Department of Education

OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Request

CONTENTS

Page

Appropriations Language ........................................................................................................ Z-1

Amounts Available for Obligation ............................................................................................ Z-2

Obligations by Object Classification ........................................................................................ Z-3

Summary of Changes ............................................................................................................. Z-4

Authorizing Legislation............................................................................................................ Z-5

Appropriations History............................................................................................................. Z-6

Significant Items in FY 2019 Appropriations Reports............................................................... Z-7

Activity:

Office for Civil Rights .......................................................................................................... Z-8
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Appropriations Language

For expenses necessary for the Office for Civil Rights, as authorized by section 203 of the 

Department of Education Organization Act, $125,000,000. (Department of Education 

Appropriations Act, 2019.)
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Amounts Available for Obligation

(dollars in thousands)

Appropriation and Adjustments 2018 2019 2020

Discretionary appropriation:

Discretionar y budget authority:Appropriation.......................................................... $117,000 $125,000 $125,000

Discretionar y budget authority:Unobligated balance, expiring ................................ -112 0 0

Total, direct obligations..................................... 116,888 125,000 125,000
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Obligations by Object Classification

(dollars in thousands)

Obj ect class number Object Class

2018

Actual 

2019

Appropriation 

2020

Request

Change from 

2019 to 2020

11.10 Full-time permanent $59,206 $67,892 $67,265 -$627

11.31 Full-time temporary 719 663 777 +114

11.32 Part-time 995 553 666 +113

11.33 Consultants 0 0 0 0 

11.51 Overtime 264 100 63 -37

11.52 Awards 641 630 630 0

11.80 Other Compensation 22 0 0 0 

Subtotal R ow

 Subtotal, Personnel Comp. 61,847 69,838 69,401 -437

12.00 Benefits 20,006 23,737 23,591 -146

13.1 Benefits for Former Personnel 401 0 0 0

Subtotal R ow

 Subtotal, Per. Comp. & Ben. 82,254 93,575 92,992 -583

21.00 Travel 517 684 684 0

22.00 Transportation of things 0 0 0 0 

23.10 Rental Payments to GSA 8,595 9,146 9,494 +348

23.31 Communications 4 10 10 0

23.32 Postage/fees 1 32 32 0 

Subtotal R ow

 Subtotal, 23 8,600 9,188 9,536 +348

24.00 Printing & Reproduction 1 12 12 0 

25.1 Advisory and Assist Serv 0 0 0 0

25.21 Other Services 2,038 1,681 1,273 -408

25.22 Training/Tuition/Contracts 197 244 522 +278

25.30 Goods/Services from Gov't 3,216 2,165 2,480 +315

25.40 Operations/Maint of Facilities 0 1 1 0 

25.71 Operations/Maint of Equipment 6 15 0 -15

25.72 IT Services/Contracts 18,002 17,205 17,237 +32

Subtotal R ow

 Subtotal, 25 23,459 21,311 21,513 +202

26.00 Supplies 77 57 58 +1

31.10 IT Equipment/Software 192 173 205 +32

31.30 Other Equipment 10 0 0 0 

Subtotal R ow

 Subtotal, 31 202 173 205 +32

32.00 Building Alterations 1,778 0 0 0 

Total Row

Total, obligations 116,888 125,000 125,000 0
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Summary of Changes

(dollars in thousands)

2019.................................................................................................. $125,000

2020.................................................................................................. 125,000

Net Change................................................................ 0

Increases:

2019

Appropriation 

Change from

Appropriation 

Program:

Increase in rent to GSA $9,146 +$348

Increase in training 244 +278

Increase in goods/services from the Government. 2,165 +315

Increase in IT service contracts. 17,205 +32

Increase in supplies. 57 +1

Increase in IT equipment/software. 173 +32

Subtotal, increases +1,006

Decreases:

Built-in:

Built uiltDecrease in PC&B $93,575 -$583

Program:

Program Decrease other services. 1,681 -408

Program Decrease in operations/maintenance of equipment 15 -15

Subtotal, decreases -1,006

Net Change 0
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B

Z-5

Z-5

Authorizing Legislation

(dollars in thousands)

Activity

2019

Authorized

2019

Appropriation 

2020

Authorized

2020

Request

Civil Rights (DEOA)..................................................... Indefinite $125,000 Indefinite $125,000

Total appropriation................................................... 125,000 125,000
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Appropriations History

(dollars in thousands)

Year

Budget 

Estimate 

to Congress

House 

Allowance Footnote

Senate 

Allowance Footnote AppropriationFootnote

2011 105,700 103,0241 105,7001 102,8181

2012 107,772 102,8182 102,818

2 102,624

2013 102,624 102,6243 102,6243 98,356

2014 98,356 N/A4 98,356 98,356

2015 102,000 N/A4 102,0005 100,000

2016 130,691 100,0006 100,0006 107,000

2017 137,708 100,0007 110,0007 108,5007

2018 106,797 108,5008 117,0008 117,0008

2019 107,438 117,0009 125,0009 125,0009

2020 125,000

 

1

The levels for the House allowance reflects the House-passed full-year continuing resolution; Senate 

allowance reflects Committee action only; the Appropriation reflects the Department of Defense and FullYear Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 (P.L. 112-10).

2

The level for the House allowance reflects an introduced bill and the level for the Senate allowance 

reflects Senate Committee action only.

3

The levels for the House and Senate allowances reflect action on the regular annual 2013 

appropriations bill, which proceeded in the 112th Congress only through the House subcommittee and the 

Senate Committee.

4

The House allowance is shown as N/A because there was no Subcommittee action.

5

The level for the Senate allowance reflects Senate Subcommittee action only.

6

The levels for House and Senate allowances reflect action on the regular annual 2016 appropriations 

bill, which proceeded in the 114th Congress only through the House Committee and Senate Committee.

7

The levels for the House and Senate allowances reflect Committee action on the regular annual 2017 

appropriations bill; the Appropriation reflects the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017.

8

The level for the House allowance reflects floor action on the Omnibus appropriations bill; the Senate 

allowance reflects Committee action on the regular annual 2018 appropriations bill; the Appropriation 

reflects the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (P.L. 115-141).

9

The levels for the House and Senate allowance reflect Committee action on the regular annual 2019 

appropriations bill; the Appropriation reflects enactment of the Department of Defense and Labor, Health 

and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 (P.L..115-245).
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Significant Items in FY 2019 Appropriations Reports 

OCR Status of Investigations

Senate To understand how OCR’s new policies are affecting its enforcement of civil 

rights laws under its jurisdiction, the Committee directs OCR to provide not 

later than 30 days after the conclusion of each quarter, a report to the 

Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and Senate, 

the House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce, 

and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on all 

complaints opened for investigation, closed, or resolved including: the 

institution level, the date each was opened or resolved, an issue code and an 

issue description, and for all complaints closed or resolved whether the issue 

was closed by dismissal, insufficient evidence, or change without an 

agreement. 

Response The Department has and will continue to submit quarterly reports to the 

Committee as directed.
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Office for Civil Rights

(Department of Education Organization Act, Section 203)

(dollars in thousands)

FY 2020 Authorization: Indefinite

Budget Authority:

Annual Fund

2019 2020 Change 

Personnel Compensation and Benefits 

Costs $93,575 $92,992 -$583

Non-Personnel Costs 31,425 32,008 +583 

Total 125,000 125,000 0

FTE 625 619 -6

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The mission of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is to ensure equal access to education and to 

promote educational excellence throughout the Nation through vigorous enforcement of civil 

rights laws. This mission is in alignment with the Department’s mission to promote educational 

excellence and ensure equal access.

OCR’s law enforcement function is to ensure that institutions, programs, and activities that 

receive financial assistance from the Department and other covered entities comply with the 

Federal civil rights laws enacted by Congress. OCR fulfills this responsibility by enforcing six 

civil rights laws and their implementing regulations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of 

race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, and equal access to school facilities for the Boy 

Scouts of America or other groups identified by Congress as patriotic societies. These laws are:

 Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (prohibiting race, color, and national origin 

discrimination);

 Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (prohibiting sex discrimination);

 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (prohibiting disability discrimination);

 Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (prohibiting age discrimination); 

 Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (prohibiting disability discrimination in 

State and local Government services, whether or not programs receive Federal financial 

assistance); and

 Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act of 2002 (prohibiting public elementary and 

secondary schools, local educational agencies, and State educational agencies from 

denying equal access or a fair opportunity to meet, or discriminating against, any group 

officially affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America or any other youth group listed as a 

patriotic society in Title 36 of the United States Code).
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Under Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, and the Age Discrimination Act, OCR has jurisdiction over 

institutions that receive Federal financial assistance from the Department and institutions for 

which OCR has been delegated authority from other Federal agencies. Under Title II, OCR has 

jurisdiction over public elementary and secondary education systems and institutions, public 

institutions of higher education and vocational education (other than schools of medicine, 

dentistry, nursing, and other health-related schools), and public libraries, regardless of whether 

these institutions receive Federal financial assistance. Under the Boy Scouts Act, OCR has 

jurisdiction over public elementary schools, public secondary schools, local educational 

agencies and State educational agencies that receive funds made available through the 

Department.

The six civil rights laws for which OCR has enforcement responsibility extend to a wide range of 

entities, including: all State educational agencies; local educational agencies; postsecondary 

institutions, including proprietary schools and community colleges; State vocational 

rehabilitation agencies and their sub-recipients; as well as libraries, museums, and correctional 

institutions. More than 80 million individuals are beneficiaries of the financial assistance these 

institutions and agencies receive on behalf of the Department.

Funding levels for the past 5 fiscal years were:

Fiscal Year (dollars in thousands)

Footnotes

2015.................................................................................... 100,000

2016.................................................................................... 107,000

2017.................................................................................... 108,500

2018.................................................................................... 117,000

2019.................................................................................... 125,000

FY 2020 BUDGET REQUEST

For fiscal year 2020, the Administration requests $125 million for the OCR, level with the fiscal 

year 2019 appropriation. Funds would support an FTE level of 619 and would provide for the 

resources essential for OCR to deliver on its statutory and regulatory mandates. 

 The Personnel Compensation and Benefits (PC&B) request of $93.0 million is $583,000 

less than the fiscal year 2019 appropriation. The fiscal year 2020 request will support PC&B 

costs associated with an FTE level of 619, a decrease of 6 from the fiscal year 2019 level. 

 The Non-Personnel Costs, excluding Departmental Centralized Services request of 

$5.8 million is $210,000 less than fiscal year 2019. The majority of non-personnel funds are 

primarily for the Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC): $3.6 million; software support to 

operate OCR’s Case and Activity Management System (CAMS): $612,000; travel: 

$684,000; and the Online Discrimination Complaint Form Enhancement System: $343,000. 

 OCR’s fiscal year 2020 share of the Department’s Centralized Services (overhead) is 

$26.2 million, $793,000 more than the fiscal year 2019 appropriation. The chart below 

shows the funding level by category and the percentage share of the fiscal year 2020 

request.
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FY 2020 Budget by Category

(dollars in millions)

Total: $125.0

FTE: 619

On November 19, 2018, OCR released a revised Case Processing Manual (CPM). The revised 

CPM included key revisions aimed at further improving OCR’s investigative processes and 

procedures, while prioritizing effectiveness and efficiency. Specifically, revisions to the CPM 

also restore appeals for complainants, who may appeal findings of insufficient evidence, as well 

as certain types of dismissals, and provides recipients with the opportunity to respond to 

appeals. Revisions to the CPM eliminate former section 108(t), which provided that OCR 

would dismiss a complaint that is part of a pattern of complaints that places an unreasonable 

burden on OCR’s resources. Moreover, OCR is implementing post-case closure Quality 

Assurance Reviews to assure consistency and quality in case processing among the 12 

regional offices. Finally, revisions to the CPM make clear that as a threshold issue and 

throughout the processing of the complaint, OCR interprets its statutes and regulations 

consistent with the requirements of the First Amendment.

From March 5, 2018 through August 3, 2018, OCR dismissed 7,979 complains, closed 723 

cases for insufficient evidence, entered into 591 resolution agreements, closed 207 cases 

through the Facilitated Resolution Between Parties (FRBP) process and resolved 156 cases 

with changes without agreement. During the same period in 2017, OCR dismissed 5,840 

complaints, closed 882 cases for insufficient evidence, entered into 933 resolution agreements, 

and closed 199 cases through the FRBP process, and resolved 69 cases with change without 

agreement.

*Non-Personnel:

Travel

Communications

Printing

Copier rentals

Training

Supplies

Non-IT equipment/ 

furniture

Technology

PC&B

$93 M

74.3%

(Includes 

Overtime & 

Awards)

Centralized 

Services

$26 M

21%

*NonPersonnel

$6 M

4.7%
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Organizational Structure and Staffing 

The Office for Civil Rights is headed by an Assistant Secretary who is appointed by the 

President and confirmed by the Senate. The staff in the immediate office of the Assistant 

Secretary may include a Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, a Deputy Assistant Secretary for 

Enforcement, a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Development, a Deputy Assistant 

Secretary for Strategic Operations and Outreach, and a Deputy Assistant Secretary for 

Management and Planning. 

The Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary performs functions as assigned by the Assistant 

Secretary such as assisting and advising the Assistant Secretary in the overall direction and 

management of the agency.

The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement manages the overall operations of the 

12 regional offices that are responsible for ensuring that recipients of Federal assistance and 

other covered entities comply with the Federal civil rights laws prohibiting discrimination. The 

vast majority of OCR’s staff members work in the agency’s 12 regional offices. Their main 

function is to investigate complaints from the public that allege a violation of one or more of the 

Boston

New York City 

Philadelphia

Washington, D.C. 

(Headquarters and 

Field office 

Regional Offices 

Field Offices

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2020 Headquarters & Regional Staff

Seattle

San

Francisco Denver

Kansa City

Chicago

Atlanta

Dallas

Cleveland

Regional & Field Offices: 497 FTE

Headquarters: 122 FTE

Total Staff Level: 619 FTE
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statutes that OCR enforces and to determine the compliance status of recipients. Time and 

resources permitting, employees launch proactive investigations of recipients, which is 

described in more detail below under the Personnel Compensation and Benefits (PC&B) Costs

section. Enforcement staff also monitors recipients’ compliance with voluntary settlement 

agreements. In addition, they develop and provide technical assistance to foster greater 

understanding of the statutes that OCR enforces.

The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Development oversees the Headquarters’ 

Program Legal Group that provides a range of legal services including: developing policy 

guidance, technical assistance materials, consulting on novel cases from the regional offices, 

regulation development, and helping to ensure that civil rights issues are appropriately 

addressed within the Department’s programs and initiatives and among Federal Agencies. The 

Program Legal Group also has responsibility for administration of the Civil Rights Data 

Collection.

The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Operations and Outreach has responsibility for 

overseeing OCR’s strategic and operational planning, establishing and maintaining effective 

collaboration with other components of the Department, and ensuring effective outreach and 

communication between OCR and external stakeholders and the public.

The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management and Planning has the responsibility for 

overseeing and directing areas of planning, developing, and implementing budget, operational, 

and administrative policy for OCR. 

OCR consists of a headquarters office located in Washington, DC and 12 regional enforcement 

offices. These offices are located in Washington, DC (co-located with headquarters), Boston, 

New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Kansas City, Denver, San Francisco, Seattle, 

and Cleveland.

Personnel Compensation and Benefits (PC&B) Costs

OCR accomplishes its mission primarily by responding to complaints and initiating proactive 

investigations, both of which require significant investments in human capital. Proactive 

investigations include compliance reviews and directed investigations. OCR initiates 

compliance reviews to determine whether recipient practices comply with civil rights laws and 

regulations. OCR initiates directed investigations to address possible discrimination that is not 

currently being addressed through OCR’s complaint resolution, compliance review, or technical 

assistance activities. The statutes and implementing regulations enforced by OCR require 

recipients to ensure nondiscrimination in their programs and activities that receive Federal 

financial assistance. The regulations require OCR “to make a prompt investigation whenever a 

compliance review, report, complaint, or any other information indicates a possible failure to 

comply” with laws protecting students from discrimination in academic institutions that receive 

Federal funding. Therefore, PC&B costs historically have been the largest component of OCR’s 

budget as well as the key factor in OCR being able to accomplish its mission.

For fiscal year 2020, PC&B costs are 74.3 percent of the request, or $93 million, $583,000 less 

than the fiscal year 2019 appropriation. The 2020 request supports 619 FTE, 6 fewer than the 

level supported by the fiscal year 2019 appropriation. 
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The FTE Usage vs. Complaints Received chart below shows trends in FTE levels and caseload. 

While some of the decline in FTE since 1980 may be attributed to technological advances that 

improved efficiency, the FTE decline from 2010 to 2015 was a result of decreased funding 

($103 million in fiscal year 2010 to $100 million in fiscal year 2013). From fiscal year 2007 to 

fiscal year 2018, the number of complaints increased by 131 percent. OCR expects the upward 

trend in complaint volume to continue through fiscal year 2020.

The ratio of cases per enforcement staff is projected to be 30 to 1 in fiscal year 2019 and 29 to 1 

in fiscal year 2020. 

Table A: Caseload per Staff in FY 2007, FY 2017, and FY 2018 (Actual)

Caseload per Staff FY 2007 FY 2017 FY 2018 

Number of Enforcement Staff 557 495 461

Complaints Received & Proactive 

Investigations Launched1

5,917 12,839 12,435

# of cases per staff 11 26 27

# of multi-jurisdiction cases 854 1,702 1,800

Monitoring Caseload 1,031 3,705 4,263

 

1 OCR launched 23 proactive investigations in FY 2007, two in FY 2017, and three in FY 2018

1980 1990 2000 2007 2010 2013 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

FTE 1148 815 712 614 585 565 563 579 534 625 619

Complaints Received 3,497 3,384 4,897 5,894 6,933 9,950 16,720 12,837 12,432 14,200 14,600

1148

815

712

614 585 565 563

534

534

625

619

3,497 3,384 

4,897 5,894 

6,933 

9,950 

16,720 

12,837 

12,432 

14,200 14,600 

 3,000

 5,000

 7,000

 9,000

 11,000

 13,000

 15,000

 17,000

 19,000

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

1100

1200

Complaints Received

FTE Usage

FTE Usage vs Complaints Received

Fiscal Years 1980-2020 (FY 2019 & FY 2020 are estimates)
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Caseload per Staff FY 2007 FY 2017 FY 2018 

# of monitoring cases per staff 1.9 7.5 9.2

Investigated Cases1 3,586 8,573 6,971

# of investigated cases per staff 6 17 15

Table B: Impact of FTE per Staff Based on 14,600 Complaint Receipts and 4,263

Monitoring Cases Projected in FY 2020

Number/Staff Level 2020 

Request

Projected (through FY 2019) number of Enforcement Staff 538

Increased number of Attorneys/Equal Opportunity Specialists for FY 2019 0

Projected Total for FY 2020 538

# of cases per staff 27

# of monitoring cases per staff 8

Investing in Investigative and Administrative Staff

To address the high volume of complaints OCR receives, OCR is adding additional investigative 

staff in fiscal year 2019 and will continue to support these higher staffing levels in fiscal year

2020 subject to Congressional appropriation levels. OCR’s investigative staff is responsible for 

the following: (1) resolving complaints of discrimination; (2) initiating directed 

investigations/compliance review; and (3) providing technical assistance to help institutions 

achieve voluntary compliance with civil rights laws.

OCR’s administrative staff provides help and support tools for the enforcement staff’s improved 

efficiency. Support activities include: (1) providing policy guidance to clarify schools’ 

responsibilities; (2) providing information technology and web support for OCR’s enforcement 

and technical assistance activities and OCR’s website; (3) supporting the Civil Rights Data 

Collection; and (4) responding to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) 

Over the past five years the volume of FOIA requests that OCR received increased by 164 

percent from 1,151 in fiscal year 2014 to 3,041 in fiscal year 2018. The volume recently spiked 

102 percent over a one year period from fiscal year 2017 to fiscal year 2018. OCR anticipates 

that this trend will continue through fiscal year 2020. Many of the FOIA requests that OCR 

receives are complex in nature. It is not unusual for OCR to receive FOIA requests for entire 

 

1

Criteria: The selection of investigated cases is based on cases either still pending or cases that progressed beyond 

dismissal and were resolved with administrative closure, no violation, Facilitated Resolution Between Parties, or 

change with or without a resolution agreement.
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enforcement case files which may contain thousands of records. In fiscal year 2019 OCR is 

adding administrative staff that is dedicated to FOIA processing. The fiscal year 2020 request 

will ensure the FOIA team remains adequately staffed. 

FOIA Requests Received (FY 2014 - FY 2018)

FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 2018

1,151 1,116 1,331 1,503 3,041

The fiscal year 2020 Request supports the core functions of the investigative and administrative 

staff above. 

Awards and Overtime

The Administration is requesting $630,000 for awards and $63,000 for overtime for a total of 

$693,000, $37,000 less than the fiscal year 2019 appropriation. The request will cover 

mandated performance awards for the eligible Senior Executive Service staff and performancebased awards for general schedule employees. 

Non-Personnel Costs – Non-Centralized Services

The total request for Non-Personnel activities in fiscal year 2020, excluding Departmental 

Centralized Services, is $5.8 million, $210,000 less than the fiscal year 2019 appropriation. The 

requested Non-Personnel funds would provide program support to resolve complaints of 

discrimination filed by the public and ensure that institutions receiving Federal financial 

assistance are in compliance with the civil rights laws enforced by OCR. The fiscal year 2020 

funds will also support the maintenance, monitoring and enhancement of OCR’s database 

investments (CRDC, CAMS and Online Discrimination Complaint Form).

Information Technology (IT) Non-Personnel Costs

Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 

The Administration is requesting $3.6 million for the CRDC, $24,011 more than the fiscal year 

2019 appropriation. The request will support analysis and reporting for 2017-18 CRDC data 

collection activities and review of data files for the 2019-20 CRDC. The request will also 

support basic operations and maintenance, non-major enhancements, and some web hosting 

for the CRDC reporting website. The $24,011 increase will support the preparation of topicspecific reports on civil rights areas of interest that will incorporate increased visualization of 

data. 

In order for the CRDC to be useful to OCR, the Department, State educational agencies (SEAs), 

local educational agencies (LEAs), and other stakeholders, the data must be collected, 

analyzed and distributed in a timely manner. Beginning with the 2017-18 CRDC, data will be 

collected from Puerto Rico; unless the school district informs OCR that it will be unable to do so, 

in whole, or in part, due to the devastating impact of the 2017 hurricane season. Other 
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

Z-16

Department offices and Federal agencies also benefit from the valuable data within the CRDC 

to increase awareness around key issues and provide a source of national, school-level data. 

In addition, under section 1111(h)(1)(C)(viii) of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), SEAs 

and LEAs are required to include data from the CRDC on: (1) in-school suspensions; (2) out-ofschool suspensions; (3) expulsions; (4) school-related arrests; (5) referrals to law enforcement; 

(6) incidences of violence, including bullying and harassment; (7) number and percentage of 

students enrolled in preschool; and (8) number and percentage of students enrolled in 

accelerated coursework to earn postsecondary credit while in high school (e.g., advanced 

placement, international baccalaureate) on their annual report cards. States and districts will 

begin to produce report cards as required by ESSA using the CRDC data from the 2015-16

school years.

CRDC collection consists of five major phases: (I) notification and guidance to school districts, 

(II) preparing for data submissions, (III) survey submission window, (IV) finalizing data files, and 

(V) preparing the data file for upload to the CRDC website. In summary, the five phases can be 

captured in three categories. They are: (1) pre-collection, which includes Phases I and II; (2)

collection activities, comprised of Phase III; and (3) post-collection, which include Phases IV and 

V. Activities related to the CRDC Reporting Website operations, maintenance, and data upload 

and integration are detailed separately. All phases and costs are listed in detail on the CRDC 

chart on the next page. 

The CRDC provides data on leading civil rights indicators related to access and barriers to 

educational opportunity at the pre-K through 12th grade school levels. Although OCR has 

conducted the CRDC since 1968, the last few collection cycles have shown substantial 

improvements in both the quality and the usability of the data. OCR developed pre-submission 

analytic reports to assist districts in reducing errors. This effort is complemented by tip sheets, 

FAQs, and guidance documents posted to the CRDC website. In addition, several 

enhancements were made to the data submission system for the 2015-16 CRDC to improve 

functionality and user experience, which resulted in a decrease in the overall data collection 

period.

With respect to improved usability, the CRDC has become more accessible and understandable 

for the general public, researchers, and policymakers. In fiscal year 2018, OCR released data 

from the 2015-16 CRDC, which was the fourth universal collection. Previous universal 

collections were conducted for the 2000-01, 2011-12, and 2013-14 school years. The 2015-16 

CRDC was released on April 24, 2018, and the report includes, for the first time, comprehensive 

data regarding incidents of criminal offenses in our nation's public schools. It also includes 

several new categories of data on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) 

course taking. The Department used CRDC data to produce topic-specific data briefs on two 

major topics STEM Course Taking and School Climate and Safety. The collection surveyed 

more than 17,300 school districts and 96,400 public schools representing more than 50 million 

students. The 2017 -2018 CRDC is a universal collection.

The Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) budget table on page Z-17 provides an estimated

detailed account of the CRDC budget for fiscal years 2018-2020.
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Z-17

School Year Major Activity Fiscal Year 

2018

Fiscal Year 

2019

Fiscal Year 

2020

CRDC

2015-16

Data Analysis

Analysis and summarization of the 2017-18 CRDC data for 

public dissemination; creating special tabulations and 

publications; designing and editing of CRDC issue briefs. 186,189

CRDC

2015-16

National & State Estimations

66,093

CRDC 2015-

16 Reporting

Development of topic-specific reports that incorporate data 

visualization.t

15,406

CRDC

2017-18

Phase III - Survey Submission Window: Begin data 

collection from LEAs, Partner Support Center for technical 

support for school districts' data submissions. 1,987,660

CRDC

2017-18

Phase IV - Finalizing Data Files: Data quality review and 

editing, time series, privacy protection. 130,659 730,338

CRDC

2017-18

Phase V – Data Upload Preparation: Prepare CRDC 

2017–18 data for upload to the CRDC (Reporting) website; 

hosting and releasing the new data to the general public. 484,977 309,404

CRDC 2017-

18 Data 

Analysis

Analysis and summarization of the 2017-18 CRDC data for 

public dissemination; creating special tabulations and 

publications; designing and editing of CRDC issue briefs. 220,000

CRDC 2017-

18 Reporting

Development of informational reports with data visualization.

25,000

CRDC

2019-20

Phase I - Notification and Guidance: Notification to school 

districts, identifying primary point of contact, guidance (Q&A). 365,692

CRDC

2019-20

Phase II - Preparing for data submissions: File 

specifications, pre-collection tools, confirmation of school 

directory, technical assistance to prepare districts to collect 

and submit data. 547,008

CRDC

2019-20

Phase III - Survey Submission Window: Begin data 

collection from LEAs, Partner Support Center for technical 

support for school districts' data submissions 1,715,000

CRDC

2019-20

Phase IV - Finalizing Data Files: Data quality review and 

editing, time series, privacy protection.

780,000

CRDC 

Reporting 

Website

Fund the “Base Year” and 4 option years for the CRDC

(Reporting) website’s operation and maintenance.

274,364 364,697 391,216

CRDC 

Reporting 

Website

Upload and integrate 2015-16 CRDC data, implement data 

updates, develop and implement system enhancements and 

new reports to improve data analysis and display on the 

reporting website. 1,161,524 920,066 570,000

CRDC 

Reporting 

Website

Risk Assessment 

47,217

Web Hosting Web hosting under the EDUCATE/PIVOT contract.

83,784 83,784 83,784

Total

CRDC $4,437,872 $3,540,989 $3,565,000
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Z-18

Case Activity Management System (CAMS) 

The Administration requests $612,000 for the CAMS, $297,000 more than the fiscal year 2019 

appropriation. CAMS is an electronic tracking system used to record the status of past, 

ongoing, and upcoming cases and store the documents associated with each case. It uses a 

combination of three software applications: Case Management System, Activity Management 

System, and Open Text Document Management System with Record Management 

function. The funding for this project provides for: (a) enhancements to apply business process 

changes and to improve the usage of these core applications, (b) compliance with up-to-date 

departmental IT environment, and (c) software subscription services to maintain version 

upgrades and technical phone support on the Open Text products and Matrix Logic add-on 

modules. OCR continues to enhance these essential applications for critical unmet needs 

identified by CAMS’ core users. 

Information Technology Services: Support for Operations and Maintenance (O&M) for 

Online Discrimination Complaint Form

The Administration is requesting $343,000, $17,000 less than the fiscal year 2019 appropriation. 

Of this request, $331,200 covers two subtasks in support of the maintenance and general web 

operations contracting task: (a) General O&M to support OCR’s publically accessible website1

and database; and (b) the OCR Web Based Collection System document upload project that 

allows the public to search for and access OCR enforcement resolution letters and agreements 

entered into on or after October 1, 2013. The remaining $12,000 will support website hosting.

 For subtask (a), O&M covers both the electronic pre-complaint and online complaint forms. 

The pre-complaint form is an online screening process tool that walks potential 

complainants through a number of considerations prior to their submission of a 

discrimination complaint to OCR. The Online Discrimination Complaint Form is a public 

facing tool. Therefore, OCR will need to invest in cybersecurity measures to manage the 

risks of cyber threats to provide the On-Line Complaint form process in a non-Cold-Fusion 

software support environment.

 For subtask (b), the OCR Web Based Collection System document upload project involves 

contracting IT services to upload OCR resolution letters and agreements, policy documents, 

and other information to the OCR website in order to provide transparency to the public 

about OCR enforcement and compliance activities.

Non-IT Costs

Travel

The Administration requests a travel budget of $684,000, the same as the fiscal year 2019 

appropriation. The overwhelming majority of OCR’s travel funds are used to investigate 

complaints. OCR will limit travel for conducting proactive investigations, providing technical 

assistance, monitoring corrective action plans, and training. OCR must ensure that staff and 

 

1

http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html
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leadership in the enforcement offices are able to receive critical training, civil rights updates, and 

management skills necessary to improve OCR operations. OCR often uses video 

teleconference technology to enable optimal video communications and conferencing between 

the enforcement offices and headquarters to reduce the need for costly travel. 

Printing

The Administration is requesting $12,000 for printing, the same as the fiscal year 2019 

appropriation, to cover necessary printed items such as pamphlets highlighting OCR activities in 

various languages, reports, fact sheets, business cards, and letterhead.

Training

The Administration requests a training budget of $150,000, the same as the fiscal year 2019 

appropriation. OCR’s leadership recognizes that the success of its work depends on the quality 

of its staff across all levels of the organization. Staff needs the opportunities to participate in 

leadership programs, supervisory training, policy conferences, and continuing legal education to 

fulfill OCR’s mission. OCR will also utilize its professional and technical training online when 

appropriate and cost-effective.

Communications and Operations and Maintenance of Facilities

The Administration is requesting $11,000 in fiscal year 2020 for communications and operations 

and maintenance of facilities, the same as fiscal year 2019 appropriation. These funds are 

needed for overnight shipping costs and maintenance of facilities.

Other Services

The Administration requests $299,000, $500,000 less than the fiscal year 2019 Appropriation. 

The request includes: 

 Legal Research Services - $175,000. This is the same as the fiscal year 2019 

appropriation. The contract provides an automated full-text legal information system that 

offers online access to Federal and State case law, statutes of all 50 States, legal 

publications, and law reports. The increased funding will support enhanced content 

including analytical and litigation packages. 

 Miscellaneous Services - $124,000. This is a decrease of $500,000 from the fiscal year 

2019 Appropriation. The request supports the reimbursement of attorneys’ bar dues -

$70,000; translation and interpretation services (translating documents and pamphlets into 

several languages which is different than the printing of documents in different languages) -

$42,000; and miscellaneous services for advertisement and short-term contractual services -

$12,000.
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Goods/Services from the Government

The fiscal year 2020 request includes $38,000, the same as the fiscal year 2019 appropriation. 

This request supports Education publications (ED Pubs) totaling $15,000, and General Services 

Administration-leased vehicles and equipment totaling $23,000.

Supplies

The Administration is requesting $100,000, the same as the 2019 Appropriation. The funds are 

needed to purchase supplies, renew periodical subscriptions relating to law, disabilities, and 

news; support case files maintenance; and purchase copier paper.

Departmental Centralized Support – Non-Personnel Costs

Approximately 82 percent of the total Non-Personnel budget request is to cover OCR’s share of 

the Department’s centralized services. The request provides $26 million for centralized 

services, $793,000 more than the fiscal year 2019 appropriation. The 2020 request will cover 

the costs of services such as rent; departmental training; personnel security; records information 

management support services; interagency agreements for administrative services provided by 

other Federal Agencies, such as payroll processing, overtime utilities, training coordination and 

career counseling; IT security; telecommunications; computers and related hardware; 

smartphones; IT processing services; and network support. 
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PROGRAM OUTPUT MEASURES

The following chart shows the number of OCR’s complaint receipts and resolutions since fiscal 

year 2007. Actual data are shown for fiscal years 2007-2018 and estimates are shown for fiscal 

years 2019-2020.

Complaint Receipts and Resolutions (FY 2007 – FY 2020)

*estimate

In fiscal year 2018, total complaint receipts decreased by 405 compared to the previous year. 

However, complaint receipts are projected to increase through FY 2020.

The FY 2018 Complaint Caseload by Jurisdiction pie chart on page Z-22 displays the fiscal year

2018 complaint caseload by jurisdiction. OCR disability discrimination complaints made up the 

largest percentage of filed complaints, followed by sex complaints. In general, disability 

discrimination has historically constituted the greatest share of OCR’s complaint caseload.

2007 2010 2013 2016 2017 2018 2019* 2020*

Receipts 5,894 6,933 9,950 16,720 12,837 12,432 14,200 14,600

Resolutions 5,737 6,830 10,128 8,625 17,787 14,069 14,500 14,500

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

18,000

20,000
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FY 2018 Complaint Caseload by Jurisdiction (October 1, 2017 – September 30, 2018)

The following table provides the number of cases received by jurisdiction during the past 

12 years, fiscal years 2007 through 2018. 

Complaint Caseload by Jurisdiction

(Fiscal Years 2007– 2018)

Jurisdiction FY 2007 FY 2010 FY 2013 FY 2016* FY 2017 FY 2018**

Race 933 1,056 1,192 1,294 1,280 1,368

Sex 326 391 2,242 7,068* 2,249 2,773

Disability 3,013 3,405 4,272 5,063 5,567 4,818

Age 97 131 125 108 156 97

Multiple 848 1,037 1,333 1,655 1,702 1,800

Other 677 913 786 1,532 1,883 1,576

TOTAL 5,894 6,933 9,950 16,720 12,837 12,432

* In FY 2016, of the 7,068 Sex Discrimination complaints, 6,201 were Title IX complaints attributed to one 

individual against school districts and elementary and secondary schools.

** FY 2018, data is as of June 30, 2018.

Race/National 

Origin 1,368 (11%)

Sex Discrimination 

2,773 (22%)

Disability 

Discrimination 

4,818 (39%)

Age Discrimination 

97 (1%)

Multiple 

Allegations

 1,800 (14%)

Other Complaints 

1,576 (13%)

Total Complaints - 12,432
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PROGRAM PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Performance Measures

OCR’s Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) measures are designed to assess 

the efficiency and accessibility of the complaint resolution process. While performance has had 

some dips in recent years, OCR anticipates performance improving in fiscal years 2019 and 

2020 due to the revisions to the Case Processing Manual that are intended to help decrease 

case processing times. Maintaining a higher number of investigative staff through fiscal year 

2020 should also have a positive impact on performance. 

Current performance measures for complaint workload:

Measure: Percentage of complaints resolved within 180 days.

Year Target Actual

2015 80% 86%

2016 80 78

2017 80 81

2018 80 84

2019 80

2020 80

Measure: Percentage of complaints pending over 180 days.

Year Target Actual

2015 < 25% 34%

2016 < 25 23

2017 < 25 58

2018 < 25 62

2019 < 25

2020 < 25

Additional information: The first two performance measures encompass OCR’s entire 

complaint workload, which together hold OCR accountable for efficient case resolution. 

Complaint receipts are rising and becoming more labor-intensive to evaluate, investigate and 

resolve. 

As a result, OCR has only met one of the two performance goals addressing complaint 

workload -- the percentage of complaints resolved within 180 days (target 80 percent, actual 84 

percent). OCR failed to keep the percentage of complaints pending over 180 days 25 percent 

or less (target <25 percent, actual 62 percent). Regional offices now have flexibility to 

determine the appropriate layers of review. Furthermore, there has been a reduction in the 

types of cases requiring headquarters’ review. OCR continues to ensure quality, while upholding 
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its mission to vigorously enforce civil rights laws. For fiscal year 2018, the total number of 

complaint cases pending for more than 180 days as of September 30, 2018 was 3,384. 

Measure: Mean score of customer satisfaction survey.

Year Target Actual

2015 3.66 3.69

2016 3.66 3.73

2017 3.66 3.75

2018 3.66 3.78

2019 3.66

2020 3.66

Additional information: OCR’s third performance measure looks at customer satisfaction 

through a survey that is distributed to both complainants and recipients after case resolution. 

The survey measures courteous and considerate treatment of customers; prompt, clear, and 

responsive communication (oral and written); and whether the customer is kept informed about 

his or her case. A fiscal year 2005 survey was used to establish a target baseline at 3.66 (on a 

scale of 1 through 5).