Ohio
State Government
Governor
Mike DeWine (R)
State Senate
7
Democrats,
26
Republicans
State House
32
Democrats,
67
Republicans
Economic well-being - Ohio
Extreme poverty rate
0.09
Food insecurity
0.153
Minimum wage
10.7
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line
0.295
Poverty rate
12.7%
Unemployment rate
5
Number of Black or African American children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment
223000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment
Percent of individuals who are uninsured
6.7
Dayton Daily News, February 19, 2013: Adults forced to borrow more to attend college
"Community Research Partners found that the state's policy making students at two-year schools ineligible for the Ohio College Opportunity Grant has resulted in college being less accessible to low-income and nontraditional students."
The Columbus Dispatch, February 14, 2013: Push builds for financial-aid changes
"Even after recent significant increases, the maximum Pell Grant today covers the smallest share of the cost of attending a public college since the program started 40 years ago, advocates say. As a result, the gap in college enrollment and graduation rates between children from high- and low-income families has widened over the past 30 years. To help reduce the gap, many Ohio schools have added new grants and scholarships and increased the amount of their awards."
The Columbus Dispatch, February 03, 2013: Only limit on new voucher is the budget
"Nearly half of Ohio's 1.8 million elementary and secondary students could qualify in the coming years for tax-funded tuition to private schools under Gov. John Kasich's plan to expand the state's voucher program, which would change the face of education in the Buckeye State."
Bucyrus Telegraph Forum, January 16, 2013: Educators learn plight of poverty-stricken students
"The school is taking steps to address that problem. The gymnasium at Bucyrus Secondary School was bustling with activity Monday as teachers and other professionals in the community learned what it is like for a child to live in poverty. Because of an anonymous donation from a Bucyrus community member, district Superintendent Kevin Kimmel set up The Community Action Poverty Simulation training for middle- and high-school teachers and other professionals in the community."
The Cincinnati Enquirer, January 04, 2013: How school improved by 2 letter-grades on Ohio report card
"The Over-the-Rhine charter school serves 261 students in grades K-8. The students are almost exclusively minority and low-income, from tough urban neighborhoods. Nearly 16 percent have disabilities. They all qualify for the free or reduced-price lunch program because of their poverty level."
Newark Advocate, November 20, 2012: Newark schools, agencies work to curb hunger
"To say it affects the school is an understatement,' she said. Oftentimes, we have kids who haven't eaten since they came to school the day before.' To qualify for free lunch through the federally assisted meal program, students must come from a family with a household income that is at or less than 130 percent of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's established poverty guidelines."