Louisiana
State Government
Governor
Jeff Landry (R)
State Senate
11
Democrats,
28
Republicans
State House
32
Democrats,
73
Republicans
Economic well-being - Louisiana
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
18.7%
Unemployment rate
4.4
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
7.7
Poverty by demographic - Louisiana
Child poverty rate
0.3
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty
N/A
Number of Black or African American children below 200% poverty
225000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children below 200% poverty
51000
Senior poverty rate
14.2 %
Women in poverty
2,308,952
Times-Picayune, May 17, 2013: (Op-Ed) Scholarship program shouldn't be a dream deferred
"The latest barrier being put in the way of children's interests is the decision by the Louisiana Supreme Court that the funding method for the Louisiana Scholarship Program is unconstitutional. Fortunately there is a fix. Gov. Bobby Jindal and the Legislature must find a different method to fund the program, which allows some low-income families to send their children to private and parochial schools."
The Times-Picayune, February 08, 2013: Fewer kindergarteners in high-poverty New Orleans neighborhoods 'developmentally vulnerable,' study finds
"A new study has unexpected good news for New Orleans' education system: Several high-poverty neighborhoods are sending a relatively low number of children to kindergarten who are considered developmentally vulnerable,' according to data released this week by the Orleans Public Education Network."
Daily World, January 04, 2013: Study looks at risk factors facing La. kids
"The Imagination Library mails age-appropriate books to impoverished homes for children up through age 5, in an effort to jumpstart their interest in reading and increase their literacy. From birth to 5 is when the brain is growing and absorbing the most,' Fisher said. If they start kindergarten and they're not prepared, they're already behind. A kindergarten teacher can tell when a child hasn't been exposed to books.'"
The Advocate, November 27, 2012: Teachers group to push repeal of Jindal's laws
"The chief targets of the LFT's wrath, as they have been for months, are two laws enacted earlier this year. One expanded Louisiana's voucher program from New Orleans only to a statewide choice for low-income students attending troubled public schools to switch to private and parochial schools at state expense."
The Advocate, October 23, 2012: School forum on challenges
"The Lafayette Parish School System should look for ways to diversify the student population on its campuses if it wants to improve achievement in its high-poverty schools, Lafayette City-Parish Council member Kenneth Boudreaux said during a Monday evening forum focused on the impact of poverty on schools."
Times-Picayune, August 05, 2012: Private school voucher program leaves 4,000 families out in the cold
"Open to any low-income family with a child slated to attend a school rated C or below, the program could technically have drawn as many as 380,000 applicants. Yet more families ultimately asked for a spot than could be accommodated at the 119 participating schools. Of the 9,750 applications deemed eligible, about 5,600 got matched to a seat."