LINDEN — North Montgomery Superintendent Colleen Moran encouraged families to take part in the 2020 Census during an open meeting on Monday, explaining how public schools are closely tied with the population count.
“I don’t think people realize how important that count is for schools. If kids don’t get counted, it has a negative impact on funding,” she said. “If you’re at a 4-H meeting, a church meeting or wherever you go on playdates with other families, please encourage them to fill out the Census.”
Traditionally, families begin receiving Census Bureau mail in mid-March with information of how to respond by mail or phone. This year, Moran said, the information can be provided online.
She also noted Montgomery County as a region that has historically been particularly underreported.
“I think sometimes what happens is if you have a home that’s split, maybe dad thinks mom counted the child, or vice versa,” Moran said. “Really the underreported are (from ages) birth to four. I don’t know why.”
The Census Bureau withholds data gathered for 72 years, Moran added, noting that not even the Federal Bureau of Investigation can get them to open up.
“That’s how secure it is,” she said. “I’ve been to the public meetings all about this. We’ve been putting it on social media and we’ve been putting it on the digital sign, but if you could promote that in any way that would be fantastic.”
For more information about the 2020 Census, including how to reply, visit www.2020census.gov.
