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"The district still has challenges. With 33,000 students, CPS is the largest district in the region and the third-largest in the state. Nearly 70 percent of students qualify for free or reduced lunch -an indication of poverty. Roughly that same number are minorities."

"Watts knows he has many challenges ahead. About 75 percent of students at the school are at or below the poverty level, and the average percentage of proficient and distinguished students in reading and math last year was 39.45 percent. The state average was about 67 percent."

"That's particularly true for those pursuing advanced degrees, with subsidies to graduate and professional students ending. The upside: The savings will be used to help preserve Pell grants, which help low-income students."

"Your donation stays in your community -- Contra Costa County donations are distributed to children in need by the Volunteer Center of the East Bay, or VESTIA, based in Pleasant Hill; Alameda County donations go to Tools 4 School, an umbrella project of service agencies that work with low-income and at-risk families in that county."

"Along with the students in the gifted program, the school has a high percentage of children who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. Knox is a Title I school, meaning it receives federal funding based on the poverty level of families and students who live in its attendance area."

"The changes will generate an estimated $22 billion in savings. Of that amount, $17 billion will be used to preserve the federal Pell grant program, which provides grants of up to $5,550 a year to low-income college students."

"When families go back- to-school shopping in the next couple of weeks, the Homeless Children's Trust is asking they pick up some extra supplies for area children in need.The Homeless Children's Trust has been coordinating a back-to-school collection for homeless children in the county for "many, many years," event coordinator Mary Larew said Monday."

"28 schools did not meet state benchmarks for the 2010-2011 school year. Schools fail to meet benchmarks if one of nine subgroups in English or math - such as low-income, disabled or minority students - does not have enough students that are proficient. To meet benchmarks, schools must have 70 percent of students pass state English and math tests."

"A federal subsidy that aids graduate students would be eliminated to boost funding for Pell grants that help low-income undergraduates, under the compromise debt-ceiling bill moving through Congress. That trade-off is one of the few program changes specified in the bill."

"But a look at demographic differences between the students at each school reveals that ASU Preparatory in downtown Phoenix is working with students who come with challenges often cited by education experts as hindrances to academic success, such as poverty."

"The administration of Gov. Chris Christie said Monday that additional money from the federal government has made the aid possible. The aid is in addition to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program relief that about 135,000 households are getting for heating costs in the winter. "

"Local school districts typically offer two or three summer school sessions, each lasting a few weeks. Most also ask for fees for some classes, ranging from about $6 to $25. Costs usually are more for students from other school districts, and some low-income students may be exempt from fees."