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"If they are indeed a universal fix for addressing the education problems of parents whose choices are severely restricted because of circumstances related to poverty, one would think that they might also provide solutions in other communities that are more privileged."

"A nonprofit organization that seeks to help low-income students at Shawnee Mission North High School is planning a fundraiser at the school even though the group says it doesn't feel welcome there."

"'Ridgewood was one of the best,' said Michael Harlow, public policy consultant with Ohio Education Matters. 'When you look at income and poverty areas in this district, it's tough to be a champion.'"

"New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is battling to give corporations tax credits in exchange for their financial support for low-income students' private school tuition. Congress just passed a budget deal that significantly increases the number of vouchers available to schoolchildren..."

"Seventy-nine percent of the school's students are minorities, 68 percent are classified low-income, and 12 percent have limited English proficiency. The school hasn't made adequate yearly progress in math or reading since No Child Left Behind became law..."

"Superintendent John Allison's 'phase three' round of budget reductions started with $6.3 million in cuts from Title 1, a federal program that gives additional money to schools with high poverty rates."

"Students could use vouchers funded by taxes to attend the school of their choice, private or parochial. It begins with low-income kids in the poorest-performing districts. By year three, all low-income kids would be eligible. By year four, middle-income students would be eligible."

"Forty-two percent of Oshkosh students now qualify for subsidized lunches, the main indicator of poverty among school children, according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. That's a 4 percent increase over last year and a 6 percent increase from two years ago."

"Foster children have a rough go of it after leaving state care. Many go homeless or into poverty, and few make it through college. Mindful of that, Oregon legislators are considering a bill to allow state universities to waive tuition and fees for foster children."

"In the last six years, however, the number of children in grades P-12 classified as homeless - according to the federal definition used by schools - has jumped in Boone from 182 to 367, an increase of 102 percent."

"From the vantage point of a superintendent, with 35 years of experience in public education, I contend the governor is pursuing an agenda that is not beneficial to public education, not beneficial to the students who live in pockets of deep poverty..."

"It would cut food stamps by $127 billion, or 20 percent, over the next 10 years, almost certainly increasing hunger among the poor. It would cut Pell grants for all 9.4 million student recipients next year, removing as many as one million of them from the program altogether. It would remove more than 100,000 low-income children from Head Start, and slash job-training programs for the unemployed desperate to learn new skills."