To learn more about Washington Area Women’s Foundation’s investments in early care and education, please click here.

“Exciting news about Maryland: not only did the state take the top spot in Education Week’s Quality Counts 2013 report, Maryland got especially high marks when it came to early care and education. Each year, the Quality Counts report card evaluates American education, assigning a grade and rank to each state and the District. “For 2013, the nation receives a C-plus when graded across the six distinct areas of policy and performance tracked by the report, marking a slight improvement since last year,” said Education Week.

In today’s rundown: Infant care in D.C. costs more than public college tuition. | A look at homeless services in the District after money earmarked for needy families was spent on a teen summer employment program. | Elena Kagan is sworn in as a Supreme Court Justice. | And, for the first time, a woman will head a major US intelligence agency.

In today’s rundown: Major changes to D.C.’s subsidized guardianship laws.  |  Emergency executive orders mean higher taxes, fees and fines in the District.  |  And the youth job market outlook just in time for the end of the school year.

In today’s rundown: Parents struggle to find child care for their children as subsidies fail to keep up with demand.  |  Prince George’s County teens get access to safe summer programs.  |  An ad campaign reminds local fathers to “take time to be a dad.”

In today’s rundown: The D.C. Council passes emergency legislation to help foster families.  |  Why do women still earn less than men?  |  Remembering Dorothy Height and her fight for equality.

The latest news, analysis and opinion on the state of low-income women and their families from Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity.  This week: Why extreme poverty can lead to pregnancy problems…. Plus, cuts could be made to a monthly stipend that former Florida foster children depend on.

In today’s rundown: Solutions for the high cost of child care.  |  Promising new legislation that will invest in community colleges.  |  The impact of women’s philanthropy.

Eating for two?  That’s one of the biggest myths of pregnancy.  ”Parents’ Perspective,” the award-winning weekly radio program tackles the issues in its “Nutrition for Pregnancy” podcast (available at www.parentsperspective.org).

Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity, a national foundation-led initiative, is excited to collaborate with The Women’s Foundation to bring you the latest news and analysis on women and poverty.

Spotlight is the go-to site for news and ideas about fighting poverty.