The Trump administration has proposed drastic changes to the 2030 census that could further degrade federal education funding by excluding certain populations from the count and prohibiting the collection of basic demographic information.
An accurate census count is the critical first step to helping public schools address the needs of every child because census data is central to funding allocations. The census count happens only once every 10 years, so the results have long-lasting consequences.
Our union is taking action to oppose these changes and your voice is critical to the pushback! Read this explainer, use NEA’s tool to leave your comment, and encourage others to do the same. Here's a brief Q&A to guide you:
What changes to the census have been proposed and why do they matter?
The Trump administration’s proposed changes would:
- Erase Black, Brown, and LGBTQ+ Americans
Race and ethnicity questions, asked in some form since 1790, would be prohibited, along with planned questions on sexual orientation. Without this clear picture, tracking and addressing inequities will become even more difficult. - Undercount New Americans
The U.S. Constitution requires counting every person who lives in the U.S. But for the first time in our history, many immigrants (like those with DACA and work visas) would not be counted. School districts would not have the information or funding they need to support all of their students. - Count people in the wrong place
Fundamental changes to the methods used to determine where people live will lead to inaccurate counts. People who recently moved, college students, children in foster care, those experiencing homelessness, and rural residents who use P.O. boxes would be lost in the shuffle.
How would these changes to the census affect public schools?
The importance of the U.S. census to the well-being of children and the strength of public schools and universities cannot be overstated. Using census data, the federal government allocated nearly $130 billion in education spending in 2023, including supports for children with special needs (IDEA) and those from low-income families (Title I).
These funds help schools reduce class sizes, hire specialists, continuously bolster teacher quality, offer preschool to low-income families, and ensure that hungry students can get breakfast or lunch to help them pay attention in class.
Census data are also critical to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps millions of low-income families afford food and has lasting benefits for children’s health and academic success.
What’s the best way to speak out against these changes?
Leave a comment on the Federal Register today!
Proposed changes to federal regulations require a public comment period. Thanks to citizen advocacy (including thousands of educators) the public comment period was extended to Nov. 2. Use NEA’s tool to make the process easy and ensure that your voice is heard. Make your comment unique and personal so that lawmakers understand how changes to the census could affect your students and your community.
Talk to family, coworkers, and friends about what will be lost if we don’t protect the integrity of the 2030 census.
Go to nea.org/census to make your voice heard!
