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"Lagging achievement among low-income, minority students is a persistent problem here and elsewhere, one that the federal No Child Left Behind law was intended to address."

"By holding schools more accountable, forcing them to look at every student and making scores public, lawmakers hoped to spur schools to increase student performance and close the 'achievement gap' between white and minority students and between low-income and more affluent students."

"That the school district invited teachers to attend the talk for in-service credit is worrisome, Segert said, 'because it risks reinforcing a way of thinking about children in poverty that is inaccurate, prejudicial and ultimately counterproductive in addressing the achievement gap.'"

"It's a milestone that could have game-changing implications, social and economic. Fifty years after New Orleans began integrating public schools, the city's poverty rate is still more than twice as high among African-Americans as white students, a reality tied in some measure to persistent gaps in educational opportunities."

"Strategic staffing, the centerpiece of Gorman's plan to improve high-poverty schools, started with putting in strong, veteran principals. He gave them a chance to get rid of ineffective staff, let them recruit a team of proven teachers and offered $20,000 in bonuses if those teachers stayed three years."

"SunTrust bank representatives will talk to parents about saving money and officials with local initiative Read 20 will promote the importance of reading. But this isn't just a book drive, Pickett said. The goal is to push children out of poverty by making sure they have all they need for a good education, she said."

"Some groups continued to lag their peers in graduating. But State Schools Superintendent June Atkinson pointed out that black students and low-income students have seen sharp gains in the graduation rates during the past five years."

"If only state lawmakers were as concerned about the welfare of financially strapped Texans. They've hijacked millions of dollars from what is supposed to be a dedicated fund that was established to help pay summer electric bills for qualified low-income residents."

"The district has a $14 million 'rainy day' fund, but school officials said they need it to help get homeless and special-needs children to school, and to pay for building and computer maintenance. Many area school districts have made cuts or added fees because of the cap on property-tax revenues and cuts in state government funding."

"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."