EMBARGOED UNTIL: 12:01 A.M. EST, NOVEMBER 30, 2000 (THURSDAY) Public Information Office CB00-204 301-457-3030/301-457-3670 (fax) 301-457-1037 (TDD) e-mail: pio@census.gov David Waddington 301-457-3195 Paul Siegel 301-457-3182 Census Bureau Releases 1997 Poverty and Population Estimates for School Districts The Commerce Department's Census Bureau today released 1997 poverty and population estimates for the nation's approximately 15,000 school districts. The estimates are used by the Department of Education to allocate funds to aid disadvantaged children under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The Census Bureau produced the estimates for school districts (as defined for the 1999-2000 school year) by combining 1990 census data for school districts with 1997 county poverty and population estimates. The estimates should not be confused with Census 2000 results. Census 2000 data on poverty at the school district level will not be released until 2002. This is the second time the Census Bureau has produced school district estimates (excluding decennial census figures). Estimates for 1995 were evaluated by a special panel of the National Academy of Sciences. Despite the high level of uncertainty associated with small-area estimates, they were endorsed by the panel for use by the Education Department to fund Title I grants in 1999. The estimates represent the number of poor children ages 5 to 17 in families, the total number of children ages 5 to 17 and the total population.-X-
