Texas
State Government
Governor
Greg Abbott (R)
State Senate
12
Democrats,
19
Republicans
State House
64
Democrats,
86
Republicans
Economic well-being - Texas
Extreme poverty rate
0.08
Food insecurity
0.176
Minimum wage
7.25
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line
0.313
Poverty rate
13.4%
Unemployment rate
4.1
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
16.7
Poverty by demographic - Texas
Child poverty rate
0.18
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty
79000
Number of Black or African American children below 200% poverty
463000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children below 200% poverty
1915000
Senior poverty rate
12.3 %
Women in poverty
15,455,699
The Dallas Morning News, May 01, 2013: (Blog) Free mosquito repellent available to low-income senior citizens in Dallas County
"As the mosquito-borne West Nile virus makes its return to North Texas this spring, free insect repellent is being offered to low-income senior citizens in Dallas County."
The New York Times, April 25, 2013: Aiming to Serve Free Breakfasts to All Students in Poor Areas
"Offering free breakfasts to all interested students in low-income areas, not just to those who qualify under federal guidelines, is a program that some state legislators are trying to expand to schools in poor neighborhoods across Texas."
The Houston Chronicle, April 21, 2013: Reagan High School gains footing on road to success
"Berger's efforts are paying off. Reagan High is the best urban high school in the Houston area, according to the latest rankings by the nonprofit Children at Risk. The category is limited to campuses where at least 74 percent of students are from low-income families."
The New York Times, April 11, 2013: Texas House Bill Proposes Dropping Algebra II From Diploma Standards
"The bill would severely cut back exit tests, and lower the number of courses students must take in math and science. The proposed changes come as some policy experts are challenging the role of the advanced math in preparing students for college and career. But it has raised alarm from business leaders and national advocacy groups concerned about how the changes might affect academic achievement in the state, particularly for low-income and minority students."
The New York Times, April 10, 2013: Texas Considers Backtracking on Testing
"What we all know is when you leave it up to kids and schools, the poor kids and kids of color will be disproportionately not in the curriculum that could make the most difference for them,' said Kati Haycock, president of the Education Trust, a nonprofit group that advocates for racial minorities and low-income children."
The Washington Post, April 07, 2013: (Editorial) Texas's graduation requirements miss the mark
"If enacted, the measures promise to have a particularly pernicious effect on students from low-income families without college-educated parents. The National Council of La Raza and the Education Trust, advocates for poor and minority students, have labeled the proposed changes a retreat from progress' that would take Texas back to the bad old days of pervasive tracking.'"