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"The looming cuts, if they occur, are expected to hit hard in New Jersey's public schools and Head Start classrooms. David Sciarra, executive director of the Newark-based Education Law Center, said one analysis said special education could lose more than $18 million in New Jersey; Head Start programs could be cut by $7.6 million; and Title 1 funds -- which pay for basic skills programs for poor and struggling children -- could be cut by nearly $16 million."

"Too often, Daughtry said, legislative sessions bring many ideas that are bright shiny toys' -- educational initiatives that are exciting but lack funding or take money from bread-and-butter needs at the district level."

Amy Dworsky, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago and Christopher Luecke, Added Chance

"Only weeks after New Hampshire launched its education tax credit program to create private school scholarships for low-income students, it's in danger. An initiative led a year ago by Republican lawmakers has come under attack in the Democratic-led House."

"The various ways in which poverty at home affects a child at school include physical and mental challenges. All can damage a child's overall well-being. The impact of poverty on a child depends on his or her home environment and attitude toward his situation, said Lynn Troutman, a counselor at James Buchanan High School, Tuscarora Area School District. Effects can include poor nutrition, dressing inappropriately for the weather, sleepiness, incomplete assignments and more issues that can cause a student to lack focus in the classroom or not comprehend material."

"In the most significant change in four decades in how school dollars would be distributed, Brown is proposing to give all districts a base grant, then add an extra 35% of that for each student who is low-income, struggling with English or in foster care. If such students make up more than 50% of a district's population, another 35% supplement would be given."

"Assistance to college-ready, low-income students is Oregon's second capacity problem. Tuition and fees at Oregon's public universities have increased 50 percent since 2005, and too many students are locked out because of price, lack of information or both. Oregon must do more to highlight aid that's already available."

"Read to Succeed Buffalo will receive $495,000 to support its early childhood literacy programs from the John R. Oishei Foundation. The foundation announced the three-year commitment today, aimed at boosting early learning opportunities to help decrease poverty and help individuals become self-sufficient."

"The Harold Simmons Foundation will give $5 million over four years to Uplift Education, North Texas' largest charter school network. [] Yasmin Bhatia, Uplift Education's CEO, said that just 11 percent of today's low-income students will graduate from college. We believe that all students, regardless of socioeconomic status, deserve the opportunity to attend college, be successful while there and graduate,' she said. This generous gift from the Harold Simmons Family Foundation will be felt immediately by thousands of students as we add schools in Dallas.'"

"Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to change how state education dollars are distributed would give a big financial boost to some Inland school districts, according to new estimates. But in other districts, particularly those in southwest Riverside County, the increases would be much smaller. Brown's goal is to help schools with bigger challenges, such as educating those who don't speak English or who live in poverty. But it also would create wide division in funding levels among Inland districts."

"Low-income seniors in the Whittier neighborhood of Sioux Falls soon will have another option for affordable housing: High(land) Five, a row of one-bedroom housing units at Highland Avenue and Fifth Street."

"Students will be required to work five days monthly in entry-level jobs to help finance their tuition, which averages about $1,000 a year at existing Cristo Rey schools across the country, Garrett said. Enrollment will be limited to children from families with low incomes below $35,000 for a family of four."