payments to districts, a Tribune review of school finance data shows."

"After launching a successful San Diego pilot program last year to bring low-cost broadband service and computers into the homes of needy K-12 students, Cox Communications is expanding the effort to all the markets it serves in the state."

"After browsing the 30 or so projects on display in the White House's public rooms and the East Garden, Mr. Obama said he was committed to giving students the resources they need to pursue education in the disciplines, collectively known as STEM. Earlier, the White House announced efforts aimed at increasing participation in those fields, particularly among female and minority students, as well as those from low-income and military families."

"Berger's efforts are paying off. Reagan High is the best urban high school in the Houston area, according to the latest rankings by the nonprofit Children at Risk. The category is limited to campuses where at least 74 percent of students are from low-income families."

"A 2010 study by the Mayor's Commission for Children showed one out of every five local children is "not prepared" for kindergarten. That number is even higher among children in families that straddle the poverty line. Children without quality early childhood experiences lack the social, emotional and basic academic skills necessary to function in a classroom setting so they can participate, follow simple instructions and learn alongside their peers."

"We know that our K-12 public school system gets its best results when children arrive ready to learn. That requires protecting and enhancing quality early learning programs, like Working Connections Child Care and the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, which provide education, health, nutrition and other services to low-income children."

"While the number of children living in the U.S. has grown, the ratio of children to adults has decreased and the number of children living in poverty has increased significantly. The racial and ethnic composition of the nation's children continues to change. In Sauk Rapids-Rice, as many as 42 percent of our students qualify for free and/or reduced lunch and/or are living in poverty. As a result of successful partnerships with parents and community members and our wise utilization of resources for our children, we have been able to demonstrate our commitment to the success of all students and families despite increasing needs."

"For low-income families, though, the challenges of summer child care are harder to surmount, even if children can be enrolled in day camps that accept payment on a sliding scale based on income. Families with children under 15 who live below the poverty line spend a whopping 30 percent of their monthly income on child care, the census survey showed."

"For years, the Legislature has made it clear to public universities that enrolling and graduating more California students - especially low-income students of color - is a priority for the state. But it has never attached those values to actual funding."