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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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U.S. News, July 11, 2012: Healthcare Law Expands Coverage, Funding for Students
"The Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act last month, giving President Obama's signature legislative accomplishment a legal seal of approval."
The News Journal, July 11, 2012: (Op-Ed) Charter schools built on freedom of choice
"Like the students at Kuumba Academy who are exceeding state standards, with 98% of students classified as low-income-they are closing the achievement gap. Or the extraordinary young men at Prestige Academy, most of whom come from impoverished, crime-ridden areas of the state, who collectively scored a 92% proficiency rate on this year's Delaware Comprehensive Assessment System (DCAS)."
Beginning Teachers Are More Common in Rural, High-Poverty, and Racially Diverse Schools
Ventura County Star, July 9, 2012: All settled in at last Vet trades homelessness for housing
"As a veteran who has emerged from chronic homelessness, Stone symbolizes the success federal officials would like to repeat. In a plan called Opening Doors, the government has set a goal of preventing and ending homelessness for veterans by the middle of the decade."
The Associated Press, July 6, 2012: No Child Left Behind waivers going to Wash., Wis.
"Members of both parties agree the No Child Left Behind law is broken but have been unable to agree on how to fix it. While it has been praised for focusing on the performance of minorities, low-income students, English language learners and special education students, it has also led to a number of schools being labeled as 'failing.'"
The Montgomery Advertiser, July 5, 2012: (Opinion) 'Flexible' calendar won't help summer learning loss
"Three months away from school, especially for low-income children, contributes to what educators call an 'achievement gap' that puts those disadvantaged children behind their peers by the end of the summer vacation. The gap begins before children enter kindergarten and continues to widen year by year."
Tuscaloosa News, July 5, 2012: Grants means $1M each for three Tuscaloosa schools
"The U.S. Department of Education said three Tuscaloosa city schools will each receive federal grants totaling more than $1 million. According to the Tuscaloosa News, the 'school improvement' grant is meant to aid schools that are considered as persistently low-achieving, high in poverty and high in academic need."
Wausau Daily Herald, July 5, 2012: Summer reading easier with D.C. Everest's traveling library
"The sites were chosen because the neighborhoods have a high number of students who qualify for free- and reduced-price school meals, and Antell said that children from low-income families are less likely to have books at home."
Newsday, July 5, 2012: Summer is the weak link in U.S. education
"Low-income students tend to suffer more summer learning loss, according to sociologists from Johns Hopkins University who tracked 800 Baltimore students over 20 years. The better-off kids retained more over the summer break. Their minds were stimulated by trips to the library, to museums and concerts, and out-of-town vacations. They participated in organized sports and lessons."
The New York Times, July 4, 2012: More Schools Are Not Poor, Not Rich, Just Squeezed
"A school must have at least 60 percent of its students below the poverty rate, defined as eligible for free school lunches, to qualify for Title 1 money; P.S. 9's rate dropped to 59.1 percent."
Dayton Daily News, July 4, 2012: Dems call on Kasich to funnel rainy day funds back into schools
"Ohio Medicaid costs $18 billion a year in state and federal funds and covers 2.1 million disabled and low-income Ohioans. The Kasich administration reported Tuesday that lower caseloads and other changes led to $535 million less in Medicaid spending last year than anticipated, helping bolster the state coffers."
The Cincinnati Enquirer, July 1, 2012: Kids to eat free in Newport schools
"The program provides free meals to all students in schools in which 40 percent or more of the students receive food stamps or some other form of public aid. All three schools in Newport easily exceed that percentage. As a district, 86 percent are living at or below the federal poverty level."
