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Guidance on Aggregation and Allocation of Data on Race for Use in Civil Rights Monitoring and Enforcement

Office of Management and Budget Bulletin No. 00-02
Dated: March 9, 2000

TO THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND ESTABLISHMENTS

  1. Purpose: This Bulletin establishes guidance for agencies that collect or use aggregate data on race. It also establishes guidance for the allocation of multiple race responses for use in civil rights monitoring and enforcement.

  2. Background: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced revisions to the standards for classification of Federal data on race and ethnicity in a Federal Register Notice of October 30, 1997 (62 FR 58782-58790). Revisions to these standards followed a lengthy process that included considerable public involvement and active participation from more than 30 Federal agencies. The revised standards require, among other things, that agencies offer individuals the opportunity to select one or more races when reporting information on race in Federal data collections. The five minimum race categories are American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and White.

    Census 2000 will be the first nationwide implementation of the revised standards. Data from Census 2000 will capture more accurately the increasing diversity of the Nation's population. Results from Census 2000 will display the full range of single and multiple race reporting by the American people.

    As the revised standards for collecting and presenting data are implemented, we must ensure that we maintain our ability to monitor compliance with laws that offer protections for those who historically have experienced discrimination. In addition, we must minimize reporting burden for institutions such as schools and businesses that report aggregate data on race to Federal agencies.

    In response to requests from agencies responsible for monitoring and enforcing civil rights laws, OMB has led an interagency group to develop guidance. This guidance addresses the collection of aggregate data when agencies request information from businesses, schools, and other entities. The guidance also addresses the allocation by agencies of responses, whether individual or aggregate, for use in civil rights monitoring and enforcement.

  3. Guidance for aggregation and allocation of multiple race responses for use in civil rights monitoring and enforcement: The attached guidance is designed to be straightforward and easy to implement. It provides consistency across agencies responsible for enforcing civil rights laws, and does not preclude the use of more detailed data if an agency chooses to do so. The guidance does not involve methods that require either fractional or double counting of individuals, or arbitrary allocation of responses to one minority group versus another.

  4. Implementation process: OMB will continue to work closely with the enforcement agencies and the civil rights community to assess these methods as they are implemented over the next few years and to consider the need for future modifications. The guidance provided in this Bulletin will be reflected in the Provisional Guidance on the Implementation of the 1997 Standards for Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity that will be available from OMB later this year.

  5. Inquiries: Inquiries concerning the information in this Bulletin should be directed to Katherine K. Wallman, Chief Statistician (202-395-3093).

Jacob J. Lew
Director

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