Kentucky
State Government
Governor
Andy Beshear (D)
State Senate
7
Democrats,
31
Republicans
State House
20
Democrats,
80
Republicans
Economic well-being - Kentucky
Extreme poverty rate
0.1
Food insecurity
0.2
Minimum wage
7.3
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line
0.4
Poverty rate
15.6%
Unemployment rate
4.7
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
6.8
The Courier-Journal, December 20, 2011: 35,000 students will receive free weekend meals
"A program that stuffs thousands of backpacks full of peanut butter, crackers and cereal every Friday so Jefferson County elementary students from low-income homes have something to eat each weekend is about get much bigger."
The Lexington Herald Leader, September 29, 2011: Test scores reveal Ky. educational challenges
"Poverty is assuredly a factor in the achievement gap. But it's not the whole story. Students who receive free or reduced-price school meals, the common measure of poverty, are performing better than black students."
The Courier-Journal, September 28, 2011: Oldham schools fall short of testing goals
"Oldham as a district made 15 of 22 of its goals this year, falling short with math and reading among black students, low-income students and students with disabilities. The district also missed it's math goal among Hispanic students."
The Courier-Journal, September 26, 2011: Less than half of Kentucky schools meeting; No Child Left Behind goals
"For the first time, the majority of Kentucky's public schools have failed to meet federal goals in reading and math on statewide tests, according to state test results released Tuesday."