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"'Participation has continued to increase as more low-income and first-generation students see college as a viable option,' Patterson said. 'This is a trend that has been documented throughout the entire CSU system.'"

"The problem will continue to grow next year, when thousands of families lose jobless benefits and other cash assistance. Despite scarce resources, school districts and the state must do more to reduce the number of homeless students and ensure that those who are homeless graduate and succeed."

"Just as the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans gobble up a disproportionate share of the nation's economic resources and rejigger our institutions to funnel them benefits and power, so too do our educational 1 percent suck up a disproportionate share of academic opportunities, and threaten to reconfigure academic culture so that it both mimics and serves their values."

"Stubbornly high unemployment has increased the share of low-income students at local schools by 19 percentage points over the last decade, from 29 percent to 48 percent. Thirty-nine percent of Lakeview's students were low-income last fall, a 30-point hike over the 2000 count."

"Sandia Base sits behind the security perimeter of Kirtland Air Force Base. About 10 percent of its 525 students come from low-income neighborhoods outside the base, and 90 percent come from families on base with an active-duty member in the military."

"Local philanthropic leaders launched the project a year ago, vowing to pump $11 million a year for five years into the struggling schools, which serve mostly African-American and low-income students."

"The foundation is based at Mr. Kass's own school, Infinity Math, Science and Technology High School, one of four high schools that are part of the Little Village Lawndale High School campus. The location makes sense, Mr. Kass said, because public schools were an ideal place to provide legal services to low-income families."

"The findings may be cited in a court battle looming over state-funded pre-kindergarten for low-income children. For months, Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue and Republican leaders in the legislature have been at odds over funding for preschool for 4-year-olds."

"The audit of the state's Office of Early Learning found more than 16,000 cases in which people received both subsidized child care -- meant to help low-income residents afford daycare while they worked -- and state unemployment benefits."

"New District 201 Superintendent Jeff Dosier said Wednesday that one of his top priorities is to close the achievement gap between white and black students. Dosier said a recent slip in the district's state report card scores are in part because of a gap between the achievement levels of its black and white students."

"In Green Bay, 3.3 percent of high school students dropped out in 2009-10, according to the most recently available data from the state Department of Public Instruction. That's higher than the statewide 2.2 percent average."

"One in eight children in Michigan lives in a household grappling with job loss and one in every 20 has had his or her life disrupted by a home foreclosure. This year, as in previous years, creating an economic climate that leads to more jobs remains the top priority for our governor and lawmakers. An emphasis on educating kids and putting their parents back to work is the best weapon for fighting poverty."