Indiana
State Government
Governor
Eric J. Holcomb (R)
State Senate
10
Democrats,
40
Republicans
State House
30
Democrats,
70
Republicans
Economic well-being - Indiana
Extreme poverty rate
0.1
Food insecurity
0.2
Minimum wage
7.3
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line
0.3
Poverty rate
12.2%
Unemployment rate
3.6
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
7.5
Family - Indiana
Children in foster care
$10,563.00
Percent of children in immigrant families
13%
Percent of children living in single parent families
34%
The Indianapolis Star, November 21, 2012: (Editorial) Families are winners with vouchers
"More than 80 percent of voucher recipients qualify for free and reduced-price lunches, a common measure of poverty. About half of the students are minorities, including 20 percent who are black and 19 percent Hispanic. Two-thirds live in urban areas, where many of Indiana's worst-performing public schools are located. In only the second year of the voucher program, more than 9,300 students have been given the freedom to attend schools of their choice. Indiana's is the fast-growing voucher system in the nation. But is it constitutional?"
The Indianapolis Star, July 1, 2012: Why Waivers May Be Inflating Graduation Rates In Indianapolis Public Schools
"That percentage of black students who used a district-approved waiver is not only high, it is disproportionate even when compared with other demographic groups educators identify as at-risk. For example, one in seven Indiana students who receive free and reduced-price school meals -- a standard measure of poverty -- received waivers. For Hispanic students, it also was one in seven."
Indianapolis Business Journal, June 23,2012: Jobs go unfilled because workers lack needed skills
"A survey of 1,123 manufacturing executives released last year found that 67 percent of companies had a moderate to severe shortage of available, qualified workers. The report estimated 600,000 jobs nationwide were going unfilled because of a lack of qualified candidates"
The Indianapolis Star, February 24, 2012: Grading system likely to hurt high-poverty schools most
"Indianapolis Public School 46 is a success story, a lauded example of how a school whose students come from poverty can excel with help from a community partner. Just last week, Kroger announced that the grocery chain would again commit $100,000 in cash and volunteers this year to the school it adopted 27 years ago."
Belleville News-Democrat, January 19, 2012: 'Poverty plays a huge role': District 201 chief wants to close racial gap in test scores
"New District 201 Superintendent Jeff Dosier said Wednesday that one of his top priorities is to close the achievement gap between white and black students. Dosier said a recent slip in the district's state report card scores are in part because of a gap between the achievement levels of its black and white students."
Palladium-Item, December 20, 2011: Seniors' holidays brightened by food donations
"Senior citizens in Preble County, Ohio, and in five Indiana counties received holiday gifts of food and other items through the Preble County Council on Aging and the Richmond-based Area 9 In-Home and Community Services Agency."