California

"State education officials say the number of homeless students continues to rise.More than 27,000 students were reported as homeless in the 2011-12 school year. That number is up about 5 percent from 2010-11 and up nearly 47 percent from the beginning of the recession."

"Halfway into the 2012-13 academic year, the number of homeless students being tracked countywide has fallen by more than 200 from the end of last year. The figures -- from 1,536 at the end of 2011-12 to 1,328 now -- come as some districts report more students without permanent homes while others reported fewer."

"A 2012 study by the New York-based Community College Resource Center suggested programs in which high schools offer college-credit courses could be a step toward equity for students from low-income and minority backgrounds. Studying California students in particular, researchers reported that those taking the college-credit courses are more likely to graduate high school, enroll in four-year colleges and be successful once they get there."

"So Brown is proposing to start with a base of $6,816 per student (equal shares to equals), adding extra money for students who are English learners, low-income or in foster care (unequal shares to unequals). And he repeated his Aristotelian maxim in Thursday's State of the State address: Equal treatment for children in unequal situations is not justice.'"

"A city panel Monday will discuss ways to give low-income seniors a break on high-efficiency toilets, clothes washers and landscaping. The Community Sustainability Commission requested information on potential water-saving programs to ease the blow to seniors of recently approved water rate increases. The city is also phasing out water-rate subsidies available to residents age 60 and over."

"Schools rejoiced in November when Proposition 30 passed, putting a stop to massive budget cuts to public schools. But some districts, particularly in higher-income communities, are wondering whether they celebrated prematurely, now that Gov. Jerry Brown has unveiled a funding formula that would give the most money to schools serving the neediest children. Under the governor's plan, to be phased in through 2020, students who are English learners or who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches would bring districts 35 percent more in per-pupil funding than other students. Schools where low-income and non-English-speaking students represent more than half the population would get even more funding on top of the extra 35 percent."