Some states still leave low-income students behind; Others make surprising gains, By Sharona Coutts and Jennifer LaFleur, June 30, 2011, ProPublica.org: “Florida is a state of stark contrasts. Travel a few miles from the opulent mansions of Miami Beach and you reach desperately poor neighborhoods. There’s the grinding poverty of sugar cane country and the growing middle class of Jacksonville. All told, half the public-school students in Florida qualify for subsidized lunches. Many are the first in their families to speak English or contemplate attending college. In many states, those economic differences are reflected in the classroom, with students in wealthy schools taking many more advanced courses. But not in Florida. A ProPublica analysis of previously unreleased federal data shows that Florida leads the nation in the percentage of high-school students enrolled in high-level classes-Advanced Placement and advanced math. That holds true across rich and poor districts. Studies repeatedly have shown that students who take advanced classes have greater chances of attending and succeeding in college. Our analysis identifies several states that, like Florida, have leveled the field and now offer rich and poor students roughly equal access to high-level courses…”

State orders $15 reduction per person in monthly welfare checks, By Erik Larsen, June 30, 2011, Asbury Park Press: “Changes in the state budget for the new fiscal year that begins Friday will result in funding reductions to welfare programs that are administered by New Jersey’s 21 county governments. The reductions had been discussed as a possibility but are now official, according to Mary Fran McFadden, director of the Ocean County Board of Social Services. Letters have been sent to recipients to notify them of the changes. The state Division of Family Development has ordered the counties to make a $15 per person reduction in monthly welfare checks issued to single adults and childless couples…”

DCF: Positive drug test will lead to child abuse hotline referral, By Catherine Whittenburg, June 28, 2011, Tampa Bay Tribune: “Starting next month, Florida’s social service agency will refer every welfare applicant who fails a drug test to a child abuse hotline. State officials deny the drug test results may be used to remove children from their parents, but civil rights activists fear it will. Beginning Friday, anyone applying to the state for temporary cash assistance must pass a drug test to receive benefits…”