The annual "The State of America's Children," from the Children's Defense Fund takes a close look at 37 million people living in America who are poor (including 13 million children) and the growing numbers of families struggling to survive. The 2005 edition includes most recent (September2005) U.S. poverty data and in-depth analyses of the current status of family income, child health, child care and early childhood development, education, child welfare and youth development. Chapter Four, which can be downloaded for free, contains education issues (including NCLB, school funding, high-stakes testing and zero tolerance policies). http://www.childrensdefense.org/publications/greenbook/

Published Friday, May. 12, 2006