"the gap between the rich and everyone else, has been growing markedly, by every major statistical measure, for some 30 years" This describes the growing gap between income of the lower class and the upper class. This can help you picture why this is becoming such a big problem.

"Districts with higher poverty rates have fewer highly educated, experienced teachers and less stable teaching staffs. Students from low-income New York City families of all ethnic groups have little chance of being tested for gifted-and-talented program eligibility." This article shows that even in the public school system economic class decides your education. It shows how the poor areas have worse schools than others.