Changes to Race & Ethnicity Data Reporting in Colorado Public Schools

1. Collecting and Reporting Race & Ethnicity Data for Students and Staff in Colorado’s Public Schools An overview of planned changes to be implemented in the 2010-2011 academic year Colorado Department of Education Data Collections / ADE Unit

2. From 1977 to present, students and staff in Colorado have been reported in one of five “race/ ethnicity” categories Race/Ethnicity: The general racial/ethnic heritage category which most clearly reflects the individual’s recognition of his or her community or with which the individual most closely identifies. NOTE: Under the current reporting system, each reported individual must be assigned to a single category. 01 - American Indian or Alaskan Native 02 - Asian or Pacific Islander 03 - Black (not Hispanic) 04 - Hispanic 05 - White (not Hispanic)

3. By federal mandate, beginning in 2010-2011, race and ethnicity data will be collected using a new two-part question format, which will allow the selection of more than one race Please Note: You must answer both parts of the question below Part A: Do you consider yourself to be of Hispanic/Latino origin? Yes No Part B: Which of the following groups describe your race? (you may select more than one) American Indian or Alaska Native Asian Black or African American White Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

4. The federal government has developed definitions for these six ethnic and racial categories 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.” American Indian or Alaska Native: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintains a tribal affiliation or community attachment. 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 or African American: A person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. White: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North 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.

5. New fields and coding options will be added to CDE collections in 2010-2011 to accommodate these changes in Race and Ethnicity reporting for students and staff Race/Ethnicity information as collected by the district from the student or the student’s family Race/Ethnicity categories to be used in Federal and State Reporting Federally Reported Race/Ethnic Category Field Ethnicity Field Race Field 1 Race Field 2 Race Field 3 Race Field 5 Race Field 6 American Indian or Alaska Native Native Hawaiian/ Other Pac. Islander American Indian or Alaska Native Black or African American Hispanic or Latino 01 Asian White 02 Asian 1 (Yes) 1 (Yes) 1 (Yes) 1 (Yes) 1 (Yes) 1 (Yes) 03 Black or African American 04 2 (No) 2 (No) 2 (No) 2 (No) 2 (No) 2 (No) Hispanic or Latino 05 White Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 06 07 Two or more races

6. For all CDE collections, districts will report the race and ethnicity information collected from each respondent and the racial or ethnic category to be used in federal reporting for that respondent Race and Ethnicity Information Collected from Students and Staff Reported Racial/Ethnic Category Hawaiian/ Pac. Island Native American Hispanic Asian Black White Hispanic Any single race or combination of races Native American/ Alaska Native Asian Black White Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander Any combination of races – but not of Hispanic Ethnicity Two or More Races 6

7. If a parent/guardian or student is unwilling to provide race and ethnicity information, the district is still required to assign an ethnic and racial category District options if a respondent does not self-identify: • If available, the district may use the Race/Ethnicity designation reported for the student in a previous CDE reporting period. • If the student does not have a previous record indicating Race and Ethnicity, the district is required to use observer identification to establish a “best guess” for the student’s current ethnic and racial designations. Examples of district personnel best qualified to make this observation include the migrant liaison, cultural mediator, multicultural services representative, or parent liaison. NOTE: Districts may NOT use a default category to assign all non-reported students. (e.g. all students with no ethnic or racial designation cannot be reported as “White” or “Two or More Races”). These determinations are to be made on a case-by-case basis.

8. Recommended next steps for districts • Make required changes to enrollment forms in advance of the start of the 2010-2011 school year. • Notify parents, students, and staff via mailings or take-home documents • Download and modify the “Sample District Letter to Parents” http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdereval/download/Word/Race%20and%20Ethnicity/SampleDistrictLettertoParents.doc • and the “Sample District Letter to Staff” http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdereval/download/Word/Race%20and%20Ethnicity/SampleDistrictLettertoStaff.doc • Schedule meetings/presentations to discuss the new racial and ethnic reporting categories and answer questions • Consider conducting a pilot study or focus group prior to implementation of the new reporting system • Provide training for front office staff and others likely to receive questions pertaining to race/ethnicity reporting

9. Additional resources and information from the Colorado Department of Education Available on the CDE website at www.cde.state.co.us/cdereval/rvRace-Ethnicity.htm • Resources • CDE Race and Ethnicity Brochure • April 9th 2008 Scoop Announcement • Presentation (May 30, 2008) • Racial/Ethnic Data Collection Implementation Plan • How to Maximize Participation in New Racial/Ethnic Categories from Parents/Guardians (Pending) • NCES - Managing an Identity Crisis - Forum Guide to Implementing New Federal Race and Ethnicity Categories • Parent Information • Sample District Letter to Parents • Sample Collection Question Format for Students • Parents Race/Ethnicity Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) • District Information • Sample District Letter to Staff • Sample Collection Question Format for Staff • District Race/Ethnicity Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) • Outreach Activities • Technical • 2010-2011 Data Collection Edits (proposed) • How Collected Race and Ethnicity Information will be Reported • Final Federal Guidance • Racial and Ethnic Guidelines • US Department of Education Links • Dear Colleague letter from Assistant Secretary of Education Bill Evers • US Department of Education Race and Ethnicity Policy Questions and Answers

10. Organizations providing feedback on the new race/ethnicity categories: School Districts and BOCES Groups and Organizations • Adams 12 • Adams 14 • Adams 50 - Westminster • Aurora Public Schools • Centennial BOCES • Cherry Creek School District • Colorado Springs 11 • Denver Public Schools • East Central BOCES • Greeley School District • Harrison 2 • Jefferson County Schools • Johnstown-Milliken RE-5J • Keenesburg RE-3J • Littleton Public Schools • Mountain BOCES • Summit County School District • Charter Schools • City of Denver • Colorado Parent Coalition • Metro Community Provider Network • Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning • University of Colorado Units within the CDE • Communications • Consolidated Federal Programs • Data Collections / ADE • Exceptional Student Leadership • Language, Culture, and Equity • Prevention Initiatives / Early Childhood • Unit of Student Assessment