Race and Ethnicity Guidelines

New federal guidelines for identifying student race and ethnicity

Parents are encouraged to identify both race and ethnicity for their children in the annual Student Data Verification Form, beginning fall 2009. This form is given to parents to update at the beginning of the school year.

The federal government has changed reporting categories to more accurately reflect the diversity of the country's population. Every school district is required to report student data by race and ethnic categories to the Colorado Department of Education. However, the CDE does not report individual student data to the federal government, but does report the total number of students in various categories in each school. 

Parents will be asked to identify child by ethnic group AND one or more racial groups:
Ethnic choices are:  1) American Indian/Alaska Native, 2) Asian, 3) Black/African-American, 4) Hispanic/Latino, 5) Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, 6) White.

Racial categories are: 1) American Indian/Alaska Native, 2) Asian, 3) Black/
African-American, 5) Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, 6) White.

Definitions of race and ethnicity:
Race: A distinct human type based on inherited physical characteristics.
Ethnic group: Socially distinguishable from other groups and has developed its own subculture, which can include nationality, religion, and language.

The data will be used to:       
1. ensure students receive educational services to which they are entitled  
2. analyze needs of students within the school community
3. obtain more funding for educational services as appropriate

The data will not be used to:
1. discriminate against anyone
2. determine immigration status
3. penalize students, parents, or staff in any way

For parents who decline to identify data for their child:
Schools may fill in racial and ethnic data, using a variety of information including your family’s home country, your family customs, the language(s) spoken in your home, and tribal affiliations.

For more information on the new ethnic and racial categories, visit the CDE Web site.