Washington
State Government
Governor
Jay Inslee (D)
State Senate
20
Democrats,
29
Republicans
State House
58
Democrats,
40
Republicans
Economic well-being - Washington
Extreme poverty rate
0.05
Food insecurity
0.132
Minimum wage
16.66
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line
0.227
Poverty rate
9.9%
Unemployment rate
4.5
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
6.5
Poverty by demographic - Washington
Child poverty rate
0.11
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty
29000
Number of Black or African American children below 200% poverty
N/A
Number of Hispanic or Latino children below 200% poverty
169000
Senior poverty rate
9.6 %
Women in poverty
3,896,514
Spokesman Review, January 31, 2013: Data helps teachers learn about kindergartners' abilities
"Washington kindergartners are physically coordinated enough for their first year of school, but their ability to count to 20 and clearly express themselves are lagging, according to a new assessment released by the state. Early-learning advocates suspected the state's kindergartners were entering school less than fully prepared, especially low-income and minority students. Now there's data to back up the theory."
Tri-City Herald, November 24, 2012: WSU professor hopes to help kids overcome hardships
"Since then, Lester has sought to use more effective and innovative methods to teach students in regions affected by violence, poverty and other problems. Now, students at the Richland campus and throughout the WSU system are applying those lessons in the Northwest with students whose hardships have inhibited their education."
The Olympian, October 20, 2012: Reading to kids now has a big effect later on
"Since its inception three years ago, the school-readiness project has reached more than 300 low-income families through parent classes and workshops, bilingual story time events twice monthly at the Rochester community center, family events with an early-literacy focus throughout the school year and referral services for families in need of social services and health care."
The Bellingham Herald, October 06, 2012: Report: 823 Whatcom County students are homeless
"A total of 823 Whatcom County students were homeless last school year, according to the most recent data sent recently to the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. That total for the 2011-12 school year was just two more than the number of homeless students in the county's public schools reported in the previous year - but well above the pre-recession total of 516 students in the 2006-07 school year."
Tri-City Herald, August 29, 2012: (Editorial) More homeless children need community support
"Children who are considered homeless often have physical, social and academic problems, and in time the truth comes out. What is unfortunate is that they could have been helped early on if only school officials had been aware of the circumstances. There is help for many families in these situations, if they ask. Getting children connected to services that can help them is imperative, and school officials could use some help."
The News Tribune, August 04, 2012: More students homeless
"The percentage of Washington students classified as homeless in 2010-11 was up nearly 20 percent from the previous year and more than 50 percent over the five-year span, according to the report."