Federal Civil Rights Data Delayed by Education Department

Why it matters locally: The delayed release of federal civil rights data impacts Mississippi's educational institutions, including public schools and universities, which contribute this information. The absence of this data hinders researchers and policymakers in the state from identifying trends and ensuring compliance with civil rights laws.

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WASHINGTON – The Department of Education has not released its most recent collection of civil rights data, delaying information on various aspects of public schooling. This data, which details issues including bullying, harassment, and disability services, has typically been made public by the agency. The department collects this information from educational institutions nationwide. Researchers, civil rights advocates, and policymakers commonly use these datasets to identify trends and assess compliance with civil rights laws in schools. Historically, the Education Department has published this data. As of now, the latest collection is six months overdue for public release.