New poverty stats from the census bureau…VA wants everyone to meet the same educational standards…HUD seeks housing funds back from Prince George’s County [News, 9.21.12]

POVERTY | The DC Fiscal Policy Institute digs into new American Community Survey statistics on the District released yesterday. Some of the stats are truly alarming (if not necessarily surprising) (DCFPI, 9/21) In 2011:

- 109,000 residents lived below the poverty line (defined as $23, 021 for a family of four), an increase of three percent since 2007.
- 32,000 children lived below the poverty line.
- Over 60,000 people lived below half the poverty line ($11, 511 for a family of four), an increase of 21 percent since 2007.

EDUCATION
- While stories earlier this week looked at how some states are proposing to close the racial achievement gap by setting different goals for different groups, Virginia is proposing to set the same, rigorous standards for everyone. (WaPo, 9/21)

- Some charter schools in D.C. suspend and expel a whole lot of students. (Examiner, 9/21)

- Rethinking the Classroom: Obama’s overhaul of public education (WaPo, 9/21)

EVENT | The Nonprofit Roundtable’s 10th anniversary celebration is coming up on October 10, and will feature the Meyer Foundation‘s Julie Rogers and Venture Philanthropy Partners‘ Mario Marino. More information and registration here.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING | The Department of Housing and Urban Development wants $2.4 million in federal funds intended for affordable housing back from Prince George’s County, which they say were mismanaged during former county executive Jack Johnson’s administration. (WaPo, 9/20)

PHILANTHROPY
- Opinion: Philanthropy Isn’t Waiting for Politicians to Assign it a Role (Chronicle, 9/16)

- Past philanthropists: How giving has evolved (BBC, 9/16)

NONPROFITS | The Eight-Word  Mission Statement (SSIR, 9/18)

Election season would be altogether more awesome if all candidates got the West Wing cast to do their ads.

-Rebekah