2013-14 Civil Rights Data Collection

The Public-Use Data File User’s Manual for the 2013–14 Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) provides documentation and guidance for users of the 2013–14 data. The manual provides information about the purpose of the study, the target population and respondents, data anomalies and considerations, differences in the restricted and public-use data, data collection procedures, the data file structure, and data processing.<br><br>Since 1968, the CRDC, formerly the Elementary and Secondary School Survey, has collected data on key education and civil rights issues in our nation's public schools for use by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in its enforcement and monitoring efforts, by other Department of Education offices and federal agencies, and by policymakers and researchers outside the Department of Education. The CRDC collects information about school characteristics and about programs, services, and outcomes for students. Most student data are disaggregated by race/ethnicity, sex, limited English proficiency (LEP), and disability.<br><br>The CRDC is a biennial survey (i.e., it is conducted every other school year), and response to the survey is required by law. Data from the 2011–12 collection and prior collections back to 2000 are also available. <br><br>The 2013–14 CRDC collected data from the universe of all public school districts, also referred to as local education agencies (LEAs), and schools, including long-term secure juvenile justice facilities, charter schools, alternative schools, and schools serving students with disabilities. Data were collected for the 2013–14 school year. Data collection began in April 2015 and ended on January 8, 2016.<br><br>The CRDC data are collected pursuant to the 1980 Department of Education Organization Act and 34 CFR Section 100.6(b) of the Department of Education regulation implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The requirements are also incorporated by reference in Department regulations implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975.<br><br>The CRDC is a longstanding and critical aspect of the overall enforcement and monitoring strategy used by OCR to ensure that recipients of the Department of Education’s federal financial assistance do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability. OCR relies on the CRDC data it receives from public school districts as it investigates complaints alleging discrimination, determines whether the federal civil rights laws it enforces have been violated, initiates proactive compliance reviews to focus on particularly acute or nationwide civil rights compliance problems, and provides policy guidance and technical assistance to educational institutions, parents, students, and others. Additionally, the data are used to report state and national estimates and trends about school characteristics, programs, services, and outcomes covered by the CRDC.