California
State Government
Governor
Gavin Newsom (D)
State Senate
32
Democrats,
8
Republicans
State House
62
Democrats,
17
Republicans
Economic well-being - California
Extreme poverty rate
0.1
Food insecurity
0.1
Minimum wage
16.5
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line
0.3
Poverty rate
11.8%
Unemployment rate
5.5
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
5.9
Housing - California
Home foreclosure rate
1 in 3407
People experiencing homelessness
187,084.0
Households paying more than 50% of income on housing
1,633,600.0
Percent renters
0.4
Poverty by demographic - California
Child poverty rate
0.2
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty
251000
Number of Black or African American children below 200% poverty
192000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children below 200% poverty
1981000
Senior poverty rate
12.0 %
Women in poverty
19,461,027
The Sacramento Bee, July 12, 2013: Money flows to California schools, but little goes to summer programs
"The loss of summer learning has sparked concern that low-income students suffer as summer classes vanish. While wealthier families can afford summer camps and private academic studies, low-income children have limited opportunities beyond those at their neighborhood school."
The Sacramento Bee, June 09, 2013: (Editorial) Chance to lift up disadvantaged K-12 students
"In his most ambitious overhaul effort yet, Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed to dramatically change how California funds education. Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, and Assembly Speaker John A. P̩rez, D-Los Angeles, in their final years in the Legislature, should get behind the governor's effort. Brown's idea is to replace state-mandated categorical programs with a new formula that provides a basic level of funding, with additional money for disadvantaged students and those learning English."
The Merced Sun-Star, June 05, 2013: More money for schools expected under Brown's plan
"'Under the governor's proposal, it will be a lot better,' Cannella said. There is a great injustice in funding. Palo Alto gets $14,000 per student, while in Merced County it's $6,200 per student. Merced County has the second-highest poverty rate in the state.'"
The Los Angeles Daily News, June 05, 2013: 4 more LAUSD schools qualify for federal anti-poverty money
"An LAUSD recount of applications for Title I funding determined that four more schools qualified to receive thousands of dollars in federal anti-poverty money, officials said Wednesday. A total of about $182,000 will be shared in 2013-14 by Daniel Pearl High School in Lake Balboa, Enadia Way Charter Elementary in West Hills, Atwater Elementary in Silver Lake and the Performing Arts Community School in South L.A., said Matt Hill, the district's strategy officer."
San Jose Mercury News, June 04, 2013: (Op-Ed) Gov. Brown's school finance reforms: Don't take a few cents on the dollar away from poor districts
"For years, students, teachers and administrators in California's poorest districts have been given every disadvantage possible. Brown wants to fix that injustice. We hope the Legislature will work with him to find a truly just solution."
Los Angeles Times, May 28, 2013: (Editorial) Fairly funding California's schools
"This is the way to fund schools: simple, transparent and cognizant of the fact that disadvantaged students -- who make up 60% of the public school population -- are more expensive to educate, through no fault of their own. Every student in the state must have a safe place to attend school, and the schools of low-income students are more likely to be located in dangerous neighborhoods."