California

"Many agree, including Steve Ngo, a City College of San Francisco trustee who calls it a civil rights issue. 'If students are not even getting basic English and math, they'll be stuck in poverty,' Ngo said. 'These recommendations focus course offerings on student needs.'"

"The extra hundreds of thousands of dollars have allowed the cash-strapped schools to hire tutors, librarians, counselors and other staff who work to improve the academic success of not only low-income kids, but others at risk of failing."

"Representatives of the California School Boards Association and Association of California School Administrators said they are considering joining the lawsuit because it will adversely affect low-income districts the most, as well as disabled pupils who must travel to special programs."

"Los Feliz Charter, which quickly became a destination for middle-class families via word of mouth, is unlike the neighborhood school, Los Feliz Elementary, in many ways. Los Feliz Elementary is composed entirely of low-income families; 44% of students are listed as English learners. Los Feliz Charter has 28% low-income students and 6.5% English learners, amid ongoing recruiting efforts to diversify. (Larchmont's demographics are similar, its recruiting has boosted low-income families to 42%.)"

"For seven years, the Merced Adult School students have been preparing lunches for people at Merced County's homeless shelter at 15th and D streets. Up to 75 meals are provided about once every eight weeks."

"'The settlement ensures that even in these challenging economic times, critical community-based services will be preserved, and low-income seniors and people with disabilities will avoid unnecessary hospitalization or institutionalization,' Gershon said."