From the Michigan Center for Educational Performance and Information

Q: Why do the state of Michigan or federal government need this information?

A:      The demographics of our society have changed significantly in the last few decades.  These changes will allow our students and staff members to more accurately describe who they are.  States are required by the federal government to use the new categories. All states and school districts are required to do the same.  There are good reasons in addition to meeting the federal requirements.  States routinely report aggregate information to the federal government for funding and evaluation purposes, as well as civil rights compliance.  States also use race and ethnicity data to evaluate their placement and program needs, providing the best services for all students.  TheU.S. Census in 2000 used the new categories.  This is a trend that education and human service agencies will follow.

Q: Is the federal government checking each individual's immigration status?

A:  No.  This information will be maintained in the staff member's employment records or the student's records.  It will not be reported to any federal agency in a way that identifies the individual.  No one will check immigration status from the information given to a school district.

Q: Will the school district release a student's race and ethnicity to other parties?

A:  No.  Individual student records are protected by the Federal Education Records and Privacy Act (FERPA).  The new race and ethnicity standards have no effect on FERPA's protection of student records.  FERPA does not designate race and ethnicity as directory information.  Race and ethnicity have the same protection as any other non-directory information in a student's education record.

Q: Can a district make an employee or student answer the race and ethnicity questions?

A:  No.  However, providing the information would be beneficial for both students and staff members.  Districts are required to provide an answer on behalf of students and staff members if they choose not to provide the information.  The federal government believes that in getting aggregate numbers from states and districts, it would be more preferable to have complete data this way, than having missing data.

Q: What will the district do if an individual refuses to respond?

A:  Self-identification is the preferred choice of selecting an individual's race and ethnicity, though a person is not required by law to make these selections.  However, if one refuses to respond a determination will be made by the school district.  Existing employment for student records will be reviewed for racial and ethnic designations as a next-to-the-last resort.  The federal government requires the use of observer identification to identify race and ethnicity, as a last resort, if such information is not located in previous records or not provided by the students, parents, or staff members.

November 2009

Additional Information may be found at http://www.michigan.gov/cepi.  Click on the “Race and Ethnicity” link under “What’s New”.