WICHITA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2020 Census: Participation ensures federal funding for schools 

The U.S. Census count begins in March 2020. The census is a count of every person who lives in the United States and its territories. Responding to the census helps the Wichita community to get its fair share of funding. Census data guides how more than $675 billion in federal funding is distributed to states and communities each year for schools, health care facilities, roads, transportation, recreation centers, social services, and more. 

What is Wichita Public Schools doing to support it?

The Board of Education recently adopted a resolution to develop and adopt a plan of action around ensuring a complete count of all students and their families residing within the boundaries of Wichita Public Schools on the 2020 Census. 

WPS is committed to working in partnership with other local civic, business and community leaders, the State of Kansas and others to engage, educate and count every resident located within the boundaries of WPS.

How can you help?

Learn more about your role in the Census by visiting https://kansascounts.org/residents/.

Why does it matter?

• The 2020 Census count of children living within the boundaries of WPS will be the basis of federal education funding allocated to our schools over the next ten years, specifically the federal programs serving our students living in poverty and students with disabilities. This is our only chance to impact how much of the federal pie we receive for 10 years. 

• Schools in Kansas received over $137 million for breakfast and lunch programs in FY2016 and $109 million to support schools with the highest percentages of low-income students. 

• The populations that are prevalent in urban areas like the areas within the boundaries of WPS are at high risk of being undercounted, including young children, people of color, low-income households, language minority families, foreign-born residents, and households with limited Internet access, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 

• Children are more likely to be missed in the Census count if they reside in the complex households that are also common in urban areas, such as multi-generation households, extended families, and multi-family households.