WHAT IS THE 2020 CENSUS? 

The Census works to serve as the country’s leading provider of quality data about its people and economy. As mandated by the U.S. Constitution, the census is a once-every-decade count of everyone living in the country.

America is at its best when we look out for each other and work together as one nation. With so much at stake with the Census we all have to participate and make our voices heard.

Census data is important because:

  • It determines resources for schools and parks in our neighborhoods
  • It determines the amount of money that funds programs that keeps families healthy and fed
  • It determines political representation in Congress and in our state

This is why we must all come together to be counted – especially our black and brown communities. Some politicians have gone to extreme lengths to take away our political power, and they’ve gone out of their way to create fear, chaos and confusion around being counted in the census. Undermining our resilience allows them to jeopardize our future – we cannot let that happen.

That starts with being counted in the 2020 census, no matter where you were born, where you live, or how old you are. The census is about representation. It’s about reminding ourselves and those around us that live here, we work here and that our communities and our country are stronger because of that.

WHAT IMPACT DOES IT HAVE ON EDUCATION?

Kids are the MOST undercounted group in the Census.

  • 1 out of 10 kids were not counted in 2010 (2 million!)
  • Majority are from low-income families

The Census data determines how much federal funding is allocated across states.

  • Example: Head Start
    • Based of the 2010 Census, Washington recieved $131 million to fund only 12,000 slots.
    • Undercounting in 2020 could result in a loss of slots available, at a time when demand is higher than supply
    • 29% of families speak a language other than English; Head Start prepares kids for learning. A loss in funding for Head Start, harms our communities.

WHAT IMPACT DOES IT HAVE FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS?

In Washington, in 2017 there were 464,000 ELL families with small children (MPI).

  • Undercounting by 1 out of 10 can have disastrous effects on education funding.                 
  • Federal funding ensures WA can comply with ESSA’s requirements for ELL/TBIP such as expanding parent engagement, access to dual enrollment for college credit, program and data evaluation, professional development

HOW TO ENSURE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE COUNTED

There are three ways to respond to the 2020 Census from the comfort of your own home – online, by phone, or by returning the paper questionnaire. You should have received your census postcard in the mail with a 12 digit code to fill out your census online at 2020Census.gov. If not, don’t worry – just put in your address to start.

Here are some resources in multiple languages to help make sure you are counted:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who should fill out the census? The census counts every person living in the U.S., regardless of immigration status. That means that every single household should fill out the census and everyone living together should be included – infants and children, elders, undocumented folks, aunts, uncles, family friends, everyone!

Who has access to my answers? The Census Bureau is the only one who has access to your answers! Federal law keeps your answers CONFIDENTIAL and the Census Bureau CANNOT share your information to immigration enforcement agencies, law enforcement agencies, or allow it to be used to determine your eligibility for government benefits. The Bureau can only produce statistics from Census data, and cannot share or give out any individual information.

Is the 2020 Census cancelled because of COVID-19? The 2020 Census is not cancelled because of COVID-19. The 2020 Census is well underway. In fact, the Census Bureau has adjusted its operational timeline and households can respond until October 31, 2020. We encourage households to respond as soon as they are able to. As we face this public health crisis, participating in the Census now helps secure funding for our communities. Emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic are precisely why the government needs accurate Census data.