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"What sets the connector apart are its deviated routes,' which benefit riders who can't get to an established bus stop, Kinney said. It offers riders the option of scheduling a pickup at their house or another location. A reservation 24 hours ahead of time is required, and the route is limited to two deviations per hour within a half-mile of the regular route."

"Gov. Jerry Brown has thrown down a gauntlet to California legislators, challenging them to dramatically change the way schools are funded -- by giving more new money to districts with a high percentage of low-income and English learners than to other districts."

"Rebuilding Together Washington County, a nonprofit based out of Beaverton, will provide supplies and labor to reroof the Meekins' house and repair dry rot in the floor. The countywide organization fixes up houses for low-income homeowners, with a particular focus on elderly or disabled citizens, veterans or families with children."

"A solid majority of Californians support Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to direct more funds to poor school districts and those with large enrollments of students learning English, according to a new poll."

"Sequestration already has forced cutbacks for the meals program that is a lifeline for some older residents. It will mean less money for our public schools with high percentages of low-income students. But it's Head Start that probably best illustrates the way we spend federal money, our generosity to older people and our stinginess to the young."

"The Off-to-College Campaign for homeless students begun in Tacoma last year is expanding this year to include students in four other Pierce County school districts: Puyallup, Bethel, Clover Park and Franklin Pierce. The goal is to help equip 100 local homeless youth with items they'll need at college: laptops, software, flash drives, sticky notes, highlighter pens, toiletries and more."

"Two Democrats and two Republicans are sponsors of a measure filed Monday that would create opportunity scholarship grants' of up to $4,200 per year for students whose families earn of up to three times the federal poverty level. The bill sets aside $90 million over two years for the program."

"The future of Bright Futures isn't all that bright. Tough new standards will keep significantly more high school graduates from obtaining the state's merit-based scholarship. It's almost as if to save Bright Futures, state leaders are going out of their way to destroy it, especially for minority and low-income students."

"Exact figures won't be known until May, but projected 5 percent to 10 percent reductions to Title I funding for low-income students, special education, Head Start and other programs for the 2013-14 school year could threaten funding for nearly 300 teacher and staff positions and may require trimming programs, district officials said."

"Jenna Keller Berdel, a strategy officer with the Lumina Foundation, an Indianapolis-based private foundation that focuses on getting more low-income students to enroll and complete college, said she hopes groups working to boost education focus on low-income students."

"All students deserve an equal opportunity to pursue a college education. State policymakers and Florida's public universities should be especially sensitive to the needs of black, Hispanic and other minority students, who attend many college campuses in numbers that remain far too low. However, the guidelines approved by Florida lawmakers in 2011 and set to take effect July 1 will ensure Bright Future's continued survival a highly uncertain outcome without this action."

"The bill would severely cut back exit tests, and lower the number of courses students must take in math and science. The proposed changes come as some policy experts are challenging the role of the advanced math in preparing students for college and career. But it has raised alarm from business leaders and national advocacy groups concerned about how the changes might affect academic achievement in the state, particularly for low-income and minority students."