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Commentary: Ruth J. Liberman, Crittenton Women�s Union

"Through the generosity of Times readers and a match by the McCormick Foundation, nearly $450,000 was granted to local literacy programs this year 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 by nonprofit organizations that serve low-income families whose children are reading below grade levels, who are at risk of illiteracy or who have limited English proficiency."

"More and more Lake families with schoolchildren are finding themselves in shelters, hotels or doubled up with other families, according to an October state report. Last school year, officials counted 3,541 homeless students -- about four times more than were identified in the 2008-09 school year. Last year's numbers, which were released statewide for comparison this fall, show Lake has the fourth-highest homeless-student population in the state. But despite a decline in the unemployment rate, homelessness is only expected to grow."

"The Supreme Court ruled this year that Congress could tell states to expand Medicaid but it couldn't penalize those that refused. As a result, many states are expected not to extend coverage to 138% of the poverty line or to able-bodied individuals without dependent children. Low-income seniors in those states could still seek heavily subsidized coverage through the state's insurance exchange, but the out-of-pocket costs would be significantly higher -- too high, some advocates for the elderly warn."

"For example, in an election where a record number of women were elected to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and women, who constitute a majority of the electorate, voted 55-44 percent in support of President Obama, election eve polls point to a stark reality. Women, by a wide margin, apparently believed the president's policies would be more supportive of women and children than those of Governor Romney."

"The statistics never fail to startle: During the 2011-12 school year, 4,922 students enrolled in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools were identified by CMS as homeless. Within CMS, there is an elementary school where one out of every four students is homeless. They are among 1.6 million kids nationally trying to focus on school while living in shelters and pay-by-the-week motels, doubled-up or tripled up with other families, living in buildings unsuitable for human habitation and even sleeping in cars."

"In a modern house of poverty, there are still the bare essentials: shelter, clothing, food (although almost 40 percent of children in North Philadelphia are food-insecure). But unlike in Richmond's era, when free play was more prevalent, the faces of too many of our children reflect off television, computer, and video game screens. These youngsters have entertainment, not education."

"It's one of five Virginia institutions to receive a $1.25 million Department of Education 'Upward Bound' grant, which targets high school students from low-income families or families in which neither parent holds a bachelor's degree. The Virginia Community Colleges Association has recognized several of the school's professors for their work this year."

"The CAP report points out that 10 states have publicly declared that they will opt out of the Medicaid expansion, and more are undecided. CAP then found that more than 164,000 seniors live below the poverty line in states that may opt out of the Medicaid expansion, using 2011 data. That means approximately 434,000 seniors could be left without insurance annually by 2021. And this is a conservative estimate - it's based on 2011 data, and the population of seniors will grow significantly over the next decade."

"The Syracuse district would lose by far the most -- $1.6 million -- among the 44 districts in Cayuga, Madison, Onondaga and Oswego counties. The combined loss for all the districts for the 2013-14 school year would be $4,971,678, according to the association. The cuts would come in programs that mainly benefit the most vulnerable students -- children with disabilities and children in poverty."

"Failure to reach a deal by the new year would usher in broad tax increases and mandatory federal spending cuts of about $109 billion a year through 2021. NEA officials say more than $4 billion a year of that would be slashed from education, with much it coming from programs aimed at helping struggling schools, low-income students and the disabled."

"Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett vowed Monday to move forcefully to address the city's crisis in K-8 truancy and absenteeism, declaring: 'We must work to shut down the dropout pipeline.'"