The 2030 Census Operational Plan is a high-level document that explains the operational design for the 2030 Census. It is the key way we communicate the 2030 Census design to staff and external stakeholders which outlines the full scope of the 2030 Census Program. 

Since we are in the early stage of the operational design, some areas described in the plan have more detail than others, this is common for areas already tested in the 2020 Census and earlier. This gradual approach helps us gather more information through testing and research, allowing us to refine and improve 2030 Census operations. 

The 2030 Census operational design will mature over the decade through our iterative approach. This means the 2030 Census design will develop and evolve gradually, allowing us to make informed decisions based on testing and research. It also gives us the flexibility to adjust the design throughout the decade to address budget changes or other unforeseen challenges.

This version of the operational plan, Baseline 1, builds heavily on 2020 Census successes, best practices, identified opportunities for improvement, and small-scale testing that has already been completed. 

As our design evolves, we’ll release future versions of the operational plan. Each one will provide more detail about the 2030 Census design, including details on specific operational areas.