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"So far, the big losers are apt to be the city's schoolchildren, since the Philadelphia School District was one of the hardest hit by the state budget ax. As we've already pointed out, the state education budget cuts hit the poorest districts in the state the hardest; the wealthiest districts got the smallest cuts. "

"The letter... said that if Republicans get their way, more than 1 million seniors in Massachusetts could be denied some Medicare benefits, and seniors would have to pay an extra $540 per month for health care. And they said some 1.4 million low-income and disabled residents in the state depend on Medicaid."

"We read about beleaguered educators who believed that wholesale failure by APS students on the CRCT was blamed solely on their inadequacies rather than on poverty, indifferent parents or challenging home environments."

"Taking advantage of a new school building, Revere launched the state's first innovation school, the Paul Revere Innovation School, where programs cater to the emotional and social well-being of students, most of whom live in poverty."

"What's more, those in favor of academic reform worry that minority and low-income students will be automatically channeled into vocational courses. "

"In addition, 97 percent of Parkside Elementary students are on free and reduced lunch, according to district figures. 'If we are going to (reduce) the poverty level in this country, we have to focus on education,' Messer said. 'To do that, we have to give these kids, these families, options.'"

"Just as fall's brisk air blew into Oregon, Sky White found himself living on the streets for the first time in his life. But after that move from Salem to Portland in 2009, White sought the homeless services that helped him find his future."

"The St. Clair County Transit District will continue to provide free transit passes for St. Clair County seniors, despite a new state law taking effect next month that requires free light rail and bus rides only for low-income people over age 65."

"Once considered untouchable, Social Security is now in play in the debt-ceiling negotiations. And that could mean higher income taxes for many U.S. families in addition to shaved benefits for tens of millions of retirees as they age."

"'Children from low-income families generally have fewer opportunities to consume fresh fruits and vegetables on a regular basis,' State Superintendent Tony Evers said. 'Through this program, students sample a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, and data shows the healthy snack is having an impact on food choices outside the program.'"

"Once touted as a solution to Detroit's public school woes, charter high schools are often doing just about as poorly - and in many cases worse - at educating students and getting them ready for college, a Detroit News analysis of recent test data shows."

"She quickly drew national attention for improving a district where roughly three-fourths of students live at or below the poverty line, even winning the national Superintendent of the Year award in 2009 for the rising test scores."