New Race & Ethnicity Data Requirements
Each year, school districts in Washington are required to report student data by ethnicity and race categories to the state’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Ethnicity and race categories used in our district are the same as are used in all Washington school districts. They are set by the federal government, the Washington State Legislature, and OSPI. OSPI is required to report the total number of students in various categories in each school to the federal government, but it does not report individual student data. These reports help our district and the state keep track of changes in student enrollment and various outcomes (such as graduation rates) to ensure that all students receive the educational programs and services to which they are entitled.
Recently, the federal government and OSPI changed the reporting categories for student ethnic and race data. As a result of the new reporting categories, we need to ask you to identify your student as either Hispanic/Latino (check appropriate category) or not Hispanic/Latino AND by one or more racial groups. Washington has 57 racial categories from which to choose.
If your family is Asian, you will now be able to list your child as either Chinese, Japanese, Korean or belonging to one or more of the other Asian groups. If your family is Native American, you will be able to list your student’s tribal affiliation. If one parent identifies with one race and the other parent with another, you will be able to check both races for your student.
Starting in September 2010, all public schools in Washington will need to start using these new categories. In order to comply with this deadline, we are requesting all families complete the enclosed form (on back of this letter) and send it to your student’s school by April 1st, 2010. Since this is now a requirement of the state, if you choose to abstain from identifying your student’s ethnicity and race information, the district will be required to choose a category for you. If you have questions regarding this form, please contact your school office.
For more information about the student data reporting categories, please see: http://www.k12.wa.us/CEDARS/default.aspx.