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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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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, November 03, 2012: (Blog) Fewer poor kids attend charter schools in metro area. Does that matter to you?
"Charter schools educate a smaller proportion of metro Atlanta's impoverished students than the public school systems in which those charters are located, a new analysis by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution shows."
The Tennessean, November 02, 2012: Metro schools' achievement gap is tough to close
"Metro schools are unusual in the high number of low-income students they serve, Kindall said, adding that research proves poverty has a big impact on education. But Kindall also says the school system hasn't focused the proper amount of energy on the problem."
Los Angeles Times, November 02, 2012: Rural community colleges face distinct challenges
"Yet changes to the core mission of California's community colleges threaten that role. State efforts to ease overcrowding and help colleges adapt to budget cuts are backfiring in rural districts already burdened by vast territories, withered economies, high poverty rates and dwindling populations. Rather than serving lifelong learners,' the state's 112 colleges have been directed to focus on students seeking to acquire such basic skills as English, transfer to four-year schools or earn associate degrees or certificates."
The Washington Post, November 01, 2012: (Blog) Why not a Jefferson High for poor kids?
"While we wonder what should be done about our region's most demanding public high school - Thomas Jefferson- having only 3 percent of its students from poor families, let's consider a different experiment in selective education. What if we created a school that gave as challenging an academic experience as Jefferson's to a student body that was 100 percent low-income?"
Times-Picayune, October 31, 2012: John White outlines plans for Louisiana's pre-k programs
"As things stand, the state does not fund pre-kindergarten for Louisiana children the way it does primary and secondary school. Parents above a certain income level generally have to pay for it on their own and a variety of different programs offer subsidies for providers that cater to low-income students, including the federal government's Head Start program and the state's LA4 Early Childhood Program. In all, the Department of Education estimates that 42,000 4-year-olds from low-income families are enrolled in one of these programs in Louisiana, out of a total of about 44,000."
The Bradenton Herald, October 31, 2012: (Editorial) A strong case for taking more stock in children
"This simple concept has been working wonders for years: Pave the road to success for low-income and at-risk youth by promising to pay for college. Ensure that commitment with a student's pledge to keep up good grades, obey the law and join a mentoring program. Take Stock in Children does exactly as its name implies, investing in the next generation of American citizens."
Statesman Journal, October 30, 2012: Reading program celebrates landmark book donation
"Start Making a Reader Today, or SMART, has given away 2 million books to at-risk children in the past two decades. The nonprofit seeks volunteers to read one-on-one with children around the state."
Plain Dealer, October 30, 2012: Cleveland schools' spending per student ranks high, but so do students' needs
"The district is listed as having 100 percent poverty, since the state uses free or reduced lunch eligibility as its measure. Gordon said that not every Cleveland student is poor, but the district and federal government stop measuring once they hit the point where the entire district qualifies. Even at the 85 percent qualifying rate, Cleveland has poverty rates far above the 53 percent countywide, 43 percent statewide and even above the 82 percent in Columbus and 70 percent in Cincinnati."
Sacramento Bee, October 30, 2012: Edge Water Apartments officially open; last state-funded Sacramento redevelopment project
"But today is the official ribbon-cutting and open house at the renamed Edge Water Apartments the renovated affordable housing building for low-income seniors at 626 I St. The project marks the last of the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency's share of state redevelopment funds."
The Houston Chronicle, October 30, 2012: Texas schools face an $8 billion dilemma
"The new accountability standards are hitting low-income students the hardest. Only 40 percent of them have passed all of the ninth-grade tests, which are required for high school graduation. The number of low-income students increases each year and now makes up more than 60 percent of Texas' 5 million K-12 public school enrollment."
Star Tribune, October 30, 2012: Minneapolis homeless pupils lag in math
"Homelessness among Minneapolis students stunts their growth in math and can leave them behind their peers in math and reading for years, according to a long-term study released Tuesday by the University of Minnesota."
The Detroit News, October 29, 2012: DPS helping students see their way to college
"It's a sea change at DPS and for these schools, where less than half the students graduate and 40 percent or fewer attend postsecondary institutions. This fall, DPS launched its Detroit Rising College Prep Schools to put students in high-poverty areas on the path to college at the same rate as suburban schools."
