Massachusetts
State Government
Governor
Maura Healey (D)
State Senate
36
Democrats,
4
Republicans
State House
133
Democrats,
25
Republicans
Economic well-being - Massachusetts
Extreme poverty rate
0.1
Food insecurity
0.1
Minimum wage
15.0
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line
0.2
Poverty rate
9.7%
Unemployment rate
4.8
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
2.8
Poverty by demographic - Massachusetts
Child poverty rate
0.1
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty
19000
Number of Black or African American children below 200% poverty
53000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children below 200% poverty
139000
Senior poverty rate
10.8 %
Women in poverty
3,531,015
The Boston Globe, April 30, 2014: New school ratings bring criticism from charter backers
"The change, charter school advocates say, goes against the spirit of a four-year-old state law that aims to double charter-school enrollment in the lowest-performing districts, which tend to have the greatest concentration of high-needs students, such as those from low-income households."
The Attleboro Sun Chronicle, February 27, 2014: Costs of busing homeless students on the rise in Attleboro area schools
"Homelessness isn't just taking a toll on families locally, it's also placing an increasing burden on local schools."
The Boston Herald, December 22, 2013: (Op-Ed) Homelessness a crisis in schools
"Boston Public Schools are facing significant challenges many of which, including turnaround schools, busing costs, and deteriorating buildings, are well known. Yet increasingly, school leaders are counting higher percentages of homeless children among their student body. It's an issue that's largely been kept quiet, but one that puts our city's children and education system at significant risk. To continue to ignore the problem simply because there's not an easy solution is unacceptable."
The Melrose Free Press, October 31, 2013: (Op-Ed) Sen. Clark: Families helping families in need
"Earlier this year the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education reported that more than 15,000 public school students in the commonwealth are homeless. They are living in shelters with their families, doubling up with other relatives, awaiting foster care, or are unaccompanied on the streets."
The Boston Globe, October 25, 2013: State lawmaker seeks info to help address rise in homeless students
"To get a better grasp on the number of homeless students in Massachusetts, one lawmaker wants the state education commissioner to conduct an annual review of school districts' implementation of the McKinney-Vento Act, which is aimed at ensuring that homeless children are enrolled and served in schools."
The Boston Globe, October 25, 2013: State Rep. Denise Provost wants annual review of homeless children enrolled in schools
"To get a better grasp on the number of homeless students in Massachusetts, one lawmaker wants the state education commissioner to conduct an annual review of school districts' implementation of the McKinney-Vento Act, which is aimed at ensuring that homeless children are enrolled and served in schools."