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
USA Today, October 08, 2012: In Fla. county, no hungry school-age child left behind
"Last May, The Children's Hunger Project started in co-founder Sam Jordan's kitchen in Melbourne and began packing meals for 27 impoverished students at Riviera Elementary in Palm Bay. The fast-growing non-profit now feeds about 500 kids who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches at a dozen elementary schools."
Tampa Bay Times, October 02, 2012: FAST looks for allies in its fight over reading instruction
"The Pinellas County school district has repeatedly rejected calls from a faith-based alliance to change the way reading instruction is delivered in high-poverty elementary schools."
The News-Press, September 28, 2012: Grant will boost Lee County teacher incentives
"A teacher leader would have a longer contract year than a traditional teacher and work as a coach to other teachers who are not ranked highly effective.' The teacher leader would receive $10,000 in addition to his or her salary. Highly effective teachers who enter struggling and high poverty schools to teach high-demand subjects such as math, science or special education could receive a $3,000 bonus."
Jacksonville Business Journal, September 14, 2012: School lunch programs feel recession's strain
"Programs like Feeding Children Everywhere, based in Sanford, help make sure students are prepared to be educated. As many studies have shown, proper nutrition helps with learning. If a student comes to school hungry, his focus and concentration are compromised, said Trey Csar, president of the Jacksonville Public Education Fund. Poverty is one of the biggest challenges urban school districts face, Csar said. Kids who are hungry throughout the day are focused on things other than learning."
Sun-Sentinel, September 07, 2012: On-ramp to cyberspace: Delray expanding free Internet access to neighborhood
"The tools of knowledge will be within easier reach for low-income kids living in a 2-square-mile swath of Delray Beach as the city launches its first cloud of wireless Internet for a residential area. Starting next month, up to 852 families living in the range of this free Wi-Fi also will be eligible for free reconditioned personal computers. It's all part of a city-powered effort to boost access to knowledge that has involved everyone from elementary-age children to Florida Power & Light officials."
Tampa Bay Times, August 24, 2012: Children's Board shifts standards for grants to nonprofits
"Board members of Hillsborough's leading children's agency signed off on a $20.4 million plan that for the first time requires local nonprofits to compete for contracts to provide such services as mentoring for pregnant teens and education for low-income migrant families."