Pennsylvania

"Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to change how state education dollars are distributed would give a big financial boost to some Inland school districts, according to new estimates. But in other districts, particularly those in southwest Riverside County, the increases would be much smaller. Brown's goal is to help schools with bigger challenges, such as educating those who don't speak English or who live in poverty. But it also would create wide division in funding levels among Inland districts."

"High-rise apartments can reinforce the sense of isolation that already threatens low-income elders. Add security guards and a management office that, like a school principal's, is located near the front door, and the greater neighborhood can seem remote. So some community advocates are trying to connect high-rise residents to their neighborhoods."

"If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, why are so many public-school students needlessly going hungry? Only 35 percent of New Jersey's 471,714 children eligible for a free or reduced-price meal received breakfast at school last year. That's among the lowest participation rates in the country. New Jersey ranks 46th in the number of low-income students who get breakfast at school. Pennsylvania is 36th. Nationally, only about 50 percent of students in the reduced or free lunch program eat a school breakfast."

"The money is transformational' for Futures, whose annual budget is about $2.8 million. It will support the organization's strategic plan and fund a new program that could annually help up to 800 low-income, first-generation-to-college students with precollege guidance and continuing support through college graduation, Mazzotti said."

"The Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates show eight of Lancaster County's 17 school districts with higher child poverty numbers in 2011 compared with the previous year, and eight with lower numbers. One district, Cocalico, stayed the same. At least the percentages seem to have stabilized. From 2009 to 2010, on the other hand, 16 of 17 districts saw an increase in child poverty rates."

"The grants signal implementation of the foundation's new 10-year strategic vision, which focuses on closing the achievement gap for low-income children, protecting the region's water quality, and making its creative community more vibrant."