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"Another was the release this week of a Harvard Graduate School of Education study saying that 43 percent of third-graders in Massachusetts read below proficiency. Two-thirds of the below-proficient readers are from low-income families."

"For-profit companies cater to lower-income and minority students, who are often unable to attend traditional schools, according to Harris Miller, president of the Washington-based Career College Association, which represents more than 1,400 for-profit colleges."

"Trommelen said this housing project will help satisfy Delanco's state-mandated affordable housing plan to provide more homes for low- and moderate-income residents."

"The group estimates that at least 15,000 children in Washoe County are living in poverty. Fifteen percent would be about 2,250 children."

"After more than a century on the West Side of Manhattan, St. Michael Academy had assumed the traits of some of its best students: cash poor, underestimated by peers, capable of defying expectations with breathtaking regularity."

"In poor cities, a large percentage of the school budget comes from the state. Private foundations often prefer to fund favored charter schools over public schools in low-income communities."

"Of course, the primary benefit to neighborhood schools comes from the thousands of high-poverty, low-performing students the program is serving.... [T]he scholarship attracts the poorest and lowest-performing students from disproportionately low-performing public schools."

"Why do some high-poverty schools far outperform others? Barbara Thompson, Montgomery Public Schools superintendent, said Thursday that the answer to that question will eventually lead to major changes in the structure, curriculum and staffing of Montgomery schools."

"Last year, 65 percent of low-income third grade students scored below proficient on the MCAS reading test. And overall, the percentage of third-graders receiving below-proficient scores has hovered around 40 percent over the last decade."

"Research indicates that beginning school at an older age improves children's social and academic development. A 2005 study by the Rand Corporation found a "significant boost" to test scores, especially for children from low-income families."

"'These kids have lost loved ones, been in abusive situations, homeless, expelled from traditional and alternative schools, incarcerated,' Ryan said. 'Some haven't even been to school since Katrina.'"

"Critics warn against relying too much on standardized tests to judge teachers. And some Hillsborough teachers worry they'll be penalized for teaching low-income students or those with special needs."