In yesterday's New York Times, Helen F. Ladd and Edward B. Fiske write that NCLB's efforts to improve schools for low income students were noble, but misguided. It is impossible to improve education for those kids without dealing with the larger problems outside the school building. They say those kids need access to good nutrion, summer experiences, mentoring and tutoring. 

Harry B at Crooked Timber has a great graph showing the increasing correlation between education and educational incomes. (I think that there's more than just growing income inequality behind that particular graph, but that's slightly off topic.) 

While I totally support the programs that Ladd and Fiske suggest, I sincerely doubt whether a mentoring program would really put a dent in the depressing school/income correlation.

The people in low income community need jobs. If you have a job, then you're not depressed and can interact with your kids, follow up with teachers, and vote at school board elections. You will vote to approve the school budget, because you can afford to pay the extra $50 in taxes. If you have a job, you can afford to move to the next town where they have better schools. Maybe jobs are the silver bullet.