Poorest School Kids in Warwick, RI Get Cold Sandwiches Rather Than Hot Meals

from the AP:

WARWICK, R.I. (AP) — A Rhode Island school district will begin serving cold sandwiches instead of hot lunches to students whose families owe lunch money.

Warwick Public Schools says it is owed more than $40,000 from outstanding lunch payments and cannot afford to absorb the costs.

The new policy begins next Monday.

A local restaurant owner wrote on Facebook that the district twice turned down a $4,000 donation for the lunch debt.

The district responded in a statement saying it must treat all students equally and cannot single out which debts to reduce.

The district recommended the donor take applications and decide who receives the money.
Critics say such lunch debt policies shame children for something outside of their control.

Pending legislation would change state law making free hot lunches available for all students regardless of income.

Call this idiot: 

Superintendent of Warwick Public Schools
Philip Thornton, Ed.D.
401-734-3100 philip.thornton@warwickschools.org

The Kanamits of Kaplan "Serving the Poor"

I don't want to pick on Kaplan too much, for it is surely not the only corporate culture devoted to "serving the poor."  Fortunately, though, for many millions who were lined up to fly away on what they expected be a great educational adventure, a few hardworking Congressmen have been able to translate Kaplan's slick catalog, "To Serve the Poor:"  
DON'T GET ON THAT EDU-SHIP, FOLKS --"TO SERVE THE POOR"--IT'S A COOKBOOK!

From NYTimes:

. . . .“We purchased colleges that served mostly poor students, and we have embraced that role,” Mr. Graham said. “For students with risk factors, older working students with children, Kaplan has dramatically better graduation rates than community colleges.”

The company has acknowledged, however, that the new rules could hurt Kaplan. According to 2009 data released this summer by the Department of Education, only 28 percent of Kaplan’s students were repaying their student loans. That figure is well below the 45 percent threshold that most programs will need to remain fully eligible for the federal aid on which they rely. By comparison, 44 percent of students at the largest for-profit, the University of Phoenix, were repaying their loans.

Kaplan is facing several legal challenges. The Florida attorney general is investigating eight for-profit colleges, including Kaplan, for alleged misrepresentation of financial aid and deceptive practices regarding recruitment, enrollment, accreditation, placement and graduation rates.

Kaplan is also facing several federal whistle-blower lawsuits whose accusations dovetail with the findings of an undercover federal investigation of the for-profit industry this summer, including video of high-pressure recruiting and unrealistic salary promises.. . .