Oregon
State Government
Governor
Tina Kotek (D)
State Senate
17
Democrats,
12
Republicans
State House
35
Democrats,
25
Republicans
Economic well-being - Oregon
Extreme poverty rate
0.07
Food insecurity
0.142
Minimum wage
15.05
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line
0.274
Poverty rate
11.8%
Unemployment rate
5
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
5.2
The Oregonian, August 24, 2012: Hundreds of Oregon students with the grit and brains for college, but not the money, get it from Ford Family Foundation
"They, and hundreds of students like them all over Oregon, attend college with financial backing and advising from the Ford Family Foundation. The Roseburg-based charity was created by a southern Oregon lumberman a lot like them: scrappy, smart and determined to do good for others. Since 1994, the foundation started by Kenneth Ford and his wife, Hallie, has quietly helped nearly 2,000 young Oregonians with the grit and brains to succeed."
The Seattle Times, August 09, 2012: (Op-Ed) GEAR UP program helps students look up
"Private success so often depends on grants, loans, subsidies and infrastructure provided by all of us.It also requires talented people, a resource that is sometimes in shorter supply than it needs to be. The rest of us have something to do with that as well. The congressman, Chaka Fattah of Philadelphia, introduced the bill that created GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs), almost 14 years ago. The program puts more low-income students on a track toward college and prepares them to succeed there."
The Oregonian, August 03, 2012: New Oregon school ratings show familiar patterns but highlight little-known 'model' schools
"For the first time, the state called attention not only to schools that failed to make the grade but also to those that soared. Twenty-seven schools that receive federal poverty money are hailed as model schools' whose highly effective techniques will be studied and shared."
The Oregonian, May 12, 2012: Preschool program aids Hopkins needy
"The Sherwood school with the highest percentage of low-income students is getting federal money for a free pre-kindergarten program next fall. Hopkins Elementary School is screening children for the half-day program. It's likely to be an afternoon class and will serve up to 20 students, said program coordinator Errin Esparza."
The Oregonian, March 10, 2012: Cuts loom for Portland students in need
"Portland Public Schools expects a precipitous drop in federal anti-poverty funding next school year --to $14.4 million, down from $20.2 million this year --and leaders are trying to figure out how best to ration help for vulnerable students."
The Oregonian, February 26, 2012: First, look to repair family breakdown
"We know poverty is a large factor in academic success. And poverty could be lessened by leaps and bounds --and time spent with a child on academics could increase --if two adults were working together with only one home's expenses and two adults' time and resources."