Dr. Miguel Cardona Secretary of Education | Official Website
The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has announced the submission of a proposed Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) Information Collection Request to the Federal Register. This request, which covers the 2025-26 and 2027-28 school years, is open for public comment.
The Department has been gathering civil rights data since 1968. The CRDC focuses on student access to educational opportunities and resources, including courses, school staff, and school climate factors such as student discipline and harassment allegations in public schools from preschool through grade 12.
"The Civil Rights Data Collection provides crucial information for evaluating students' experiences in America's public schools," stated Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon. "We look forward to receiving and reviewing public comments on the proposed data elements and to working with schools and districts to collect these essential data."
The latest Information Collection Request aims to gather additional data items for the upcoming CRDC cycles. These include details about informal removals of students from education programs, experiences of students placed by school districts in private schools—specifically if they face restraint or seclusion—and the presence of threat assessment teams in schools.
The CRDC serves as an important resource for those using data to inform decisions regarding student equity and opportunity. For more information about the CRDC, interested parties can refer to Frequently Asked Questions online.
Public members can review the proposed data elements for the specified school years via provided links. An official copy of the Federal Register notice will be available on www.federalregister.com by October 18, 2024. Additionally, an official copy of the Information Collection Request will soon be accessible on www.regulations.gov. The period for submitting comments will last 60 days.
