The poverty excuse is 'a crutch that is unfounded in evidence'

"[P]overty can’t explain away America’s lackluster academic performance," write Michael J. Petrilli and Brandon Wright. "That excuse, however soothing it may be to educators, politicians, and social critics, turns out to be a crutch that is unfounded in evidence. We need to stop using it and start getting serious about improving the achievement of all the nation’s students."