How the Census Will Improve Race and Ethnicity Data for 2020

In a post on the U.S. Census website, Nicholas Jones, director of race and ethnic research and outreach for the Census Bureau, explains his organizations recent research into how to improve U.S. Census data on race and ethnicity.

Jones explains: "Recently, the Census Bureau undertook a critical middecade study to test alternative versions of the race and ethnicity questions. The goal is to improve question design and data quality for the 2020 Census."

So far, research has included outreach with government agencies like the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Justice, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and the State Department. Outreach with stakeholder groups have included engagement with organizations representing many of the racial and ethnic groups that populate the country.

2020 Census topics, including final working on questions, must be presented to Congress by 2017.