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"To that end, Cullerton has vowed the extra money would not be used to expand programs, but to provide tax relief elsewhere, such as lowering the income tax rate or providing additional tax credits for low-income workers."

"The program also served 233 homeless youths through its Street Academy, which helped 35 young people earn their GEDs last year. Located at the Preble Street Teen Center, the academy lost one position to budget cuts this year."

"Meantime, however, he gave the state Board of Education a report to counter what he called 'myths' about charters' alleged failure to include special needs students and relative lack of children in the deepest poverty. "

"'The bad news is I think it creates a gap, and that's in our precollege pipeline, which we do need to address.' Students from low-income families are targeted for the most aid under the covenant, which sets aside $25 million annually to prepare students while they're still in middle school."

"Colleen Versteeg, executive director of Santa Ana-based Orange County Head Start, said her office has been monitoring the situation but has been told to continue operating all sites as usual. Head Start is a free preschool program for families below or near the federal poverty line."

"About seven out of 10 students from low-income families said their choice of college is influenced by concerns about affordability, compared to five in 10 students from higher-income families."

"Free and reduced-price meal counts are the commonly accepted method for determining poverty in public schools across the country, Nebraska Department of Education spokesman Betty Vandeventer said."

"'Normally it's much more difficult for a person who is older to find employment,' said Andrea Bridgewater, Michigan director for Experience Works Inc., a nonprofit that helps low-income older workers get training and secure jobs."

"Across the country, some policymakers have turned their focus away from class size reduction, arguing that it's too expensive and significant improvements are unattainable in the current budget climate, which already has school districts nationwide slashing jobs. "

"The fact is that since 1990 or so the U.S. job market has been characterized not by a general rise in the demand for skill, but by "hollowing out": both high-wage and low-wage employment have grown rapidly, but medium-wage jobs the kinds of jobs we count on to support a strong middle class have lagged behind."

"Districts are awarded Title I money on top of state funding to help close the achievement gap between disadvantaged students, such as children from low-income or migrant families, and other students."

"Gates seems to view our public schools as factories. If we hire the best supervisors, our factories will produce superior widgets. But our children are not widgets and their total educational experience cannot be quantified using standardized tests."