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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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State
Issue
Charlotte Observer, May 22, 2011: They fought to help students keep learning
"At Williams, as in other schools surrounded by poverty and violence, this is the work that goes unseen. While officials debate test scores and tax dollars, teachers count victories in students who keep trying to learn when their worlds are falling apart"
The New York Times, May 22, 2011: Breakfast of Champions? Not in These Schools
"Her ultimate assessment is that the breakfast offerings may exacerbate the obesity problem. ''Poverty and hunger are real issues, yes,' she said, 'but this is not the way to fix it.'"
The Washington Post, May 22, 2011: 5 Myths about fixing America's schools
"Myth 1: Our schools are failing. It's true that schools with large numbers of low-income and English-as-a-second-language students don't perform as well as those with lots of middle- and upper-middle-class students who speak only English."
The Oregonian, May 21, 2011: 34 Portland schools get grants of up to $40,000
"That's because the foundation looks at two factors when deciding which schools need a boost --first, which schools have the most low-income students, minority students and students learning English as a second language."
Providence Journal-Bulletin, May 21, 2011: As shelters close, fears for those left outside
"Several hundred men, women and children will sleep again under bridges, in vacant houses or in crowded shelters when the state s eight winter shelters close this spring, homeless advocates said Friday."
The Myrtle Beach Sun-News, May 21, 2011: Horry County Schools targets achievement gap
"Offering ongoing, job-embedded professional development that addresses instruction for reaching all students, positive ethnic and racial relations, and the impact of poverty and social class on academic achievement."
The San Francisco Chronicle, May 20, 2011: Too many students are absent too often
"Students affected by home foreclosures, poverty and single parenthood are more likely to fall victim to repeated absenteeism. Low-income children are four times more likely to be chronically absent than their higher-income peers, according to Chang's research."
The Associated Press, May 19, 2011: State says KC charter high school misspent $256K
"Education officials announced... that a soon-to-close Kansas City charter high school misspent more than $256,000 in federal money. The Missouri Department of Elementary... said the issue is Title I money that is allocated for serving students from low-income families."
Pacific Daily News, May 19, 2011: Hungry students struggle
"When about 90 percent of a student population is on the federal free or reduced lunch program, there are some realities that principals and teachers face. For parents of those students, what takes priority: Teaching kids the multiplication tables, or getting food on their plates?"
The News Journal, May 19, 2011: (Op-Ed) Our school paraprofessionals deserve better wages
"The General Assembly made a commitment a few years ago to improve the low wages of paraprofessionals by bringing their salaries to the federal poverty level for a family of four. Today, a Step I instructional paraprofessional earns only $17,670 per year. "
The Chronicle of Higher Education, May 18, 2011: To Raise Graduation Rates, Focus on Poor and Working Class Kids
"The report, Developing 20/20 Vision on the 2020 Degree Attainment Goal, makes a very powerful case that income inequality is at the center of our failure to keep pace with other countries on college completion."
The Kansas City Star, May 18, 2011: Schools nervous' about changes in Missouri accreditation
"And as with the current school improvement process, districts with greater proportions of low-income and transient families figure to struggle more in keeping up with the rising standards."
