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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.

In the News
Education
Florida
2012
The News-Press, November 29, 2012: Forum focuses on improving Collier County schools
November 29, 2012

The News-Press, November 29, 2012: Forum focuses on improving Collier County schools

"Haycock said Collier's student demographics are more acute than the rest of the country. Of Collier's 43,247 students, about 44 percent are Hispanic and 12 percent are black. About 60 percent of Collier's students are low-income. About 47 percent come from homes in which English isn't the first language."

In the News
Aging
California
2012
The Daily News of Los Angeles, November 29, 2012: Apartments for seniors with mental health problems open in North Hollywood
November 29, 2012

The Daily News of Los Angeles, November 29, 2012: Apartments for seniors with mental health problems open in North Hollywood

"Residents will receive mental and health services from the San Fernando Valley Community Health Center and Northeast Valley Health Corp. A case manager will be on-site to help residents find activities through partnerships with area public and nonprofit agencies and faith communities. The five-story LEED Silver certified apartment already houses seniors age 55 and older who are considered very low income. Thirty of the units are reserved for seniors who are homeless and mentally ill at the time they enter housing."

In the News
Education
Florida
2012
Orlando Sentinel, November 29, 2012: (Op-Ed) Scholarships help equalize opportunity
November 29, 2012

Orlando Sentinel, November 29, 2012: (Op-Ed) Scholarships help equalize opportunity

"The tax-credit scholarship is one of Florida's five scholarships. It strives to give low-income students access to the same learning options now available to more affluent families, via a $4,335 scholarship. This program complements other choice programs, such as magnet and charter schools, and is built on the truism that students learn in different ways."

In the News
Education
Wisconsin
2012
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, November 29, 2012: U.S. delays Head Start contracts, giving SDC new worries
November 29, 2012

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, November 29, 2012: U.S. delays Head Start contracts, giving SDC new worries

"Head Start provides educational and health services to preschool age children from low-income families. SDC's $21 million program serves 3, 000 children at 33 sites, 10 run by the anti-poverty agency and the others run by delegates or community agencies. MPS currently has 1, 000 Head Start seats and a grant of $6 million funded through June 2013, district spokesman Tony Tagliavia said."

In the News
Education
Minnesota
2012
Minneapolis Star Tribune, November 29, 2012: New coalition targets achievement gap in schools
November 29, 2012

Minneapolis Star Tribune, November 29, 2012: New coalition targets achievement gap in schools

"The Generation Next partnership, to be formally announced Thursday, will focus first on fostering research-based strategies for closing racial and economic achievement gaps in Minneapolis and St. Paul, both district and charter schools. But it hopes to expand to suburban districts if it demonstrates results. New federal data this week indicated that Minnesota ranked last in four-year graduation rates for Latino and American Indian students, second to last for black students and near the bottom for low-income students."

In the News
Education
Wisconsin
2012
Oshkosh Northwestern, November 28, 2012: Family focus helps Merrill Elementary cope with rising needs
November 28, 2012

Oshkosh Northwestern, November 28, 2012: Family focus helps Merrill Elementary cope with rising needs

"The rankings also consider factors such as graduation rates and achievement gaps, which are differences in the test scores of students considered advantaged or not advantaged due to poverty, race or disability. But Merrill's population of students considered to be disadvantaged is so high the state couldn't give the school an achievement gap score, Director of Curriculum and Assessment Julie Mosher said. The school's typical' student population is too small to determine statistically reliable data."

In the News
Education
Missouri
2012
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 28, 2012: (Op-Ed) Link between poverty, school success needs to be systemically addressed
November 28, 2012

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 28, 2012: (Op-Ed) Link between poverty, school success needs to be systemically addressed

"While there has been a growing recognition of the correlation between poverty and school performance, little has been to done to systemically address it. Recently, a survey for the Normandy schools indicated that 111 organizations were working with the schools. This activity, unless strategically planned, will have minimal value."

In the News
Education
2012
The Washington Post, November 28, 2012: (Op-Ed) For low-income residents, the District is becoming less accessible
November 28, 2012

The Washington Post, November 28, 2012: (Op-Ed) For low-income residents, the District is becoming less accessible

"As an increasingly elite D.C. begins walling itself off from the masses, the rough outline of an architecturally restored yet soulless city emerges. Redlined school boundaries around wealthy neighborhoods keep out less-privileged students. Closed streets and parking restrictions make for a walkable city.' For the low-income resident who must travel longer distances to get to work and stores, a better description would be trudge town.'"

In the News
Education
Louisiana
2012
The Advocate, November 27, 2012: Teachers group to push repeal of Jindal's laws
November 27, 2012

The Advocate, November 27, 2012: Teachers group to push repeal of Jindal's laws

"The chief targets of the LFT's wrath, as they have been for months, are two laws enacted earlier this year. One expanded Louisiana's voucher program from New Orleans only to a statewide choice for low-income students attending troubled public schools to switch to private and parochial schools at state expense."

In the News
Education
2012
Business First of Louisville, November 27, 2012: Federal grants boost U of L's 'Upward Bound' program
November 27, 2012

Business First of Louisville, November 27, 2012: Federal grants boost U of L's 'Upward Bound' program

"In a time of scarce federal funding, the University of Louisville will receive $3.3 million to grow a program for prepping low-income high schoolers for college. The Courier Journal reports the 46-year-old Upward Bound program aims to ready freshmen, sophomores and juniors from needy homes who would be the first in the family to pursue higher education."

In the News
Education
Tennessee
2012
The Tennessean, November 26, 2012: TN school vouchers could include public, private school choices
November 26, 2012

The Tennessean, November 26, 2012: TN school vouchers could include public, private school choices

"As state lawmakers and members of a Gov. Bill Haslam-appointed task force consider the scope of a possible school voucher program in Tennessee, talks aren't limited to using public dollars for private schooling. Rather, under one scenario designed to expand choice further, low-income students enrolled in struggling schools could attend higher-performing public schools across town, outside their home districts and - if need be - across county lines."

In the News
Education
2012
The Lexington Herald Leader, November 26, 2012: (Op-Ed) Fight child poverty with early education, family support
November 26, 2012

The Lexington Herald Leader, November 26, 2012: (Op-Ed) Fight child poverty with early education, family support

"We are watching millions of children fail to get the right beginning in life while some policymakers and talking heads bicker over federal spending for critical programs such as Head Start preschool. Head Start, a proven family and child development initiative that has helped millions of children start school right for close to 50 years, fails only in its inability to serve all eligible kids due to lack of sufficient resources. Universal pre-kindergarten is a critical step for Kentucky in erasing educational deficits at all socioeconomic levels, but it is particularly important for poor children."