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"What's more, those in favor of academic reform worry that minority and low-income students will be automatically channeled into vocational courses. "

"In addition, 97 percent of Parkside Elementary students are on free and reduced lunch, according to district figures. 'If we are going to (reduce) the poverty level in this country, we have to focus on education,' Messer said. 'To do that, we have to give these kids, these families, options.'"

"Just as fall's brisk air blew into Oregon, Sky White found himself living on the streets for the first time in his life. But after that move from Salem to Portland in 2009, White sought the homeless services that helped him find his future."

"The St. Clair County Transit District will continue to provide free transit passes for St. Clair County seniors, despite a new state law taking effect next month that requires free light rail and bus rides only for low-income people over age 65."

"Once considered untouchable, Social Security is now in play in the debt-ceiling negotiations. And that could mean higher income taxes for many U.S. families in addition to shaved benefits for tens of millions of retirees as they age."

"'Children from low-income families generally have fewer opportunities to consume fresh fruits and vegetables on a regular basis,' State Superintendent Tony Evers said. 'Through this program, students sample a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, and data shows the healthy snack is having an impact on food choices outside the program.'"

"Once touted as a solution to Detroit's public school woes, charter high schools are often doing just about as poorly - and in many cases worse - at educating students and getting them ready for college, a Detroit News analysis of recent test data shows."

"She quickly drew national attention for improving a district where roughly three-fourths of students live at or below the poverty line, even winning the national Superintendent of the Year award in 2009 for the rising test scores."

"State Superintendent Tony Evers says children from low income families generally have fewer opportunities to eat fresh fruits and vegetables on a regular basis. He says the program will make a variety of the healthy food available to them."

"But the students, most of them low-income English learners, are also learning literacy, math facts and science and are honing writing skills with "coaches" dressed in leis, tropical shirts and grass skirts."

"What a decade of high-stakes testing has accomplished is to serve as an effective tool for labeling as failures high poverty schools with low test scores, and converting them into charter schools..."

"KIPP, which stands for Knowledge is Power Program, came to Memphis in 2001. It is a national program that has been successful in boosting test scores among students in high-poverty, inner-city schools. Like most charters, KIPP grows by adding a grade each year."