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"As states cut back on college support and grants, college tuitions have risen faster than the cost of homes, health care or energy. Americans believe a college education is key to their children's future, so more and more borrow what they can."

"At an event on Thursday, White House advisers Valerie Jarrett and Melody Barnes asserted that President Obama's economic policies have 'helped to keep millions of Americans from sliding into poverty.'"

"Less than 10 percent of its students are from low-income families, compared with 40 percent in its city. Maybe that has something to do with the fact that the school is allowed to ask (not require, it emphasizes) that every family donate $3,000 and 40 hours of volunteer time a year. "

"Moreno, the daughter of an illiterate Mexican bracero worker who worked the fields herself but graduated from high school, also blamed schools for failing to help the children of illegal immigrants graduate."

"The Oakland school district has no shortage of challenges to contend with, but its leaders lately have spent much of their time, energy and political capital on one contentious project: shrinking the school district down to a more manageable size."

"While the organization's Great Teachers Great Schools campaign looks to mobilize voters and tie their proposal to efforts to close achievement gaps between students from high-income and low-income families, the Massachusetts Teachers Association has ripped the plan as an effort to limit bargaining rights, diminish the role of seniority and experience in personnel decisions, and preclude part-time teachers from attaining professional status."

"With the launch of the Internet Essentials program, the company is offering these low-income parents a rate of $9.95 a month plus tax for at least three school years, a chance to buy a Dell or Acer netbook for about $150, and access to free digital literacy training."

"The Coalition of Large School Systems, a group that represents schools in Tennessee's four biggest cities, is taking on legislation that would give low-income families in Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville and Memphis thousands of dollars a year to attend private schools."

"Richard Milburn Academy, a charter school with 85 percent minority enrollment, has a 23 percent graduation rate. In 2009, 15 percent of all births in Dunbar were to teen mothers. This compares with 10 percent of all Lee County births. The unemployment rate in the predominantly low-income 33916 ZIP code is 28 percent."

"The competition is aimed at ensuring children - especially those with disabilities or other challenges - are prepared for kindergarten. Grants range from $50 million to $100 million. Virginia was eligible for as much as $60 million."

"Poverty rates increased for adults 55 to 64 but declined for those 65 and older, while low incomes were more prevalent in older age groups than younger ones. About one-third of workers 65 and older are in low-wage jobs - those that paid less than $10.20 per hour in 2007 or $11per hour in 2010."

"Only 4 percent of Memphis City Schools seniors are ready for college, based on scoring at least 19 on the ACT, the college entrance exam taken by district seniors. In other words, of 6,774 seniors, only 271 are college ready."