Tennessee
State Government
Governor
Bill Lee (R)
State Senate
6
Democrats,
27
Republicans
State House
24
Democrats,
75
Republicans
Economic well-being - Tennessee
Extreme poverty rate
0.1
Food insecurity
0.156
Minimum wage
7.25
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line
0.314
Poverty rate
13.5%
Unemployment rate
3.6
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
9.7
Poverty by demographic - Tennessee
Child poverty rate
0.19
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty
4000
Number of Black or African American children below 200% poverty
157000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children below 200% poverty
104000
Senior poverty rate
12.2 %
Women in poverty
3,611,301
The Tennessean, November 23, 2012: TN schools teeter on fiscal cliff
"Funding for special needs and poor students appears to be most in jeopardy if the nation plunges over the so-called fiscal cliff' - a mix of draconian spending cuts and tax hikes that experts say could push the economy back into a recession."
The Leaf-Chronicle, November 21, 2012: Holiday program helps struggling seniors
"With so many older adults living alone and in poverty, some Clarksville- and- surrounding-area seniors will likely be struggling to make ends meet this holiday season. That's why the area Home Instead Senior Care office has partnered with retailers and community organizations to help make sure isolated seniors receive gifts and companionship through the Be a Santa to a Senior' program."
The Tennessean, November 12, 2012: Eat at Toot's to help kids Shop with the Sheriff
"Rutherford County Sheriff's Office initiated the Shop with the Sheriff event in 2011 to help 25 of the 600-plus homeless students enrolled in Rutherford County Schools. To fund the event, Sheriff Robert Arnold and other school resource officers partnered with Toot's South restaurant by asking customers to donate money."
The Tennessean, November 02, 2012: Metro schools' achievement gap is tough to close
"Metro schools are unusual in the high number of low-income students they serve, Kindall said, adding that research proves poverty has a big impact on education. But Kindall also says the school system hasn't focused the proper amount of energy on the problem."
Chattanooga Times Free Press, October 07, 2012: Hamilton County schools' to-do list just keeps growing
"Hunger among some students has become so common that one elementary school teacher keeps a bagful of Froot Loops near her classroom door. When kids arrive with clothes too ragged or dirty -- or don't come at all because they lack clothing -- schools make sure they have something decent to wear."
The Tennessean, October 03, 2012: State grant helps Nashville students on path to college
"About 2,000 Metro Nashville students will get a major boost toward higher education, thanks to a $3.4 million grant from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. The GEAR UP' grant was awarded to the Metro school system earlier this week and will help fund programs that target low-income middle and high school students who could become the first members of their family to attend college."