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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 Houston Chronicle, August 23, 2012: Spring Branch ISD partners with KIPP, YES charters
"The partnership between SBISD, KIPP and YES Prep, known as SKY, was conceived to offer students choices, to use district campuses with low populations and to reach low-income students. Students could apply through the lottery for the schools regardless of family income. Both schools have longer school days and more days of instruction, key components of KIPP and YES Prep, created to offer a rigorous alternative with an emphasis on going to college to low-income and underserved kids."
Charlotte Observer, August 23, 2012: (Op-Ed) Reasons for hope in struggle to educate troubled CMS kids
"Some people enter the system with greater barriers to wellness than others. Similarly, some children start their academic journey with significant barriers to success like poverty, poor nutrition, housing instability and limited access to early literacy and enrichment experiences. Those children will need more from our school system and our community to avoid dropping out."
The Tennessean, August 23, 2012: 'Net cast against poverty in East Nashville neighborhood
"Any effort to help children pull themselves out of poverty through education would have a way, these days, to improve their access to the Internet, and a Nashville neighborhood has a cutting-edge idea for how to do it. A new proposal would put high-speed Internet connections and Web-surfing devices into 1,200 poor households in East Nashville at no cost to families."
Contra Costa Times, August 23, 2012: Donors rescue Tri-Valley Haven school supply giveaway
"A school supply giveaway in danger of an incomplete' grade was bolstered by Bay Area News Group readers who came to the rescue with generous donations of new backpacks, paper, pencils and cash. The yearly event organized by Tri-Valley Haven routinely draws more than 400 children from low-income families -- kindergartners through high schoolers -- in need of basic school supplies."
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 23, 2012: Cash prizes for schools that get more kids to eat breakfast
"Children in struggling families can qualify to receive federally funded free or reduced-priced breakfasts at school, yet students don't always have the time for serving lines and some schools don't offer them. Figures show that just over half of eligible low-income children in Missouri receive breakfast at school each day."
The San Diego Union-Tribune, August 23, 2012: Low-Income Seniors Have New Center To Use
"A free and all-inclusive program for low-income seniors recently launched in the South Bay. St. Paul's PACE opened its doors in Chula Vista on Aug. 1 to provide daytime living assistance for frail and low-income people 55 and older. The main goal of the state and federally funded program is to help seniors continue to live in their own homes for as long as possible, said Marketing Director Amanda Gois."
Tampa Bay Times, August 22, 2012: Pinellas Job Corps is short of capacity, but has enjoyed some successes
"Job Corps is a 48-year-old federal program funded by Congress and administered by the Department of Labor. The program provides free education and training to more than 100,000 low-income people ages 16 to 24 at 125 locations around the country. Students can earn a high school diploma or GED, get specific vocational training and get help in finding jobs."
Charlotte Observer, August 21, 2012: Panel tackles tough education topics
"Government spending, community support, two-parent families, race, poverty and economic segregation all play crucial roles in the success or failure of public education, panelists told about 400 people at an Access to America' forum at Central Piedmont Community College on Monday."
Los Angeles Times, August 21, 2012: The disabled may be hurt most by Paul Ryan's Medicare plan
"Many seniors are rightly concerned that Ryan, the conservative congressman tapped by Mitt Romney as his vice presidential running mate, has proposed a plan that could result in higher out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare coverage. But disabled people could be in for an even bigger shock. People with disabilities are among the most vulnerable of the Medicare population,' said Tricia Neuman, senior vice president of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation. They have chronic conditions that require ongoing care, and, in many cases, they have relatively low incomes.'"
The Philadelphia Inquirer, August 19, 2012: For low-income students, the battle for their votes may already be decided
"A Pell Grant provides money for low-income post-secondary students. In the last four years, the number of Pennsylvania students with Pell Grants has grown by 50 percent, according to data of the U.S. Department of Education. For many of them, the grants are essential for earning degrees and launching careers. The 300,000 or so 'Pell students' in Pennsylvania form a significant voting bloc. The battle for their votes, however, would seem to be already decided, if the Community College of Philadelphia is a barometer."
Dayton Daily News, August 19, 2012: Ohio makes up difference in low-income AP funding
"The Ohio Department of Education reached into its own pockets to close a funding gap for a program that helps low-income high school students pay for Advanced Placement tests after the government decreased its support. The Advanced Placement Test Fee Program, operated by the U.S. Department of Education, distributed $21.5 million in funds to states earlier this month to help low-income students pay the $87 per exam for last May's testing period. Ohio's share of $284,938 was a 25 percent decrease from last year, a much sharper drop than the 8 percent cut nationally."
The San Diego Union-Tribune, August 17, 2012: Plenty To Consider With Tech Devices
"Connect2Compete: An effort aimed at closing the digital divide for low-income students, Connect2Compete offers low-cost computers and inexpensive broadband Internet access to families with children in the federal school lunch program in San Diego."
