Alabama
State Government
Governor
Kay Ivey (R)
State Senate
8
Democrats,
24
Republicans
State House
28
Democrats,
76
Republicans
Economic well-being - Alabama
Extreme poverty rate
0.1
Food insecurity
0.2
Minimum wage:
7.3
Number of Black or African American children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment
Number of Hispanic or Latino children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment
Percent of individuals who are uninsured
8.2
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line
0.3
Poverty rate
15.2%
Unemployment rate
2.9
Poverty by demographic - Alabama
Child poverty rate:
0.2
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty
N/A
Number of Black or African American children below 200% poverty
197000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children below 200% poverty
56000
Senior poverty rate
11.9 %
Women in poverty
2,595,391
Tuscaloosa News, November 29, 2014: Court to hear arguments on Accountability Act
"The Alabama Supreme Court will hear arguments Wednesday in a challenge to the Alabama Accountability Act. The law provides state income tax credits to help low-income parents cover the cost of private school tuition with priority given to families zoned for schools designated as failing. The court could be the final stop in a long battle over whether the Republican-backed 2013 school legislation is legal and if it was properly approved during a tumultuous 2013 night in the Alabama Legislature."
The Montgomery Advertiser, September 15, 2013: (Op-Ed) Elderly need more healthcare options
"While independence may become more challenging with age, a little assistance can go a long way in keeping people safely in their own homes. Alabama's Medicaid program should make this a priority in its spending for long-term care."
Birmingham News, March 05, 2013: (Op-Ed) Alabama Accountability Act gives parents a choice for their children
"By setting a portion of the tax credit scholarship funding aside for students from low-income families, our Legislature has set a strong precedent. For the first time, those Alabama parents that once felt helpless have now been empowered with the freedom of choice."
Birmingham News, December 18, 2012: Combating the 'Summer slide': Birmingham coalition gives nearly $500,000 in grants to prevent summer learning loss
"Nearly $500,000 in grants will go to local learning programs aimed to keep Birmingham-area students from experiencing the summer slide' which research shows happens to children when their minds are idle for three months in the summertime. Summer learning loss contributes to the achievement gap between low-income students and their higher-income peers, research shows."
The Christian Science Monitor, September 30, 2011: Alabama immigration law leaves schools gripped by uncertainty
"Opponents argue that in the broader context of the immigration-enforcement law, the school provision will serve as a barrier for many families and end up denying innocent children their constitutional right to a public education."
Birmingham News, August 28, 2011: We can do better than charter schools, merit pay
The first thing he can do is to get back on his motorcycle and travel Alabama, visiting schools and spending quality time in them. Spend a day in a classroom of any high-poverty school. Don't just dash in, wander the halls for a few minutes and leave. Get to understand the context of what teachers and principals face daily.