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Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity leads research and consulting initiatives that identify and address barriers to economic well-being.
Type
State
Issue
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 6, 2010: (Op-Ed) Cutting scholarships is short-sighted Access Missouri; Low-income students will find it even more difficult to afford college.
"Students from low-income families are not able to replace the $3,000 the state will cut from each award to those attending private colleges. Students attending public colleges will not find an extra $1,000 available to replace what the state has cut from their aid."
Sacramento Bee, July 6, 2010: California teacher layoffs hit poor performing schools hard
"The schools are generally in poor neighborhoods, and many of their students contend with offshoots of that poverty: violence, gangs, a lack of resources at home. Students often fall years behind in their reading, math and test-taking skills"
Reno Gazette-Journal, July 6, 2010: New service provides free cell phone for low-income families
"Lifeline was created 25 years ago to ensure landline phone access was affordable to rural and poor communities. Now, TracFone Wireless has announced a new lifeline program that provides a free cell phone and 60 minutes of free monthly time for emergencies for low-income...[and] elderly..."
Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, July 6, 2010: A new program at LCCC aims to help low-income families get ahead
"Adelante is for Laramie County residents who earn no more than 185 percent of the federal poverty limit. They also must be parents with dependent children. The program provides specialized services for the Hispanic or Latino community."
Times-Picayune, July 6, 2010: Academic ebb at Jeff schools generates angst
"'Jefferson is now considered a high-poverty school district with students (who) have a need for greater services, and that costs money,' said Meza, who cautions against correlating per-pupil spending with academic performance."
Marin Independent Journal, July 5, 2010: Demand for financial aid grows at College of Marin
"Many low-income students are eligible for a waiver of their tuition fees at California's community colleges. In fact, about half of the students at the College of Marin have obtained fee waivers, Cook said."
Charlotte Observer, July 2, 2010: CMS layoffs hit hard at small schools
"Garinger made the split in an effort to turn around years of low academic performance. While some of the small schools have showed strong results, most continue to be among the district's most challenged schools, with poverty high and performance weak. "
The New York Times, July 2, 2010: Graduation Is the Goal, Staying Alive the Prize
"Students in the high-risk category -- mostly black and Hispanic boys, some homeless dropouts and some formerly gang-affiliated -- are also given jobs. The array of interventions is financed by federal stimulus grants through 2012..."
Sacramento Bee, July 1, 2010: (Op-Ed) School test scores mask failure
" They, like low-income inner-city parents, would benefit greatly from programs like the successful and popular Swedish universal voucher program that attaches public funding to children so that they can attend the public or private independent school of their choice."
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 1, 2010: Success comes at a cost few schools can afford
"Clark opened a middle school in a low-income community because of the impact teachers have on kids that age. A Johns Hopkins University study found that potential dropouts can be spotted as early as sixth grade and that a student's socioeconomic background can play a role."
The Columbus Dispatch, July 1, 2010: Help available to keep cool, pay power bills; Elderly, infirm qualify for an air conditioner
"Part of the federally funded Home Energy Assistance Program, the crisis program offers relief for homes with elderly or medically needy people: up to $175 in energy-bill help or an air conditioner. Help becomes available today."
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, June 30, 2010: Keller students show improvement on TAKS tests
"Last year, Keller successfully appealed an academically acceptable rating based on two low-income students who had been misidentified as drop-outs... [D]istrict officials expect Keller High School to move up from recognized to exemplary, a first for a district high school. "
