The U.S. Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights plans to administer a 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection, which gathers and publishes key information about student educational access and school climate factors, such as use of discipline and student experiences of harassment and assault.
The CRDC will include all public school districts and their schools for 2020-21 and 2021-22, according to Letter to Superintendents, 121 LRP 28179 (Subscription required to view). The additional collection is expected to help advance equity amid a COVID-19 pandemic response for which schools have federal funds to address new and longstanding challenges.
“Without timely and robust data about students’ educational experiences, we cannot begin to understand and then address the impact that the pandemic has had — and continues to have — on student learning and success,” stated U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona in a press release. “We know that by working together, and by making this data available to educators and the public, we will improve educational opportunities and outcomes for our children and youth.”
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Data from the CRDC will inform ongoing decisions regarding additional support that schools, educators, and students need to succeed, and will assist OCR in meeting its mission to ensure schools and districts are complying with civil rights laws, according to the press release.
ED officials said the department will continue to provide robust resources to support state educational agencies, districts, and schools in preparing for and completing the ongoing 2020-21 collection, as well as the collection for SY 2021-22.
The department welcomes superintendent suggestions for innovations to further assist districts in capturing the data. Contact the CRDC and its Partner Support Center with questions or for technical assistance, via email at [email protected], or by phone at 855-255-6901. The center is staffed with experts who are available to support you in fulfilling this important responsibility.
OCR anticipates having the information collection package for the 2021-22 CRDC posted at the regulations.gov website for public comment in the coming months. Visit the CRDC Resource Center website for CRDC updates and to access survey forms.
Johnny Jackson covers special education issues for LRP Publications.
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