New Standards for Collecting and Reporting Students′ Race and Ethnicity Data Information for Parents July 2009

How Are Data Reported? From 1977 until the new standards are implemented, students have been reported in only one of the five race/ethnicity categories. Race/ethnicity is defined as the general racial/ethnic heritage category that most clearly reflects an individual's recognition of his/her community with which he/she most closely identifies. These categories are: American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian or Pacific Islander, Black (non Hispanic), Hispanic or White (non Hispanic).

How Are the Data Used? The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires collection of race and ethnicity data on students with disabilities. The data are required for accountability reports. The data are required for federal funding eligibility. The data are used by the Office of Civil Rights to assist with enforcement of laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race and national origin. The data are used to monitor the progress of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001.

Why the Change? Allows individuals to more accurately identify themselves given the increasing diversity of the nation’s population Provides the option for respondents to select multiple race categories to describe their racial backgrounds Addresses the previous underreporting of Hispanic ethnicity under the old reporting scheme as identified by the Census.

Why the Change? (cont.) Matches the "two-part" question format already adopted by other federal agencies, including the federal Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC), the U.S. Census Bureau, and various health agencies Supplies a more accurate reflection of population changes New standards are required for federal funding eligibility and accountability reporting.

The Data will NOT be Used to: Discriminate against anyone Determine immigration status Penalize the students or parents in any way.

Two-Part Question Recommended sample two-part question : Both Part A and Part B of the question must be answered. Part A: Is this student Hispanic/Latino? (choose only one):  No, not Hispanic or Latino  Yes, Hispanic or Latino Part B: What is the student’s race? (select one or more, regardless of ethnicity):  American Indian or Alaska Native  Asian  Black or African-American  Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander  White Note: Both Parts A and B must be completed. We encourage individuals to select an answer for both parts. If either Part A or B is not answered, the U.S. Department of Education requires the school district to supply an answer on the individual’s behalf.

Ethnicity Ethnicity: Identification of a group based upon a perceived cultural distinctiveness that makes the group into a "people." This distinctiveness is believed to be expressed in language, music, values, art, styles, literature, family life, religion, ritual, food, naming, public life, and material culture.* Hispanic or Latino: A person of Cuban, Mexican Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. The term "Spanish origin" can be used in addition to "Hispanic/Latino or Latino." *Source: Britannica Online Encyclopedia

Race Race: Primarily a sociological designation, identifying a class sharing some outward physical characteristics and some commonalities of culture and history.* –American Indian or Alaska Native: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America). –Asian: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia or the Indian Subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand and Vietnam. –Black of African-American: A person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. –Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa or other Pacific Islands. –White: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East or North Africa. *Source: Britannica Online Encyclopedia

Self-Identification (preferable) Allows students (parent or guardian) to select "who I am" Based upon how an individual defines him or herself Parents or guardians will be the primary source for identifying a student’s race and ethnicity Both parts of the question must be answered. If the respondent fails to identify for either part (A or B) of the question, the school district is required to supply an answer on behalf of the respondent.

Projections indicate that only a small percentage of students will be reclassified when the new guidance is implemented. This chart represents the difference between the percentage for race and ethnicity categories for 2008 from the projected values for 2010.

Current/Future Reporting Categories to U.S. ED American Indian or Alaskan Native Asian or Pacific Islander Hispanic Black, Not Hispanic White, Not Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native Asian Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander Hispanic or Latino Black or African American White Two or more races Current (1977 standards) Future (1997 standards) Multiracial/Other (Not currently reported)

Questions? contact: (517) (option 3)