COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 42

November 21, 2008

ADMINISTRATIVE

TO:

Division Superintendents

 

FROM:

Patricia I. Wright

Superintendent of Public Instruction

 

SUBJECT:

Implementing the New Race/Ethnicity Standards

 

On October 19, 2007, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) published Final Guidance on the new revised standards for the collection of data on race and ethnicity in the Federal Register (72 Fed. Reg. 59267). In August 2008, Bill Evers, ED's Assistant Secretary of Planning Evaluation and Policy Development, released a letter clarifying the Final Guidance. State educational agencies, local educational agencies, postsecondary institutions and ED grantees are required to report racial and ethnic data to the U.S. Department of Education using the new revised standards beginning with school year 2010-2011.

The new race and ethnicity categories allow multiracial individuals full recognition of their heritage. Individuals who are Hispanic can more accurately describe themselves.

The new race and ethnicity categories will impact school divisions. ED strongly encourages re-identifying current student and staff racial and ethnic data. Divisions will need to develop data collection forms, train staff and communicate the new race and ethnicity categories to parents. Student information systems must use the categories by the 2010-2011 school year.

 

The Virginia Department of Education is in the process of preparing for implementation of the new race and ethnicity standards. Future superintendent's memos will keep you up-to-date on the process.

Managing an Identity Crisis: Forum Guide to Implementing New Federal Race and Ethnicity Categories with more information on implementing race and ethnicity can be found at: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2008/2008802.pdf.

 

 

Questions or comments relating to the 2010-2011 Race and Ethnicity Implementation should be directed to Educational Applications at RESULTSHELP@doe.virginia.gov or (804) 786-3112 (select menu option 4).

 

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