Florida
State Government
Governor
Ron DeSantis (R)
State Senate
12
Democrats,
28
Republicans
State House
36
Democrats,
84
Republicans
Economic well-being - Florida
Extreme poverty rate
0.1
Food insecurity
0.1
Minimum wage
13.0
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line
0.3
Poverty rate
12.0%
Unemployment rate
3.8
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
10.9
Poverty by demographic - Florida
Child poverty rate
0.2
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty
31000
Number of Black or African American children below 200% poverty
445000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children below 200% poverty
628000
Senior poverty rate
12.1 %
Women in poverty
11,688,390
Orlando Sentinel, December 16, 2012: More Lake school children homeless than ever
"More and more Lake families with schoolchildren are finding themselves in shelters, hotels or doubled up with other families, according to an October state report. Last school year, officials counted 3,541 homeless students -- about four times more than were identified in the 2008-09 school year. Last year's numbers, which were released statewide for comparison this fall, show Lake has the fourth-highest homeless-student population in the state. But despite a decline in the unemployment rate, homelessness is only expected to grow."
Orlando Sentinel, December 06, 2012: Seminole rezone affects five more schools
"Spring Lake Elementary is overcrowded, but Sabal Point, Wekiva, Forest City and Bear Lake elementary schools have excess student desks. Sabal Point, which is farthest from Spring Lake, has the most room. The rezoning plans developed by the committee must balance the percentage of low-income students at each school."
Sun-Sentinel, December 05, 2012: Team searches for thousands of homeless students
"As many as 6,000 children and their families are entitled to free lunches, waived fees, school supplies and other financial help, but aren't receiving it, according to school district estimates. Many of them don't fit the traditional picture of homelessness -- living outside, in parks or beneath overpasses -- but some do. Under an energetic new leader, the former principal of Alexander W. Dreyfoos Jr. School of the Arts, the Homeless Education Assistance Resource Team is trying to find these children -- and then help make sure they graduate."
USA Today, December 01, 2012: (Op-Ed) Florida's education reform model can unite us
"Florida also focused on preparing all students for college by becoming a national leader in giving low-income students access to Advanced Placement (AP) classes and encouraging them to take college entrance exams. Last year, SAT scores for Florida's African American and Hispanic students increased even as they stagnated in most of the country."
The News-Press, November 29, 2012: Forum focuses on improving Collier County schools
"Haycock said Collier's student demographics are more acute than the rest of the country. Of Collier's 43,247 students, about 44 percent are Hispanic and 12 percent are black. About 60 percent of Collier's students are low-income. About 47 percent come from homes in which English isn't the first language."
Orlando Sentinel, November 29, 2012: (Op-Ed) Scholarships help equalize opportunity
"The tax-credit scholarship is one of Florida's five scholarships. It strives to give low-income students access to the same learning options now available to more affluent families, via a $4,335 scholarship. This program complements other choice programs, such as magnet and charter schools, and is built on the truism that students learn in different ways."