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"Gross said people often think of achievement gaps as being between white students and minorities, but these guidelines are for closing all achievement gaps, including those living in poverty, students with disabilities and English language learners."

"Cincinnati, Covington and Newport are some of this region's most challenged school districts. Their students have high rates of poverty and family instability that can be obstacles to their success."

"Maryland is reporting a 66 percent rise in the number of homeless public school students over the last four years. The state Department of Education says about 14,000 Maryland students enrolled in a federally funded homeless education program this year, compared with about 8,500 in 2007."

"The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain post-baccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education. Unlike a loan, a Federal Pell Grant, does not have to be repaid."

"Like many middle-class American baby boomers, Linda Carmona-Sanchez is anxious about slipping into poverty and says whatever dreams she once had about retirement in her "golden years" have turned into nightmares."

""I was about to make grilled cheese for everybody with them, but it got kind of crazy," said a stunned Yonto, pointing to his small George Forman grill, not nearly big enough to handle the 100 grad students who came to help him make sandwiches for the homeless. He was expecting 30 at the most."

"On a national level, the poverty rate for the elderly (65 and older) is 9 percent using the traditional measure, and 16 percent using a supplemental measure (developed by the Census Bureau). If we were to apply the supplemental measure to poverty levels in Chicago, the rate would be above 20 percent."

"The program serves 3- and 4-year-olds who come from low-income families. Parents need to meet certain income guidelines to qualify. 'Most of our families are either working or going to school,' Pitz said."

"The project, which has delivered 9,500 bags of groceries to hundreds of low-income seniors during the past six years, does more than teach kids about giving and sharing and the socioeconomic inequities among that 99 percent of us. It is designed to introduce children of affluence to people who are struggling."

"The University of South Florida student and the homeless Haitian immigrant sat on opposite sides of the desk, working together on a geometry problem."

"When Carol Neckermann Ballard decided to become a teacher, she wanted to work with students in high-poverty schools."

"It's getting more difficult for low-income students to climb the economic ladder as the college graduation gap between the rich and poor grows. While more students from all backgrounds are finishing college, the difference in graduation rates between the top and bottom income groups has widened over two decades."