U.S. Department of Education releases delayed civil rights data

The U.S. Department of Education has released the 2023-24 Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC), a comprehensive dataset detailing disparities in how students are treated based on race, ethnicity, disability, and sex. The release comes more than eight months after the agency’s own deadline.

The data provides insights into issues such as bullying, access to Advanced Placement classes, and the treatment of students with disabilities across nearly every public school in the country. Advocates note the collection is a vital tool for understanding the experiences of students of color and those with disabilities.

The delay follows significant structural changes within the Department of Education. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which oversees the collection, has seen its staff reduced by half under the current administration, which has also announced plans to move the OCR to the Justice Department. While the specific reasons for the delay were not provided by the Department, a spokesperson confirmed the release and indicated that more data and materials would be made available in the coming weeks.