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"So there's your education revenue stream: the nation's lowest rates for one of the most stable sources of income, combined with some of the highest rates for the most volatile taxes on the lowest-income working families. Alabama's tax base is, in effect, the working poor."

"Third, Social Security lifts retirees from poverty. In 2008, Social Security kept almost 36 percent of older Americans out of poverty. In Kansas, about 37.5 percent of the state's 65-plus population was kept out of poverty because of Social Security."

"The newly donated khaki pants, yellow polo shirt and superhero-themed sneakers that Josh Brando received from the Arlington Life Shelter to wear to Speer Elementary School don't change the fact that the 8-year-old is homeless."

"At four grade levels, only one-third of low-income students are proficient in math. And Blood cautioned that more than one-third of third-graders, and over half of those from low-income families, are not proficient readers."

"Just a few days before the New Mexico Democrat rolled out his bill... a state report revealed more than 13 percent of New Mexicans age 65 or older live at or below the federal poverty line - on $10,830 a year."

"Georgia Ripley is blind in one eye, has a bum heart and juggles 13 medications daily that can cost as much as $747 a month. The 87-year-old... knows exactly what her retirement and Social Security will cover - and these days that's not much."

"For one day, the disparities in Illinois public education were on graphic display when a feisty state senator bused hundreds of low-income South Side students to the wealthy North Shore to "enroll" them in some of the highest-performing schools in Illinois."

"Some critics question the long-term benefits of holding a child back, but the proposed changes in California would help level the playing field for low-income children and English learners, proponents say."

"The university and faith-based nonprofit that helps the homeless and poor have collaborated for more than 15 years to help meet the community's physical and mental health needs, said Donna Chambers, the clinic nurse manager and a nursing professor."

"'What we're trying to do is build on the past 50 years,' Margiotta said. 'We're focusing on the education of all students. The low-income children have been deprived of a good education.'"

"Among those who support changing Wichita's policy is a former school nurse who said she was reprimanded several times for administering over-the-counter medications to students at a predominantly low-income elementary school."

"The 2001 law aimed to discourage schools from writing off children who tend to fall behind, such as students who don't speak English at home, students with disabilities and low-income students."