Everyone Counts Census 2020 Graphic

Everyone Counts Census 2020

  • The goal of the 2020 Census is to count everyone once, only once, and in the right place. The Census Bureau will continue to improve its use of mobile technology, geospatial innovations, and internet self-response. 

     

    For schools, the U.S. Census helps determine how much federal income comes into your school district every year in the form of nutrition disbursements, special education funding from IDEA, and Title 1 funding. 

     

    Between 2011 and 2018, Colorado school districts received $3.56 billion. Learn how much of that federal income came to your district between 2011 and 2018 (PDF)

     

    It's Important. It's Easy. It's Safe. 

What is the census?

    • The census is a count of all persons living in the United States that is conducted every ten years by the federal government and is required by the U.S. Constitution. 
    • It is used to determine the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives, how federal and state legislative districts are redrawn, and the appropriation of federally funded programs. 

When will the 2020 Census be conducted?

    • Census Day is April 1, 2020. Data collection will begin in March, 2020 and continue through July 2020. 
    • Households will receive a postcard with instructions for completing the census beginning in March 2020. Non-response followup will go from May through July. 

Who should respond to the census?

    • Everyone! Census postcards are sent to all households in the United States to collect information about each person living in the household. 
    • The Census Bureau is conducting special counts for populations living in group quarters or who are unsheltered. 

Do people have to answer all census questions?

    • While the law requires persons to answer all census questions accurately, an incomplete census form will still be included in the head count. 

Getting involved

    • The administration of the decennial census is managed by the U.S. Census Bureau. Local governments, schools, and not-for-profit organizations can follow the preparations for the 2020 Census. They can support the census by communicating the importance of the census to their residents, students, and clients. 

How can people complete the census?

    • The Census Bureau is collecting census forms in four ways:
      • Online, using the internet or a cell phone,
      • Over the telephone, by calling the census call center listed on the census card,
      • Using a paper form, or
      • By responding to a census enumerator
    • Census forms are available in 13 different languages. 

What questions will be asked?

  • 10 Questions, 10 Minutes per Person

    • Name
    • Phone Number
    • Age
    • Sex
    • Hispanic Origin
    • Race
    • Relationship to householder
    • Householder tenure (own/rent)
    • Number of persons in the household
    • Does a person usually stay or live somewhere else?

Are census responses confidential?

    • All data are protected under Title 13 of the U.S. Code. Records are confidential for 72 years by law. All Census Bureau employees swear a lifetime oath to protect respondent information. 
    • The U.S. Census Bureau will never share a respondent's personal information with other government agencies. 
    • Data is only released in summary tables, no individual records are released. 
    • All Census Bureau employees swear a lifetime oath to protect respondent information. The penalty for wrongful disclosure is up to 5 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000.

Learn About the Census