American Community Survey (ACS)

Background of the ACS Program Review

In December 2010, the ACS program reached an important milestone with the release of its first set of five-year estimates, providing detailed statistics for even the smallest communities. With this achievement, it is prudent to take a step back and conduct a comprehensive assessment of the ACS program to ensure that it is meeting the needs of data users as effectively and efficiently as possible. In April of 2011, the Director of the Census Bureau commissioned a team to plan and implement such an assessment.

In order to obtain a broader and more robust perspective, the Director of the Census Bureau and the ACS team would like to get input from our stakeholders on four ACS program components:

• Communications and Stakeholder Management Review: feedback on engagement and outreach strategies with stakeholders
• Methodological Review: input on the current ACS survey design and methods, as well as potential alternatives to improve the quality of the ACS data
• Research and Evaluation Review: thoughts on language tools and testing of translations as well as targeted messaging (as methods to improve mail responses)
• Data Products Review: input on ACS data products and their uses as well as determine feasibility of not producing and related feasibility of not producing or reducing three-year or other data products

These reviews focus on program-specific technical, methodological, and product-related improvement areas that increase quality and customer satisfaction. In addition, the ACS staff is working closely with Census Bureau leadership to solicit their feedback on other ACS program infrastructure and related management/process improvement program components.

The ACS Program Review Team will reach out to various stakeholder groups to collect input beginning February 2012. All feedback collected by the ACS Program Review team will be shared with a National Research Council Panel. The Panel will release recommendations for ACS program optimization.

The first round of the ACS Stakeholder Review has concluded. Thank you for your participation.

In December 2010, the ACS program reached an important milestone with the release of its first set of 5-year estimates, providing detailed statistics for even the smallest communities. With this achievement, it is prudent to take a step back and conduct a comprehensive assessment of the ACS program to ensure that it is meeting the needs of data product users as effectively and efficiently as possible. In order to obtain a broader and more robust perspective, the Director of the Census Bureau and the ACS Program Review Team would like to get input from our stakeholders on four ACS program components: data products, methodology, research and evaluation, and communications and stakeholder management.

We are requesting feedback from a wide array of stakeholders, including federal agencies, think tanks, statistical organizations, state, local, and tribal government groups and individuals.

The deadline for providing feedback has passed.

The first round of the ACS Stakeholder Review has concluded. Thank you for your participation.