Race and Ethnicity: WISEid/WISEdata
WISEdash, EDFacts reporting, SDPR, and report cards categorize and, in some areas, compare performance across different racial/ethnic groups: Hispanic students, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Pacific Islander, Black, and White (not Hispanic) students. A student is only counted in a single racial/ethnic group. Students identified by two or more races (not Hispanic) are reported in the ‘Two or More Races’ category.
A two-part question is used to determine to which group the student belongs or with which race/ethnicity he or she most identifies. It is required to answer both parts of the question. Even if the person is Hispanic or Latino, it is necessary to answer the second question. If both questions are not answered by the parents or students, the district/school will be responsible for completing both parts of the question. Both questions are submitted to WISEid and WISEdata. WISEdata and WISEid are expected to match and submitted in two fields, Hispanic Latino ethnicity and one or more races. The designations, according to the federal Office of Management and Budget, are listed below.
This data element is only one part of the race and ethnicity data you can use in WISEdata. For information on related data elements, refer to the Ancestry/Ethnic Origin and Tribal Affiliation data element pages.
| Question Part I | Answer Part I |
|---|---|
| Is the person Hispanic or Latino? | Hispanic or Latino |
| Not Hispanic or Latino |
| Question Part II | Answer Part II |
|---|---|
| Select one or more of the following categories that apply to this person: | American Indian or Alaska Native |
| Asian | |
| Black or African American | |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | |
| White |
USES: This data element is required for Choice and public schools.Racial and ethnic data are used in federal education reports that districts and states submit to receive federal funds. Race and ethnicity have always been collected and reported to the U.S. Department of Education. The reports are required for federal eligibility and accountability reports. The Office for Civil Rights collects data to assist with its enforcement of laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race and national origin.
FAQs, Details, and Points to Note
- Collecting Racial and Ethnic Data: The data will be collected in a two-part question format. Both parts are to be answered for students and staff. The new standards are part of federal education reports that districts and states submit to receive federal funds. Race and ethnicity have always been collected and reported to the U.S. Department of Education. The reports are required for federal eligibility and accountability reports. The Office for Civil Rights collects data to assist with its enforcement of laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race and national origin.
- Categories: The categories changed from seven to five. This change was made for the 2010-11 school year to comply with the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) revisions to the standards for classification of federal data on race and ethnicity announced in the Federal Register Notice of October 30, 1997, and the U.S. Department of Education regulations issued in October 2007. Prior to the new standards, school districts reported data to DPI according to five race/ethnicity categories:
- American Indian or Alaskan Native
- Asian or Pacific Islander
- Black, Not Hispanic
- Hispanic
- White, Not Hispanic
- These categories were used to comply with the previous federal reporting guidelines. Each student was identified by one and only one category.
- Two-Part Question: It is required to answer both parts of the question. Even if the person is Hispanic or Latino, it is necessary to answer the second part of the question. If both parts are not answered by the parents or students, the district will be responsible for completing both parts of the question.
- DPI Reports to Federal Government: Regardless of the race combinations of individuals, each individual must be reported in exactly one of the race and ethnicity categories listed above.
- Parents Refuse to Identify: The U.S. Department of Education encourages self-reporting by parents or students. However, if they choose not to report, school or district personnel should provide the information. The completion or non-completion of the race/ethnicity data on an enrollment form should never prevent any child from enrolling in a school/district.
- Staff Refuses to Identify: The U.S. Department of Education also encourages self-reporting by staff. However, if they choose not to report, an administrator of the school, such as the principal, should make the determination.
You may consider referring to this resource from the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) Forum Guide (pages 31-34) for more information on what to do in a scenario where a person refuses to provide a response to race/ethnicity.
7. System of Record: As Race/Ethnicity is entered and maintained in both WISEid and WISEdata, it's important to note that WISEdata is the system of record. At the time of a snapshot, the WISEdata Portal value will be the value pulled into WISEdash and used in the collection.
8. Sample Letter for Data Collection: Districts may use the following letters as starting points for developing their own communication with parents and educators:
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Race/Ethnicity Crosswalk
Individual level collections with automated file upload/download processes will use the individual race key for submitting data to DPI. Aggregate level collections and public reporting will use the Aggregate Reporting Category.
View the crosswalk document for race/ethnicity reporting help.
See also:
Race & Ethnicity Identification Collection
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