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State Survey on Racial and Ethnic Classifications
NCES: 98034
September 1998

Complaints or Requests for Revisions of the Racial/Ethnic Categories from Parents and School Districts

Respondents from all state departments of education were asked to estimate the number of complaints or requests for revisions to the five standard federal categories that had been received during the past 5 years. Overall, 40 respondents (80 percent) indicated awareness of one or more complaints. (It should be noted that this question asked only for information from the respondent's experience; the survey did not attempt to get a comprehensive state estimate.) The respondent from California (a state that had made changes) and the respondent from Kansas (a state considering changes) reported receiving the largest number of complaints-150 and 175, respectively. The estimated number of complaints to the other respondent states and the District of Columbia ranged from 100 to 0 (Table 6). Respondents from Indiana and Rhode Island reported receiving no complaints or requests for revisions (Table 7). Both of these states have already added some form of "multiracial" or "other" category to their state systems of collecting racial and ethnic data.

Of the 40 states that reported receipt of any complaints or requests for revisions, 24 had heard from both schools and parents (Table 7). Another 7 had heard from schools or districts only. California and Georgia added that the districts were responding to pressure from parents. Nine states had received complaints from parents only. Five states also noted that they had heard from advocacy groups representing minorities.

In the 24 states in which more than one group had contacted the state education agency on these issues, 16 respondents reported that they had received more comments from one group than another-11 states had received more comments from parents, and 5 states had received more comments from schools. Adding a "multiracial" category was the most frequently requested change to the five standard federal categories, with 31 states reporting such requests (Table 8). Fifteen states reported requests to eliminate the collection of racial and ethnic data altogether. Otherwise, few states indicated that they had received requests to make other changes to the way racial and ethnic data are currently classified.

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