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"Twenty years of reform efforts and programs targeting low-income families in Chicago Public Schools has only widened the performance gap between white and African-American students, a troubling trend at odds with what has occurred nationally."

"Ms. Layne and N-Dia, 9, live at the Regent Family Residence for the Homeless, a shelter on West 104th Street and Broadway. They were transferred last summer from their original family shelter in Brownsville, Brooklyn, two blocks from N-Dia's school."

"The data suggest Social Security benefits aren't quite as 'redistributive' as some might expect from a program intended to keep people out of poverty in old age, said Alan Gustman, one of three authors of the study, done under a grant from the Social Security Administration through the Michigan Retirement Research Center."

"Such attrition is a major criticism of the Teach for America program by those who contend the rookie educators, often called corps members, don't remain in the profession long enough to make a difference. TFA's attrition rate in DISD exceeds the national rate of teachers in high-poverty schools who leave after two years."

"The Elks Foundation donated another $10,000 grant, making it $20,000 for this year.Started just last January to provide meals over the weekend for homeless children through a backpack program, the Bradenton 'Elks Feeding Empty Little Tummies,' is making headway, said project manager Jeff Mitchell."

"Many villages have subsidized memberships for those who can't afford the full price of a membership. Beacon Hill, for example, charges $640 for an individual membership and $925 for a household, but low-income members pay $110 for an individual or $160 for a household."

"A new census measure released recently shows the poverty rate to be higher than previously known -- about 15.9 percent for Americans 65 or older, compared to the official 9 percent rate reported in September."

"Just three years ago, Pine View Elementary had 23.9 percent of its students qualified for free or reduced-price meals, a widely accepted indicator of poverty in schools. That ranked it ninth lowest among the Pasco County school district's 44 elementary schools."

"President Barack Obama acknowledged on Wednesday that black Americans have faced "enormous challenges" with unemployment under his watch, and appealed for their support in pursuing solutions that he can implement without help from Congress."

"It would cost cash-strapped California at least $2 billion to meet the requirements for relief from the federal No Child Left Behind law, state officials reported Wednesday to the California Board of Education."

"The hardships for many of that generation's older blacks have indeed followed their children, now entering old age. In revisiting the 1964 'Double Jeopardy report, we see that older black people are faring better economically, but there are gaps and inequalities that have not been closed."

"Poverty has deepened in Boston's poorest neighborhoods, widening the gap between the city's wealthiest and neediest residents, a report being released today finds."