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"No one seriously disputes the fact that students from disadvantaged households perform less well in school, on average, than their peers from more advantaged backgrounds. But rather than confront this fact of life head-on, our policy makers mistakenly continue to reason that, since they cannot change the backgrounds of students, they should focus on things they can control."

"'Especially in tight budget times, we have to set priorities, and Pell grants to help low-income students pay for college are a priority for me,' said U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn. 'But the growth of Pell grants by 76 percent over the last decade obviously can't continue at a time when Washington is borrowing 40 cents of every dollar it spends.'"

"The City Colleges of Chicago will announce Monday that it is partnering with private industry and academic institutions to provide mentors, train faculty and develop curricula to help prepare its students for jobs in aviation, hospitality, health care and information technology and other industries that are in need of job candidates."

"It makes you less ignorant -- you're not just living in a bubble," said Schaumburg High senior Brittany Tamason, who said she knows of some Schaumburg kids who won't even travel to downtown Chicago, let alone to Harvey, which is plagued by high poverty and a high crime rate.

"'They didn't have the money, didn't have the 40 cents for a reduced (price) meal.' He shakes his head. 'I missed it. I missed the hunger issue.'"

"Urban school districts such as Lawrence, Lynn, and Lowell have upwards of 70 percent of students receiving free or reduced-cost lunch, even in good economic times. But middle-class school districts, which traditionally have not had high demand, have also seen a steady increase in the number of low-income students eligible for free or reduced lunch, the statistics show."

"Elvira Rios Leyva had a soft spot for homeless people. 'Not only was she loving, but she was very giving,' said Fort Worth police officer Julie Cox, Leyva's granddaughter. 'She didn't have money, but she would give the shirt off her back, or she would open the doors of her house to the homeless so they could have a place to sleep.'"

"About one-fourth of Conard's students come from low- income homes and qualify for free or reduced- cost lunches, contrary to the perception that West Hartford is an overwhelmingly wealthy community."

"'I think the determination of the community not to have any more high-poverty schools has been made clear and the issue that we were engaged in civil disobedience about has been resolved,' he said. 'When you engage in civil disobedience, you are saying, 'I believe in this so deeply and it is so important for me to say so, for my conscience and my community, that I am willing to pay whatever price is required.'"

"Fewer than 20 percent of low-income and black CMS eighth-graders were rated proficient in either subject, falling far below white and middle-class counterparts. For instance, 16 percent of African-American eighth-graders in CMS scored as proficient in math, compared with 66 percent of white classmates. "

"'Recognizing a number of factors, including growing poverty in our community, the fact that we were able to hold the ground from our 2009 scores, that we remain a national leader in the student achievement, I was fairly gratified,' Miami-Dade Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said."

"The mayor never cites any research to support his claims about what's a good deal for students. Nor does he explain a sensible way to determine the bottom half of teachers the ones who would be sent packing."