Education can crush poverty: "The Census Bureau reported this month that the number of Americans living in poverty rose by more than 1 million people in 2004 to 37 million -- the fourth straight year that the poverty rate has grown.

The Office of Management and Budget defines poverty for a family of four as being an annual income of $19,307; for a family of three, $15,067; for a family of two, $12,334; and for individuals, $9,645."