Maryland’s ‘achievement gap’ highlighted by new advocacy group (Washington Post): “Maryland has the second largest disparity in the country between low-income students and their wealthier classmates on the 8th grade math test the fourth largest socio-economic disparity in the country on the corresponding 8th grade English test,” MarylandCAN reports in their “State of Maryland Public Education.” Says MarylandCAN executive director Curtis Valentine, “We have a lot to be proud of in Maryland when it comes to educating our kids … but we struggle to serve all Maryland students.”

Does Charity Advocacy Pay Off? (Chronicle of Philanthropy): “A study released today from a foundation watchdog group says that advocacy efforts by charities can pay off, to the tune of billions of dollars to communities. The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy study examined 110 charities in 13 states and found that work such as pushing for more aid to schools and housing for the poor resulted in $26.6-billion in benefits to communities over five years.” And according to the report, every $1 spent on advocacy led to $115 on average in benefit to the communities served.

Microsoft Partners With DC For ‘Digital Alliance’ (WAMU 88.5): “Microsoft has a struck a deal with the District to help train residents and students for jobs in technology. The city is calling it a Digital Alliance; Microsoft says it will help train out-of-work residents, provide teaching and technological resources to schools, and award $100,000-worth of support and training to 10 local businesses.” Mayor Vincent Gray added that the relationship between the company and the city it set to evolve “over the next 6-12 months, but I think even more so over the next 6-12 years.”