Race and Ethnicity

In 2007, the U.S. Department of Education (U.S. ED) released guidance on maintaining, collecting, and reporting racial and ethnic data. The guidance will bring U.S. ED in alignment with other federal agencies that have adopted the 1997 U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Revisions to the Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity. Starting with the 2010-2011 school year, all school districts will be required to implement the guidance released by U.S. ED.

Federal Resources

• U.S. ED - Race and Ethnicity Guidance
• Managing an Identity Crisis: Forum Guide to Implementing New Federal Race and Ethnicity Categories 
• U.S. OMB - Revisions to the Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity

School District Information

• Final District Notification Letter (December 8, 2009) 
• Initial District Notification Letter (September 18, 2008) 
• Sample Implementation Schedule 
• Sample District Letter to Staff 
• Sample District Letter to Parents 
• Sample Enrollment Form 
• Informational PowerPoint Presentation for Districts 
• New Federal Race and Ethnicity Guidelines Brochure 
• Conducting Observer Identification 
• How Race and Ethnicity Data Will Be Reported to U.S. ED 

Parent Information

• Sample District Letter to Parents 
• Information PowerPoint Presentation for Parents 
• Parent/Student Pamphlet 
• How Race and Ethnicity Data Will Be Reported to U.S. ED 

Vendor Information

• Sample Implementation Schedule 
• How Race and Ethnicity Data will be Reported to U.S. ED 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• U.S. ED Policy FAQs
• State of Michigan FAQs (November 2009)