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"Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has earned national acclaim for innovative programs to break the link between poverty, race and academic failure."

"Republican House Speaker Joe Straus has pledged to give money back to public schools. That is one of the best investments any state can make, and goodness knows Texas, with its booming population - many younger than 18 and from low-income families - needs to make those investments. The state's high school graduation rates hit an all-time high in 2011, as nearly 86 percent of students graduated in four years, according to the Texas Education Agency. Research also shows that low-income third-graders who attended preschool passed the third-grade TAKS tests at higher rates than their peers who did not attend preschool."

"More and more schools across the state are moving toward offering breakfast in the classroom. Our research shows participation among low-income children soars when schools adopt breakfast in the classroom. And that's good news not just for ending hunger, but also for boosting education and health. Research shows that giving more children breakfast leads to higher math and reading scores, improved behavior, fewer visits to the school nurse, and a lower likelihood of being overweight."

"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."

"Iowa City Community School Board members soon will vote on a new diversity policy for the district. If approved, the document will set benchmarks to more evenly spread poverty around the district. Faced with geographic, economic and political challenges, though, how school leaders would obtain those goals isn't totally clear."

"The Over-the-Rhine charter school serves 261 students in grades K-8. The students are almost exclusively minority and low-income, from tough urban neighborhoods. Nearly 16 percent have disabilities. They all qualify for the free or reduced-price lunch program because of their poverty level."

"The Imagination Library mails age-appropriate books to impoverished homes for children up through age 5, in an effort to jumpstart their interest in reading and increase their literacy. From birth to 5 is when the brain is growing and absorbing the most,' Fisher said. If they start kindergarten and they're not prepared, they're already behind. A kindergarten teacher can tell when a child hasn't been exposed to books.'"

"Children born into poverty are twice as likely to be in special education, 30 percent more likely to never go to college and 70 percent more likely to be arrested for committing a violent crime. Many of those children will also be more likely to become a teen parent, drop out of school and never hold a job.

"First Book-Long Island connects children to books in a number of ways: The local advisory board and its network of volunteers raise funds or garner book donations and distribute them to eligible organizations (one that serves a population that is at least 70 percent below the federal poverty line); or it helps an eligible organization apply for a grant through First Book National, which then gives that organization access to the First Book Marketplace."

"The initiative will target 14 classrooms that serve about 200 students in areas of the city with high rates of poverty. Low- income students tend to enter kindergarten less prepared than their more affluent peers, and the quality of pre-kindergarten programs can vary tremendously in the private sector."

"Through the generosity of Times readers and a match by the McCormickFoundation, nearly $450,000 was granted to local literacy programs thisyear as a result of the Los Angeles Times Holiday Campaign. The campaign,part of the Los Angeles Times Family Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund,raises contributions to support established literacy programs run bynonprofit organizations that serve low-income families whose children arereading below grade levels, who are at risk of illiteracy or who havelimited English proficiency."

"The 2nd annual Strides for Education 5K Walk/Run raised more than $30,500for college scholarships for The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools'Take Stock in Children Program [...] It is a nonprofit organization with asolid 17-year history of providing mentors, educational scholarships andhope for Florida's low-income and deserving students. The organization hasprovided educational support and college scholarships for over 18,000children in partnership with more than 800 public schools throughout 67counties in Florida."