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Find the latest stories, research, and insights on policies, programs, and ideas shaping the national conversation on poverty and economic mobility.
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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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The Washington Post, February 7, 2011: D.C. high schools face funding gap, study finds
"Cardozo, near 13th Street and Florida Avenue, is a neighborhood high school that takes all comers in an attendance area that includes about a dozen group homes and homeless shelters."
The Associated Press, February 7, 2011: W.Va. program gives students chance to learn
"'The first step out of poverty and public assistance is a good education. A lot of these kids never saw college in their future. Now, a number of them are looking to that possibility.'"
The Associated Press, February 4, 2011: RI education chief backs off new diploma system
"Gist's plan would have provided an honors diploma to students who score highly on standardized tests. The plan came under attack from advocates of low-income, minority and special-education students who often score poorly on standardized tests."
The Associated Press, February 4, 2011: House Republicans move to slash domestic programs
"Popular programs such as health research and federal aid to school districts appear likely to take a hit when lawmakers write the spending bill... Republicans promise not to cut the minimum $5,550 Pell Grant for low-income college students."
The State, February 3, 2011: (Editorial) Smarter ways to spend education dollars
"This is his best proposal, but we should go further. Decades of data and research have confirmed that test scores are far more linked to out-of-school factors, such as poverty, than in-school quality."
Charlotte Observer, February 3, 2011: High-poverty schools get $100,000 boost
"The foundation is joining forces with DonorsChoose.org , a website that helps teachers find donors for class projects, to offer $100,000 in matching grants for projects benefitting 11,000 students in more than 400 high-poverty classrooms in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools."
The Huffington Post, February 2, 2011: (Op-Ed) Tough Loving the New York Times -- Who's Poorer, Elders or Youth?
"What's important to know, however, is that policy experts have complained for years that the federal poverty measure, formulated 50 years ago, fails to include critical daily costs of living, such as out-of-pocket medical costs and taxes that squeeze seniors on fixed incomes."
The News-Star, February 2, 2011: DOE recognizes Sallie Humble
"To earn the High Poverty-High Performing distinction, schools must have a performance score above 100 for two consecutive years and have at least 65 percent of its student population enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program."
The Washington Post, February 2, 2011: Why does Fresno have thousands of job openings - and high unemployment?
"This city is grappling with one of the most troubling contradictions of the new economy: Even as it has one of the nation's highest unemployment rates, it has thousands of job openings."
The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 1, 2011: Study finds a fair number of slackers on campus
"'Very little is being asked of these kids, and they're not applying themselves,' said Richard Arum... The findings come amid intensifying discussion about rising college costs and the need to compete globally and educate first-generation, minority, and low-income students."
Star-Gazette, February 1, 2011: Sayre students aid housing for low-income families
"'Habitat for Humanity builds homes for low-income families and will be greatly benefited by this in our area as we have our own little circle of habitat houses in South Waverly,' Derek wrote."
The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 31, 2011: School choice gains widespread momentum
"In Harrisburg Tuesday, hundreds of supporters of a proposal to help low-income children transfer to schools of their choice with publicly funded scholarships or vouchers rallied boisterously under the Capitol dome, portraying the issue as the new educational battleground."
