California
State Government
Governor
Gavin Newsom (D)
State Senate
32
Democrats,
8
Republicans
State House
62
Democrats,
17
Republicans
Economic well-being - California
Extreme poverty rate
0.1
Food insecurity
0.1
Minimum wage
16.5
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line
0.3
Poverty rate
11.8%
Unemployment rate
5.5
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
5.9
Housing - California
Home foreclosure rate
1 in 3407
People experiencing homelessness
187,084.0
Households paying more than 50% of income on housing
1,633,600.0
Percent renters
0.4
Poverty by demographic - California
Child poverty rate
0.2
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty
251000
Number of Black or African American children below 200% poverty
192000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children below 200% poverty
1981000
Senior poverty rate
12.0 %
Women in poverty
19,461,027
Mercury News, April 03, 2013: Many Bay Area districts fail to adequately educate low-income and minority students, report finds
"An educational advocacy group released its third annual District Report Cards on Wednesday, showing that half the largest unified districts in the Bay Area improved in their efforts to educate low-income students and those who are African-American or Latino."
The San Francisco Chronicle, March 24, 2013: (Editorial) Jerry Brown's bold move on school funding
"No one denies that the governor's proposal is a bold move to provide California's lower-income children with a better chance for an education. But already some in the Legislature - particularly those in suburban districts - are crying foul. In the zero-sum game of education funding, where state resources are at a premium, the governor may have just unleashed a tidal wave of controversy about how much the state should help disadvantaged children."
Mercury News, March 15, 2013: Governor Jerry Brown's funding formula for schools brings optimism and concern
"Jonathan Kaplan from the California Budget Project said the formula would give schools with low-income students and English learners more money over seven years, which could end up flip-flopping current funding inequities. For example, the Dublin school district now gets about $1,000 more per student than Alameda City Unified, he said. But under the governor's proposal, Dublin would get about $3,000 less per student after seven years."
Los Angeles Times, March 10, 2013: Head Start cuts could mean 2,000 fewer seats in L.A. County
"But although the program is thriving, it could be hurt by federal budget cuts. Earlier this month, Congress failed to avoid across-the-board reductions, known as the sequester cuts, and programs such as Good Beginnings are nervously awaiting the trickle-down effects."
Sacramento Bee, March 10, 2013: (Editorial) Governor on the right track by overhauling state's antiquated school funding system
"Suburban districts for years have been screaming for more flexibility from state mandates. Urban districts have sought recognition for the fact that they educate more needy students. Brown's new formula for funding schools should satisfy both."
Mercury News, February 28, 2013: (Op-Ed) ACE Charter Schools: New East San Jose high school will live up to promise
"Our first-year high school students are making significant progress. Students who came from the ACE middle school have picked up where they left off, with exceptional growth in reading and math in the first semester. The new students who have only spent several months at ACE are starting to hit their stride as they begin to believe in themselves and their college future."