November 2, 2026
Written by Noelle Ellerson Ng, Associate Executive Director for Advocacy & Governance
AESA joined a coalition of national education organizations in submitting comments urging the U.S. Census Bureau to reconsider proposed changes to the 2030 Census that could compromise the accuracy and completeness of population and demographic data.
The submitted comments represent school system leaders and educators across the country and underscore how essential census data are to public education. School districts rely on accurate population and demographic information to project enrollment, plan facilities, allocate staff, understand student needs, and ensure resources reach the communities that need them. Census-derived data also inform billions of dollars in federal funding for programs including Title I, Head Start, IDEA, and child nutrition.
The groups raised concerns about proposed changes to longstanding residence criteria, the potential exclusion of certain residents from the count, and the removal of race and ethnicity questions. These changes could make it harder for school systems and policymakers to understand their communities, identify disparities, and make informed decisions about resources.
The crux of the group filing is a commitment to ensuring every child is counted. Children have historically been among the most undercounted populations. The 2020 Census undercounted children under age five by an estimated 5.46 percent, with consequences for the funding and services communities depend on.
The groups’ filing urges the Census Bureau to preserve established practices that support a complete, accurate, and reliable count. Every student and every community deserves to be represented in the data that help shape public policy and determine the distribution of public resources.