The main purpose of the 2020 Census is to ensure that every person in the United States is counted once, only once, and in the right place. The 2020 Census will be the first to rely heavily on online responses, and will happen on April 1, 2020. California wants parents to make sure to include their babies, toddlers, and young children in the 2020 Census count.
California state officials and advocates are trying to spread the word about the 2020 Census through preschools, doctor’s offices and community centers to count the youngest state residents – infants and children who are under 5 years of age. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that about 210,000 children under the age of 5 years old in California were left uncounted in the 2020 Census.
Why is it so important to have an accurate census count? States that failed to count everyone could potentially get less federal funding than needed if the count is inaccurate. This could, for example, result in less money for programs such as Head Start.
The count also determines the number of congressional and Electoral College votes each state gets.
Why do so many children who are under the age of five more likely to be undercounted? Some adults don’t always understand that infants, toddlers, and preschoolers should be counted in the census. The adults may be confused about which household should include the counting of children that split time between two or more homes.
California parents may get a flyer from their child’s preschool about the 2020 Census. School districts and county offices of education may also play a big role in census outreach.
The Los Angeles Unified School District, the biggest one in California, is working with principals and preschool and child care providers to let parents know to count their young children in the 2020 Census.
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