Tom Cook, social studies at EOS, explains to students the importance of participating in the Census and taking part as a civic duty.
The United States Constitution requires a Census of the nation’s population every 10 years. To educate students on the 2020 Census and encourage families’ participation in the process, Academic Enrichment Center (AEC) personnel Rhonda Hoffman and Sue Bell developed a fun and innovative way for students to test their knowledge.
On display at the AEC were 10 jars of varying sizes. Each jar represented a specific state and contained a quantity of M&M candies, with each piece of candy representing 20,000 people. Since a state’s representation in the House of Representatives is determined by its population, students were challenged to determine which jar went with each state, based upon its current members in the House of Representatives.
Students in the Westerville City Schools and across the country benefit from a complete and accurate Census count. Census data is used to determine Federal funding for special education, Head Start, classroom technology, free and reduced-price meals, and after-school programs.
The Westerville City School District and its individual schools are conducting a variety of activities to increase awareness of the importance of a complete, accurate Census count in our community. United States Census Bureau Partnership Specialist Mark Boyd shared a presentation about the 2020 Census with the Board of Education during its regular meeting on February 10, 2020.
Although April 1, 2020, is officially Census Day, the 2020 Census actually began in January with the population count in remote parts of Alaska. Households across the country will be mailed Census forms in mid-March and, for the first time, will have the opportunity to complete the Census online.
The first Census occurred in 1790 and every 10 years thereafter. The results are used to reapportion the House of Representatives, determining how many seats each state gets. In addition, state officials use Census results to redraw the boundaries of their congressional and state legislative districts, adapting to population shifts. Furthermore, Census data determines how more than $675 billion dollars are spent to support our state, county, and community’s vital programs. Additional information about the 2020 Census is available online at www.census.gov.