To:School Principals
Date:08/29/2012
Re:2012-13 Ethnicity and Racein the OCS Fall Survey
In 2007, the United States Department of Education published new guidelines for the collection and reporting of race and ethnicity data. These guidelines are intended to give a more accurate picture of the country’s diversity. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) will use the new guidelines starting with data collected from the 2010-2011 school year.
The new data collection process asks respondents to answer a two-part question, indicating ethnicity first and race second. The Office of Catholic Schools Fall Survey now requires a two-part identification.
School districts, including the Archdiocesan schools, have been asked to re-identify race and ethnicity for all students—and the identifications are to be done by parents/guardians. If a student’s parents/guardians do not indicate race and/or ethnicity, observer identification by school staff can be utilized.
I’ve provided a tool to collect ethnicity and race data, please use the parent survey located on the portal under School Administrators/Forms and Publications/Race and Ethnicity documents. Please call me with any questions.
Thank you,
Billy Joyce
Archdiocese Chicago Catholic Schools
(312) 534 5218
New U.S. Department of Education Race and Ethnicity Data Standards
Dear Parent or Guardian:
In 2007, the United States Department of Education published new guidelines for the collection and reporting of race and ethnicity data. These guidelines are intended to give a more accurate picture of the country’s diversity. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) started using the new guidelines starting with data collected from the 2010-11 school year. The new data collection process requires respondents to answer a two-part question, indicating ethnicity first and race second.
School districts, including the Archdiocesan schools, are required to re-identify race and ethnicity for all students—and the identifications are to be done by parents or guardians. If a student’s parents or guardians do not indicate race and/or ethnicity, observer identification by school staff will be required.
Enclosed is the form that parents or guardians must complete. Please fill out one form for each child, and answer both parts of the two-part question. Please remember that school staff will have to answer any questions not answered by parents or guardians. Please return the completed form to your child’s school by [INSERT DATE].
Sincerely,
[INSERT NAME/TITLE]
Office of Catholic Schools, Archdiocese of Chicago