Latest Coverage
Find the latest stories, research, and insights on policies, programs, and ideas shaping the national conversation on poverty and economic mobility.
Subscribe to our newsletter for daily insights
Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity leads research and consulting initiatives that identify and address barriers to economic well-being.
Type
State
Issue
Chicago Tribune, October 24, 2012: Cleveland's charter school growth a cautionary tale for Chicago
"The Tribune compared Cleveland schools with high-poverty student populations, because all of the city's traditional schools and most charter schools serve large numbers of disadvantaged students. Sixty-four percent of traditional schools serving high-poverty populations got D and F academic ratings, compared with 32 percent for charter schools. Statewide, however, Ohio's high-poverty charters trailed, by a slight margin, the state's traditional public schools."
The Dallas Morning News, October 23, 2012: Texas public schools require more funding to serve Hispanics, expert testifies in finance trial
"A rapidly growing Hispanic enrollment will require the state and school districts to spend more money because so many of the students come from poor families, a population expert testified Tuesday."
The Advocate, October 23, 2012: School forum on challenges
"The Lafayette Parish School System should look for ways to diversify the student population on its campuses if it wants to improve achievement in its high-poverty schools, Lafayette City-Parish Council member Kenneth Boudreaux said during a Monday evening forum focused on the impact of poverty on schools."
The News-Messenger, October 23, 2012: Graduation rate of black males falls in Fremont schools, nationally
"In Fremont, an estimated 33.8 percent of the black population was living below poverty level from 2006 to 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Nearly the same number of Hispanics -- 32.5 percent -- in Fremont also were living below poverty level. Some students come from single-parent families where their lone parent works and relies on them to help around the house, care for younger siblings or get a job to pitch in, Jackson said. Students who have jobs that require a lot of hours sometimes have difficulty fitting in study time and homework, she said."
The Kansas City Star, October 23, 2012: KC district loses federal grant to help homeless students
"Past recordkeeping problems have come back to trouble Kansas City Public Schools and threaten the district's services for homeless students. The district has lost a $150,000 federal grant and this week let go of three of the five employees who had been on the homeless services team, including the program coordinator."
Detroit Free Press, October 23, 2012: Michigan's tougher graduation requirements leads to fewer graduating, study finds
"The study also reaffirmed the achievement gap that exists between low-income students and others when it comes to graduation. Low-income students are less likely to graduate within four years, and in some districts, the graduation rate for these students is 40-50% (Flint, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids), while in others it is closer to 70% (Southfield, Dearborn),' the study found."
The Houston Chronicle, October 23, 2012: Educating Hispanics crucial for state, demographer testifies in lawsuit
"Whether Texas prospers or gets pulled down by poverty hinges on educating the state's fastest-growing population - Hispanics - demographer Steve Murdock said Tuesday during opening testimony of a school funding lawsuit."
The Dallas Morning News, October 22, 2012: Attorney: Texas school funding 'hopelessly broken'
"The lawsuits were filed after the Legislature cut $4 billion in state funding to schools and another $1.4 billion for grant programs in 2011. The plaintiffs note the money was cut even though Texas' population has boomed and the number of low-income students has skyrocketed. Students from low-income families generally cost more to educate because many require instruction to learn English or participate in costly remedial programs outside the classroom."
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, October 21, 2012: School systems restore order for homeless students
"School districts do this for about 7,100 students across metro Atlanta every day and take other measures to preserve the students' privacy and self-esteem. The reason: The students are homeless."
Deseret News, October 21, 2012: Fighting poverty with education; hope for breaking the cycle of multi-generational poverty
"Education is the brightest hope for breaking the cycle of multi-generational poverty. But kids born to poor, under-educated parents aren't likely to succeed at school without help that targets their family situations, and that help is most needed during their earliest years."
The Washington Post, October 20, 2012: Homeless student population to crest 2,500 in Fairfax County for first time
"The number of homeless students in Fairfax County public schools is likely to surpass 2,500 by the end of this school year, according to school officials, what would be a new record for one of the most affluent communities in the nation."
The Olympian, October 20, 2012: Reading to kids now has a big effect later on
"Since its inception three years ago, the school-readiness project has reached more than 300 low-income families through parent classes and workshops, bilingual story time events twice monthly at the Rochester community center, family events with an early-literacy focus throughout the school year and referral services for families in need of social services and health care."
