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"It's worth noting that living in a distressed neighborhood doesn't mean that all of the children are living in poverty, she said. That's because a distressed subdivision or multifamily complex could be in the same general neighborhood as a wealthy one. In Florida, 341,000 children reside in neighborhoods where at least 30 percent of the residents are impoverished."

"While the increase is indicative of higher poverty among Idaho families, the rise in enrollment also means Idaho schools receive more federal funding to pay for special programs and hire staff. Colleen Fillmore, state child nutrition director, blamed the struggling economy for the increase and said more Idaho families are in financial need than in previous years."

"'Our poverty level is about 50 percent,' Assistant Principal Ted Brinkley said. 'There are those students out there who come to school hungry and worry about where their next meal is coming from.'"

"Antioch residents age 60 and older are now charged 50 cents per ride. In return, the city will give its three buses back to the transit agency. Tri Delta Transit has applied for funding on Antioch's behalf since 1999 and passed the $275,000 subsidy to the city for the bus program. That will end Aug. 31.A program that gives free rides to low-income seniors to the Antioch Senior Center for lunch would remain, said Jeanne Krieg, Tri Delta's chief executive officer."

"Some argue that the top universities should pick up on Obama's theme and give an edge to high school students who come from low-income families, regardless of race or ethnic heritage. 'These campuses pride themselves on being liberal and racially diverse, but there are huge class inequalities,' said Richard Kahlenberg, a scholar at The Century Foundation in Washington."

"Critics say Noble is nickel-and-diming its mostly low-income students over insignificant, made-up infractions that force out students administrators don't want. `We think this just goes over the line...' said Julie Woestehoff, executive director of the Chicago advocacy group Parents United for Responsible Education..."

"About 96% need remedial math and English, and many are the first in their family to attend college. They grew up amid crime and poverty and graduated from local high schools that are among the lowest-performing in the state, he added."

"She was referring to families that are just above the poverty line so they can't qualify for Head Start, a federal program for preschool children from low-income families. Leatherbarrow said the college presidents' recommendations, which he said are expected out soon, could include a provision that people will pay according to their ability."

"It might be a lot easier to ignore the homeless if they stayed true to the public's perception. The stereotypical homeless person is supposed to be a bum with an alcohol and/or drug addiction who panhandles to feed his habit."

"As Humboldt County school districts prepare their budgets for next year, officials are trying to wrap their heads around a new proposal from the governor that would allocate additional funding to schools based on the number of low-income students and English-language learners."

"Nutrition supervisors said the number of students qualifying for the free and reduced meals program has risen sharply since 2007 -- along with the number of homeless and hungry students. In the Seaford school district, about 75 percent of students qualify for the FARMs program, an increase from about 55 percent of students five years ago, according to Dena King, coordinator of parent and family resources."

"As education groups battle over which California tax initiative would give the biggest boost to schools, advocates for low-income residents fear safety-net programs remain vulnerable no matter what happens on the ballot in November."