Pennsylvania

"Children who enrolled in Head Start at 3 years of age improved more than children who started Head Start at age 4. More generally, studies show that children reared in poverty during their first 5 to 6 years have substantially poorer long-term educational, health and economic outcomes than children reared in poverty after 5 to 6 years of age. So the early years are very important."

"Roca, who also runs the Penn Program for Mindfulness at the University of Pennsylvania, was among four panelists who spoke about understanding stress in children who suffer trauma or live in poverty. They covered the effects on brain development and stimulation, and discussed the importance of nurturing infants, intervening at the preschool level, and teaching social skills."

"If the cuts occur, it's not likely that low-income families and the elderly will see immediate changes, experts said, although the timing of any potential changes isn't known. You're going to see vulnerable groups losing access to food aid that they've been relying on,' said Julie Zaebst, interim director of the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger. And as devastating as these potential cuts are, they're taking place in a context in which families and seniors are already feeling previous cuts.'"

"To determine how many property owners in the township are age 65 or older, residents will be asked to respond to a survey that they will receive with their spring property tax statements, which will be mailed in two weeks. The survey will enable supervisors to plan for the loss of property taxes from such a rebate."

"The various ways in which poverty at home affects a child at school include physical and mental challenges. All can damage a child's overall well-being. The impact of poverty on a child depends on his or her home environment and attitude toward his situation, said Lynn Troutman, a counselor at James Buchanan High School, Tuscarora Area School District. Effects can include poor nutrition, dressing inappropriately for the weather, sleepiness, incomplete assignments and more issues that can cause a student to lack focus in the classroom or not comprehend material."

"Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to change how state education dollars are distributed would give a big financial boost to some Inland school districts, according to new estimates. But in other districts, particularly those in southwest Riverside County, the increases would be much smaller. Brown's goal is to help schools with bigger challenges, such as educating those who don't speak English or who live in poverty. But it also would create wide division in funding levels among Inland districts."