03/02/2020
Lt. Governor Bysiewicz and Commissioner Cardona Kick Off National Statistics in Schools Week in Connecticut
Teachers across the state encouraged to teach the 2020 Census in their classrooms
(HARTFORD, CT)— Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and State Department of Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona today kicked off Statistics in Schools (SIS) Week at Chamberlain Elementary School in New Britain. The week-long series of activities, which runs from March 2 to March 6, aims to educate students about the importance of the 2020 Census and provides teachers with tools and materials to teach the census in their own classrooms. On March 12, the U.S. Census Bureau will send a postcard to every household in Connecticut, inviting them to complete the 2020 Census online, over the phone, or by mailing a paper form.
“An accurate count of children is critical for educators and their students because 2020 Census responses drive decisions about the distribution of federal funds for many education-related programs,” Lt. Governor Bysiewicz said. “One million children in the United States were left out of the census ten years ago and our goal is to ensure that doesn’t happen again. By giving students and their parents the information and resources they need to complete the 2020 Census, we are ensuring that communities across our state receive the federal funding they deserve.”
“Statistics in Schools teaches our students the importance and purpose of this once in a decade count with fun, engaging activities developed for educators by educators,” Commissioner Cardona said. “It also supports our efforts to ensure a full, accurate count of every child in every home so that Connecticut’s schools receive our fair share of federal money for everything from classroom supplies, to technology, to school lunches. This program stresses to adults that responding to the census is easy, safe, secure and confidential. Regardless of citizenship status, your responses cannot be used against you in any way. Together, let’s make sure our school communities get the resources they need to prepare all students for bright, successful and happy futures.”
About Statistics in Schools (SIS)
The SIS program offers free materials for teachers, created by teachers, to educate students from pre-K through 12th grade about the value and everyday uses of census data in order to:
- Boost students’ statistical literacy and data research skills.
- Enhance learning in math, history, social studies, geography, sociology, and English.
- Bolster existing lesson plans with fun, informative, and interactive activities.
School districts across Connecticut are also encouraged to send every student home with the SIS take-home flyer. Available in 13 languages, it explains to adults the importance of the 2020 Census counting every child in their home. In Connecticut, U.S. Census Bureau has identified over 550 “Tier 1” schools that fall into a 15 % or above Low Response Score census tract. Based on the 2010 decennial response rates, people living in these tracts are not likely to self-respond to the 2020 Census.
The U.S. Constitution mandates a head count, every ten years, of all residents living in the United States and its territories. Census counts determine how many seats each state is allocated in the U.S. House of Representative as well as how over $11 billion in federal dollars are distributed annually to Connecticut. Individual responses are protected by federal law, never to be shared with any other governmental department, court, or law enforcement agency. Responding to the 2020 Census is easy with 4 ways to respond: online, by phone, on paper, or with the help of a Census taker.
State government is working with partners in local government, civic organizations, nonprofits, and businesses to ensure Connecticut achieves a complete count in order to secure $11 billion in federal funding for programs and projects that communities depend on. Over 155 local complete count committees have been formed in cities and towns across Connecticut to organize counting efforts locally.
For more information on Statistics in Schools, please visit https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/sis.html.
For more information about the 2020 Census, please visit CT.gov/Census.
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For Immediate Release:
Contact: Juliemar Ortiz
Juliemar.ortiz@ct.gov
860-524-7346 (desk)
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