Ossining School District Encourages Census Participation

Ossining School District leaders, government officials and community residents are encouraging all residents to make sure they participate in the 2020 Census.

Census data are used to determine the distribution of millions of dollars in federal funds, grants and support to Ossining schools. Having less than 100 percent participation would negatively impact the community. Nationwide, $675 billion flows to special education grants, the National School Lunch Program, Medicaid, highway construction projects and many other vital programs.

The goal of the 2020 Census is to count everyone once and in the right place. There are roughly 330 million people and more than 140 million housing units in the United States. The Ossining School District is partnering with the Census Bureau to make sure the community is accurately counted and school funding is protected.

“It’s all about counting accurately and completely,” Mario Garcia, partnership specialist for the U.S. Census, told Ossining school officials and residents at a recent informational meeting about the census. “We want to make sure that we know where to send that money.”

For the first time, respondents can provide their information online or by phone. They can access questionnaires online and on the phone in 13 languages, including English. Language guides are available in 59 non-English languages.

The Census Bureau will send out the invitations to respond online to the 2020 Census between March 12 and 20. Some households will also receive paper questionnaires. The agency will send out a reminder letter between March 16 and 24.

For households that do not respond, the Census Bureau will send out a postcard between March 26 and April 3 to encourage participation. A reminder letter and paper questionnaire will arrive between April 8 and 16. The Census Bureau will provide a final reminder between April 20 and 27 before an employee follows up in person.

One option available to the district is to organize an event inviting people to fill out their census forms online at one of the schools, Mr. Garcia said.

Mr. Garcia emphasized that the data the U.S. Census Bureau collects is safe and secure. The agency, which is part of the Commerce Department, is prohibited by law from sharing the information with any other agency. The data cannot be used against respondents by any government agency or court. Every Census Bureau employee takes an oath to protect personal information for life.

“Once your information is given to us, it is placed under lock and key for the next 72 years and no one can touch it,” he said.

When people fill out the census questionnaire online, their data is encrypted and protected, according to the Census Bureau.

The Census Bureau does not request Social Security numbers, money, donations, bank or credit card account numbers or anything on behalf of a political party. There will not be any questions about citizenship or immigration status.

For more information about the 2020 Census in Ossining, visit OssiningUFSD.org/district/Census-2020.