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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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The Dallas Morning News, November 13, 2011: Teach for America teachers leaving Dallas ISD exceed national attrition rate
"Such attrition is a major criticism of the Teach for America program by those who contend the rookie educators, often called corps members, don't remain in the profession long enough to make a difference. TFA's attrition rate in DISD exceeds the national rate of teachers in high-poverty schools who leave after two years."
The Bradenton Herald, November 12, 2011: Support grows for Bradenton Elks student food program
"The Elks Foundation donated another $10,000 grant, making it $20,000 for this year.Started just last January to provide meals over the weekend for homeless children through a backpack program, the Bradenton 'Elks Feeding Empty Little Tummies,' is making headway, said project manager Jeff Mitchell."
The Star-Ledger, November 13, 2011: A new option for seniors who prefer to stay at home
"Many villages have subsidized memberships for those who can't afford the full price of a membership. Beacon Hill, for example, charges $640 for an individual membership and $925 for a household, but low-income members pay $110 for an individual or $160 for a household."
The Associated Press, November 12, 2011: Wealth gap widens between young, old
"A new census measure released recently shows the poverty rate to be higher than previously known -- about 15.9 percent for Americans 65 or older, compared to the official 9 percent rate reported in September."
St. Petersburg Times, November 10, 2011: Schools see rise in poverty
"Just three years ago, Pine View Elementary had 23.9 percent of its students qualified for free or reduced-price meals, a widely accepted indicator of poverty in schools. That ranked it ninth lowest among the Pasco County school district's 44 elementary schools."
The Washington Post, November 10, 2011: Obama seeks support, ideas on black unemployment, housing, education
"President Barack Obama acknowledged on Wednesday that black Americans have faced "enormous challenges" with unemployment under his watch, and appealed for their support in pursuing solutions that he can implement without help from Congress."
Los Angeles Times, November 10, 2011: Relief from No Child Left Behind too expensive, state officials say
"It would cost cash-strapped California at least $2 billion to meet the requirements for relief from the federal No Child Left Behind law, state officials reported Wednesday to the California Board of Education."
New York Times, November 9, 2011: Progress, but Still a Race Gap
"The hardships for many of that generation's older blacks have indeed followed their children, now entering old age. In revisiting the 1964 'Double Jeopardy report, we see that older black people are faring better economically, but there are gaps and inequalities that have not been closed."
The Boston Globe, November 9, 2011: Poverty worsening in Hub, study says
"Poverty has deepened in Boston's poorest neighborhoods, widening the gap between the city's wealthiest and neediest residents, a report being released today finds."
The New York Times, November 9, 2011: Head Start Is Given New Rules for Grants
"President Obama visited a schoolhouse in this suburb of Philadelphia on Tuesday to announce stricter financing standards for the government's Head Start program, which offers preschool training for children from low-income families."
The San Francisco Chronicle, November 8, 2011: Seniors richer, so why a discount?
"The Pew report seemed somewhat at odds with a Census Bureau study released Monday showing that under a new, alternative way of measuring poverty that includes health care costs, 15.9 percent of Americans 65 and older are living in poverty, slightly higher than the 15.2 percent of Americans ages 18 to 64 living in poverty."
The Associated Press, November 8, 2011: Obama to tour Head Start center
"The federal government's Head Start program provides preschool for 900,000 low-income children. In an attempt to improve quality, Obama plans to require all lower-performing Head Start programs that fail to meet a new set of benchmarks to compete for continued federal funding."
