Department of Education

BB. OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Request

CONTENTS

Page

Appropriations Language........................................................................................................BB-1

Amounts Available for Obligation............................................................................................BB-2

Obligations by Object Classification........................................................................................BB-3

Summary of Changes .............................................................................................................BB-4

Authorizing Legislation............................................................................................................BB-5

Appropriations History.............................................................................................................BB-6

Significant Items in FY 2021 Appropriations Reports .............................................................BB-7

Activity:

Office for Civil Rights .......................................................................................................BB-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, [$131,000,000] $144,000,000. (Department of 

Education Appropriations Act, 2021.)
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Amounts Available for Obligation

(dollars in thousands)

Appropriation and Adjustments 2020 2021 2022

Discretionary appropriation:

Discretionary budget authority:Appropriation........................................................... $130,000 $131,000 $144,000

Discretionary budget authority:Unobligated balance, expiring................................. -1,501 0 0

Total, direct obligations ..................................... 128,499 131,000 144,000
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Obligations by Object Classification

(dollars in thousands)

Object class number Object Class

2020

Actual 

2021

Appropriation 

2022

Request

Change from 

2021 to 2022

11.10 Full-time permanent $63,312 $70,511 $75,846 +$5,335

11.31 Full-time temporary 1,205 976 998 +22

11.32 Part-time 1,058 854 874 +20

11.33 Consultants 13 0 0 0 

11.51 Overtime 259 40 60 +20

11.52 Awards 653 1,012 1,042 +30

11.80 Other Compensation 4 0 0 0 

Subtotal Row

 Subtotal, Personnel Comp. 66,504 73,393 78,820 +5,427

12.00 Benefits 22,696 25,945 29,236 +3,291

13.1 Benefits for Former Personnel 0 0 0 0

Subtotal Row

 Subtotal, Per. Comp. & Ben. 22,696 25,945 29,236 +3,291

21.00 Travel 323 179 719 +540

22.00 Transportation of things 0 0 0 0 

23.10 Rental Payments to GSA 9,041 9,861 10,170 +309

23.31 Communications 2 10 10 0

23.32 Postage/fees 17 17 17 0 

Subtotal Row

 Subtotal, 23 9,060 9,888 10,197 +309

24.00 Printing & Reproduction 1 5 5 0 

25.1 Advisory and Assist Serv 0 0 0 0

25.21 Other Services 6,307 1,737 1,518 -219

25.22 Training/Tuition/Contracts 116 331 527 +196

25.30 Goods/Services from Gov't 2,297 1,849 2,314 +465

25.71 Operations/Maint of Equipment 0 1 1 0

25.72 IT Services/Contracts 19,993 17,120 20,110 +2,990

Subtotal Row

 Subtotal, 25 28,713 21,038 24,470 3,432

26.00 Supplies 50 86 85 -1

31.10 IT Equipment/Software 102 466 468 +2

31.30 Other Equipment 15 0 0 0 

Subtotal Row

 Subtotal, 31 117 466 468 +2

32.00 Building Alterations 1,035 0 0 0 

Total Row

Total, obligations 128,499 131,000 144,000 +13,000

Total Pers. Comp. & Ben. 89,200 99,338 108,056 +8,718

Total Non-Personnel 39,299 31,662 35,944 +4,282
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Summary of Changes

(dollars in thousands)

2021.................................................................................................... $131,000

2022.................................................................................................... 144,000

Net Change ................................................................. +13,000

Increases:

2021

Appropriation 

Change from

Appropriation 

Built-in:

Built-inIncrease in salaries and benefits primarily for 30 

additional FTE, increased benefits for FERS 

contribution rates and a 2.7 percent pay raise.

$98,156 +$8,333

Increase in rent to GSA. 9,861 +309

Program:

Program Increase in overtime. 40 +20

Program Increase in awards. 1,012 +30

Program Increase in transit benefits after being reduced due 

to COVID pandemic. 

46 +335

Program Increase in travel primarily for increase after 

reduced travel due to COVID pandemic. 

179 +540

Program Increase in training. 331 +196

Program Increase in goods/services from the Government. 1,849 +465

Program Increase in IT service contracts primarily for 

Enterprise Cybersecurity Program and Civil Rights 

Data Collection.

17,120 +2,990

Program Increase in IT equipment/software. 466 +2

Subtotal, increases +13,220

Decreases:

Program:

Program Decrease in other services. 1,737 -219

Program Decrease in supplies. 86 -1

Subtotal, decreases -220

Net Change +13,000
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Authorizing Legislation

(dollars in thousands)

Activity

2021

Authorized

2021

Appropriation 

2022

Authorized

2022

Request

Civil Rights (DEOA) ..................................................... Indefinite $131,000 Indefinite $144,000

Total appropriation ................................................... 131,000 144,000
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Appropriations History

(dollars in thousands)

Year

Budget 

Estimate 

to Congress

House 

Allowance Footnote

Senate 

Allowance Footnote AppropriationFootnote

2013 $102,624 $102,6241 $102,6241 $98,356

2014 98,356 N/A2 98,3562 98,356

2015 102,000 N/A3 102,0003 100,000

2016 130,691 100,0004 100,0004 107,000

2017 137,708 100,0005 110,0005 108,500

2018 106,797 108,5006 117,0006 117,0006

2019 107,438 117,0007 125,0007 125,0007

2020 125,000 130,000 125,0008 130,0008

2021 130,000 132,0009 130,0009 131,0009

2022 144,000

1 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.

2 The House allowance is shown as N/A because there was no Subcommittee action; Senate allowance 

reflects Senate Subcommittee action only.

3 The House allowance is shown as N/A because there was no Subcommittee action; Senate allowance reflects 

Senate Subcommittee action only.

4 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.

5 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.

6 The level for the House allowance reflects floor action on the Omnibus appropriation 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).

7 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).

8 The Senate Allowance reflects the Chairman’s mark; the Appropriation reflects the Further Consolidated 

Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-94).

9 The level for the House allowance reflects subcommittee action. The level for the Senate Allowance reflects the 

Chairman’s mark; the Appropriation reflects Division H of the FY 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 

116-260).
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Significant Items in FY 2021 Appropriations Reports

OCR School Discipline Rates and Recommendations

House: OCR should submit to the Committees on Appropriations, no later than 180 days 

after the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, a report detailing school 

discipline in all preschool and K–3 classrooms, including disaggregated data and 

any disparities by subgroup in disciplinary rates. The report should also include 

specific recommendations given to schools on expulsions and suspensions—

including evidence-based interventions, consumer education specific to each 

school, and opportunities to improve school climate. The Committee requests a 

briefing within 90 days of enactment of this Act on the progress the Department 

is making towards these goals.

Response: The Department will submit an annual report to the Committees as directed.

OCR Increase of Full-Time Equivalency (FTE)

House: The Committee directs OCR to use this appropriation to increase its level of fulltime equivalent (FTE) employment in order to effectively and timely investigate 

complaints; execute and accurately report the civil rights data collection; 

thoroughly monitor corrective actions of institutions and meet other critical 

workloads.

Response: The Department will continue to submit quarterly reports to the Committees and 

explain the FTE discrepancy in the fiscal year 2022 Congressional Budget 

Justification as directed.

OCR Title IX

House: The Committee directs OCR to provide a report to further disaggregate data 

provided in the Civil Rights Data Collection. The report must include an 

assessment of the FTE status of Title IX coordinators at the local educational 

agencies (LEAs) and state educational agencies (SEAs) levels, including full-time 

versus part-time status, and if the Title IX coordinator also oversees other civil 

rights coordinator positions, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Title II of the 

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act 

of 1973. In addition to harassment and bullying data, the report should include 

data on the prevalence of rape in schools. The Committee directs OCR to submit 

recommendations, no later than 180 days after enactment of this Act, on actions 

Congress can take to ensure the Department provides full oversight to prevent, 

mitigate, and address sexual harassment, assault, and rape in schools.

Response: The Department is working on the requested report.
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Activities:

Office for Civil Rights

(Department of Education Organization Act, Section 203)

(dollars in thousands)

FY 2022 Authorization: Indefinite

Budget Authority:

Annual Fund 2021 2022 Change from

2021 to 2022

Personnel Compensation and Benefits 

Costs

$99,338 $108,056 +$8,718

Non-Personnel Costs 31,662 35,944 +4,282

Total 131,000 144,000 +13,000

FTE 593 623 +30

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 ensures that schools and other institutions that receive financial assistance from the 

Department for education programs and activities comply with the Federal civil rights laws 

enacted by Congress. Specifically, OCR fulfills its mission by enforcing six civil rights laws and 

their implementing regulations which prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national 

origin, sex, disability, age, and ensure equal access to school facilities for certain youth groups. 

These laws are:

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq., implementing regulation at 

34 C.F.R. Part 100 (prohibiting race, color, and national origin discrimination);

• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq., implementing 

regulation at 34 C.F.R. Part 106 (prohibiting sex discrimination);

• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794, implementing regulation at 

34 C.F.R. Part 104 (prohibiting disability discrimination);

• Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 1231 et seq., 

implementing regulation at 28 C.F.R. Part 35 (prohibiting disability discrimination by public 

entities, whether or not they receive Federal financial assistance);

• The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, 42 U.S.C. § 6101 et seq., and its implementing 

regulation at 34 C.F.R. Part 100 (prohibiting age discrimination); and
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• The Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act of 2002, 20 U.S.C. § 7905, implementing 

regulation at 34 C.F.R. Part 108 (prohibiting public elementary and secondary schools, local 

education agencies, and State education 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).

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. 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. 

Funding levels for the past 5 fiscal years were:

Fiscal Year (dollars in thousands) Footnotes

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

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

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

2020 ....................................................... ......................... 130,000

2021 ....................................................... ......................... 131,000

FY 2022 BUDGET REQUEST

For fiscal year 2022 request, the Administration requests $144.0 million for OCR, $13.0 million 

more than the fiscal year 2021 Appropriation. Funds would support an FTE level of 623 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 $108.1 million is 

$8.7 million more than the fiscal year 2021 Appropriation. The fiscal year 2022 request will 

support PC&B costs associated with an FTE level of 623, which includes 610 FTE for OCR 

and 13 FTE for centralized FTE costs (e.g., human resources support, facilities 

management). The request also incorporates a proposed 2.7 percent cost of living increase

and projected benefits increases. The 30 additional FTE included in this request will assist 

OCR in fulfilling its mission of ensuring that our Nation is a place where all students attend 

and participate in school free from discrimination. While the bulk of the additional FTE will 

likely go towards legal staff in both enforcement and policy positions, OCR’s commitment to 

transparency and improved customer engagement may necessitate additional staffing of 

OCR’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) team and other positions related to customer 

service and the delivery of technical assistance.
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• The Non-Personnel Costs, excluding Departmental Centralized Services request of 

$7.9 million is $3.1 million more than fiscal year 2021 Appropriation. Most non-personnel 

funds are for the Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC): $5.3 million; travel: $719,000; the 

software support to operate OCR’s Case and Activity Management System (CAMS): 

$574,000; and the Online Discrimination Complaint Form and Back-end Database: 

$422,000.

• OCR’s fiscal year 2022 request share of the Department’s Centralized Services 

(overhead) is $28.0 million, $1.2 million more than the fiscal year 2021 Appropriation.

The chart below shows the funding level by category and the percentage share of the fiscal year 

2022 request.

FY 2022 Budget by Category

(dollars in millions)

Total: $144

FTE: 623

*Non-Personnel:

Travel

Communications

Printing

Copier rentals

Training

Supplies

Non-IT equipment/ 

furniture

Technology

PC&B

$108.1 M

75.0%

(Includes 

Overtime & 

Awards)

Centralized 

Services

$28.0 M

19.4%

*NonPersonnel

$7.9 M

5.6%
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Organizational Structure and Staffing 

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2022 Headquarters and Regional Enforcement Office Locations 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.

Regional Enforcement Offices: 472 FTE

Headquarters: 151 FTE

Total Staff Level: 623 FTE
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The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement manages the overall operations of the 

12 regional enforcement offices that are responsible for ensuring that recipients of Federal 

assistance and other covered entities comply with the Federal civil rights laws prohibiting 

discrimination. Most of OCR’s staff members work in the agency’s 12 regional enforcement 

offices. Their main function is to investigate complaints from the public that allege a violation of 

one or more of the 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 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 enforcement 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. 

The Chief of Staff, working on behalf of the Assistant Secretary, coordinates activities related to 

human resources, budget, operations, communications and outreach, and policy development.

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

offices. These offices are 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 assess the practices of recipients and determine whether the practices comply with 

civil rights laws and regulations. OCR initiates directed investigations when OCR has 

information that indicates a possible failure to comply with the laws and regulations enforced by 

OCR, the matter warrants attention, and the compliance concern is not currently being 

addressed through OCR’s complaint, compliance review, or technical assistance activities. The 

statutes and implementing regulations enforced by OCR require recipients of Federal financial 
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assistance to ensure nondiscrimination in their programs and activities. 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 and a key factor in OCR’s ability 

to fulfill its mission. 

For fiscal year 2022 request, PC&B costs are 75 percent of the request, or $108.1 million, $8.7

million more than the fiscal year 2021 Appropriation. The 2022 request provides a 2.7 percent 

cost of living increase and supports 623 FTE, 30 more than the fiscal year 2021 Appropriation. 

The 623 FTE include 610 FTE for OCR and 13 FTE for centralized FTE costs (e.g., human 

resources support, facilities management). 

The FTE Usage vs. Complaints Received chart below shows trends in FTE levels and caseload. 

The FTE levels depicted below excludes the 13 FTE for Office of Finance and Operations, 

Human Resource office FTE costs in fiscal years 2020 through 2022.

The average number of new cases assigned to the enforcement staff was 20 in fiscal year 2020, 

in addition to the ongoing cases from previous years. OCR expects this number to increase, as 

schools reopen after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Investing in Legal and Administrative Staff

OCR’s legal staff is responsible for the following: (1) resolving complaints of discrimination; (2)

conducting directed investigations/compliance reviews; (3) providing technical assistance to 

help recipients achieve voluntary compliance with federal civil rights laws; and developing policy 

guidance, regulatory materials, and providing input on civil-rights issues that rise within the 

Department’s programs and initiatives and among Federal Agencies.

2009 2012 2015 2018 2019 2020 2021* 2022*

FTE 582 582 540 529 520 530 580 610

Complaints Received 6,364 7,833 10,392 12,432 9,986 9,707 10,000 10,500

582 582 540 529

520 530

580

610

6,364 

7,833

10,392 

12,432 

9,986 9,707 10,000 10,500 

 -

 4,000

 8,000

 12,000

 16,000

 20,000

0

200

400

600

800

Complaints Received

FTE Usage

FTE Usage vs Complaints Received

Fiscal Years 2009-2022 (FY 2021 through FY 2022 are estimates*)
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OCR’s administrative staff provides help and support tools for the enforcement staff’s improved 

efficiency. Support activities include: (1) providing information technology and web support for 

OCR’s enforcement and technical assistance activities and OCR’s website (2) supporting the 

Civil Rights Data Collection (3) responding to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests (4)

aiding in the provision of high-quality, accurate, thorough, and legally-sound technical 

assistance to recipients; (5) formulating and executing OCR’s budget; and (6) recruitment, 

hiring, training, and professional development.

Awards and Overtime

The Administration is requesting $1.0 million for awards and $60,000 for overtime, for a total of 

$1.1 million, which is $50,000 more than the fiscal year 2021 Appropriation. The request will 

cover mandated performance awards for the eligible Senior Executive Service staff and 

performance-based awards for general schedule employees. 

Non-Personnel Costs – Non-Centralized Services

The total request for Non-Personnel activities in fiscal year 2022 request, excluding 

Departmental Centralized Services, is $7.9 million, $3.1 million more than the fiscal year 2021 

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 comply with the civil rights laws enforced by OCR. The fiscal year 2022 

request funds will also support the maintenance, monitoring, enhancement, and hosting of 

OCR’s database investments (CRDC, CAMS and Online Discrimination Complaint Form).

Information Technology (IT) Non-Personnel Costs

Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 

As the nation begins to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and schools continue to reopen, it 

is perhaps more critical than ever to collect key data and information about students’ 

experiences. Last year, due to the extraordinary challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic 

for state educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and schools in 

providing educational and support services to students and parents, and based on input from 

several stakeholders, OCR decided to shift the CRDC from the 2019–20 school year to the 

2020–21 school year.

Given the continuing importance of measuring the impact of the pandemic, OCR will move 

forward with administering a 2020–21 CRDC as planned, followed by a 2021-22 collection, and 

depending on funding and other factors, an additional collection in school year 2022-23.

The Administration is requesting $5.5 million for fiscal year 2022 for the CRDC, an increase of 

$2.2 million above 2021 Appropriation. This request supports tasks related to three separate 

cycles, as follows:

•Post-collection tasks for the 2020–21 CRDC; 

•Pre-collection, collection, and post-collection tasks for the 2021–22 CRDC; and
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•Planning and improvement tasks for the subsequent CRDC (either 2022-23 or 2023-24 

depending on funding and other factors). 

This request also supports basic operations and maintenance, major enhancements, and web 

hosting for the CRDC reporting website; the preparation of topic-specific reports on civil rights 

areas of interest; the addition of enhanced data visualizations and tools on the reporting 

website; and the execution of research and evaluation tasks.

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. OCR has administered

the CRDC since 1968, and the collection is an important aspect of OCR’s overall strategy for 

administering and enforcing the civil rights statutes for which it is responsible. For over 50 years, 

the CRDC has informed the efforts of the OCR, school administrators, and advocates to ensure 

that the nation’s students have access to equitable educational opportunities.

Other 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 and schoollevel data. In addition, under Section 1111(h)(1)(c)(viii) of the Elementary and Secondary 

Education Act (ESEA) as amended in 2015 by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), SEAs 

that receive Title I funds must include, starting on December 31, 2018 (for the 2017-18 school 

year), in their state and local report cards, certain CRDC data. Specifically, ESSA requires that 

state and LEA report cards include information on: (1) in-school suspensions; (2) out-of-school 

suspensions; (3) expulsions; (4) school-related arrests; (5) referrals to law enforcement; (6) 

incidences of violence, including harassment or bullying; (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). Under the ESSA, information must be reported at the state, LEA, 

and school levels. 

There are several major tasks associated with the administration of the CRDC. Each CRDC 

collection cycle consists of four major phases: 

I. Planning & Improvement: This phase incudes the implementation of high-priority 

enhancements to the submission system, the facilitation of training and support, and the 

preparation and enhancement of technical assistance resources;

II. Pre-Collection: Tasks executed during this phase include defining the CRDC universe of 

schools and LEAs, communicating survey changes and updates to LEAs, and 

implementing submission system enhancements;

III. Collection: This phase includes the collection of data, providing technical support to 

LEAs and SEAs, monitoring system performance and data submissions, and performing 

data file extracts for data quality analysis; and

IV. Post-Collection: This phase includes the evaluation of submission system business 

rules, data quality reviews of the final data, and the creation of data files.

Additional key CRDC tasks include Data File Creation and Reporting, which includes activities 

related to the creation of CRDC data products such as the national and state estimates, the 

creation of informational reports, and the application of privacy protections to the public-use 
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data file. Other major work includes CRDC Research and Evaluation, which involves research 

and evaluation projects related to the improvement of the quality, usability, and administration of 

the CRDC. Activities related to the CRDC Reporting Website include operations and 

maintenance, data uploads and integration, and the development, modernization, and 

enhancement of that website. 

Over the last few CRDC cycles, OCR has made substantial improvements in both the quality 

and the usability of the data. For example, OCR has developed pre-submission analytic reports 

to assist LEAs in reducing errors, used data to improve submission system business and 

validation rules, and boosted support provided to LEAs throughout the collection cycle. OCR 

has also made the data more accessible and user-friendly for the general public, researchers, 

and policymakers. 

Since 2015, the CRDC reporting website (https://ocrdata.ed.gov) has provided users with data 

analysis tools that generate school, district, and state data comparison reports on all data 

elements. OCR has also made older CRDC data files readily available on the website. 

Currently, OCR is undergoing modernization efforts to the website, which includes updates to 

the user interface, the modernization of data analytic tools, and the inclusion of enhanced data 

visualizations. The website enhancements are aligned with the 21st Century Integrated Digital 

Experience Act requirements, which aim to improve the digital experience of those using federal 

public websites.

In October 2020, OCR released data from the 2017–18 CRDC, which was the sixth universal 

collection. The 2017–18 CRDC release also included the publication of two topic-specific data 

briefs—one on restraint and seclusion, and the other on school violence. The 2017–18 

collection included data from more than 17,600 LEAs and more than 97,600 public schools 

representing 50.1 million students in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

The CRDC budget table on page 17 provides an overview of the CRDC budget for FY 2020, 

FY 2021 and FY 2022.
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SCHOOL 

YEAR ACTIVITY FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022

2017-18 CRDC

2017-18 Data File Creation and Reporting $56,979

2020-21 CRDC

2020-21 Planning and Improvement Phase $3,355,168 

2020-21 Pre-collection Phase $763,127 

2020-21 Collection Phase $1,080,858 

2020-21 Post-collection Phase $568,001 

2020-21 Data File Creation and Reporting $60,000

2021-22 CRDC

2021-22 Planning and Improvement Phase

2021-22 Pre-collection Phase $1,196,072

2021-22 Collection Phase $1,305,382

2021-22 Post-collection Phase $1,196,072

2021-22 Data File Creation and Reporting

2022-23 CRDC

2022-23 Planning and Improvement Phase $758,255 

2022-23 Pre-collection Phase

2022-23 Collection Phase

2022-23 Post-collection Phase

CRDC Research and Evaluation

N/A

Data Quality Projects (e.g., independent quality 

reviews, topic-specific research projects) $40,000 $50,000 

CRDC Reporting Website

N/A

Operation and Maintenance

Tasks needed to sustain the reporting website at 

the current capability, including compliance and 

transition management. $178,133 $181,515 $184,965 

N/A

Development, Modernization, and 

Enhancement

Projects and activities related to modifying the 

reporting website to improve capability and 

performance; develop data use and visualization 

improvements; and identify, prioritize, and release 

system enhancements. $907,245 $690,858 $663,880

N/A

Web Hosting

Web hosting under the PIVOT contract. The 

Department’s centralized services will cover the 

hosting cost for FY2021. OCR will cover the cost 

beginning in FY 2022. $70,172 $65,985 $59,952 

Total CRDC $4,607,697 $3,350,344 $5,474,578 
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Case Activity Management System (CAMS)

The Administration requests $574,000 for the CAMS, $168,000 more than the fiscal year 2021 

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, and (d) server hosting services. OCR continues to enhance these essential 

applications for critical unmet needs identified by CAMS’ core users. The funding increase 

primarily supports the server hosting services, which was previously supported under the 

Department’s Centralized Services.

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

Online Complaint Form and Back-End Database Project

The Administration is requesting $422,000, $6,000 less than the fiscal year 2021 Appropriation. 

Of this request, $351,000 covers two subtasks in support of the maintenance and general web 

operations contracting task: (a) General O&M to support OCR’s publicly 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 $71,000 will cover the support required 

for 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 Online 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.

1 http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html
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Non-IT Costs

Travel

The Administration requests a travel budget of $719,000, $540,000 more than fiscal year 2021 

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

complaints. This request will also support travel for conducting proactive investigations, 

providing technical assistance, monitoring corrective action plans, and training. OCR must 

ensure that staff and 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 communications and conferencing between the 

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

Printing

The Administration is requesting $5,000 for printing, the same as the fiscal year 2021 

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 $251,000, $151,000 more than the fiscal year 

2021 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 Equipment

The Administration is requesting $11,000 in fiscal year 2022 request for communications and 

operations and maintenance of facilities, the same as fiscal year 2021 Appropriation. These 

funds are needed for overnight shipping costs and maintenance of copiers and other equipment.

Other Services

The Administration requests $335,000, $18,000 more than the fiscal year 2021 Appropriation. 

The request includes: 

• Legal Research Services - $211,000. This is $18,000 more than the fiscal year 2021 

Appropriation, which covers the annual escalation in the cost per user. OCR’s legal research 

service 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. 

• Miscellaneous Services - $124,000. This is the same as the fiscal year 2021 Appropriation. 

The request supports the reimbursement of attorneys’ bar dues - $70,000; translation and 

interpretation services (translating documents and pamphlets into several languages which 
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is different than the printing of documents in different languages) - $42,000; and 

miscellaneous services for advertisement and short-term contractual services - $12,000.

Goods/Services from the Government

The fiscal year 2022 request includes $38,000, the same as the fiscal year 2021 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 $80,000, the same as the fiscal year 2021 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.

IT Equipment/ Software

The Administration is requesting $42,000, the same as the fiscal year 2021 Appropriation. This

request supports a contract for an online survey tool that is used to measure customer 

satisfaction with OCR’s complaint process and the effectiveness of technical assistance 

activities. 

Departmental Centralized Support – Non-Personnel Costs

Approximately 72 percent of the total Non-Personnel budget request is to cover OCR’s share of 

the Department’s centralized services. The request provides $28.0 million for centralized 

services, $1.5 million more than the fiscal year 2021 Appropriation. The 2022 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 2009. Actual data are shown for fiscal years 2009-2020 and estimates are shown for fiscal 

years 2021-2022.

Complaint Receipts and Resolutions (FY 2009 – FY 2022)

*estimate

In fiscal year 2020, total complaint receipts decreased by 279 compared to the previous year. 

Complaint receipts are projected to increase through fiscal year 2022.

The FY 2020 Complaint Caseload by Jurisdiction pie chart on page BB-23 displays the fiscal 

year 2020 complaint caseload by jurisdiction. Disability discrimination complaints comprise the 

largest percentage of complaints with OCR, followed by sex discrimination complaints. In 

general, disability discrimination has historically constituted the greatest share of OCR’s 

complaint caseload.

2009 2012 2015 2018 2019 2020 2021* 2022*

Receipts 6,364 7,833 10,392 12,432 9,986 9,707 10,000 10,500

Resolutions 6,150 8,163 9,235 14,069 10,644 10,184 12,700 13,500

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000
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FY 2020 Complaint Caseload by Jurisdiction

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

12 years, fiscal years 2009 through 2020. 

Complaint Caseload by Jurisdiction

(Fiscal Years 2009– 2020) 

Jurisdiction FY 2009 FY 2012 FY 2015 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 

Race 1,103 1,267 1,143 1,368 1,258 1,043 11%

Sex 336 686 2,390 2,773 873 2,2171 23%

Disability 2,997 3,683 4,052 4,818 4,487 3,652 38%

Age 132 134 147 97 111 81 1%

Multiple 944 1,192 1,399 1,800 1,701 1,401 14%

Other 852 871 1,261 1,576 1,556 1,313 13%

TOTAL 6,364 7,833 10,392 12,432 9,986 9,707

1 Includes 1,121 complaints filed by a single individual.

Race/National 

Origin 1,043 (11%)

Sex Discrimination 

2,217 (23%)

Disability 

Discrimination 

3,652 (38%)

Age Discrimination 

81 (1%)

Multiple 

Allegations

1,401 (14%)

Other Complaints 

1,313 (13%)

Total Complaints - 9,707
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PROGRAM PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Performance Measures

This section presents selected program performance information, including, for example, GPRA 

goals, measures, and performance targets and data. Achievement of program results is based 

on the cumulative effect of the resources provided in previous years, and those requested in 

fiscal year 2022 and future years, as well as the resources and efforts invested by those served 

by this program. The Department will be reviewing GPRA program performance goals and 

measures for OCR for possible revision in future years to ensure alignment with Administration 

policy.

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

the efficiency and accessibility of the complaint resolution process. Hiring additional 

enforcement staff through fiscal year 2022 request should have a positive impact on 

performance. 

Current performance measures for complaint workload:

The first two performance measures below encompass OCR’s entire complaint workload, which 

together hold OCR accountable for efficient case resolution. The first table measures the 

percentage of complaints received within a fiscal year that were resolved within 180 days, while 

the second table measures the percentage of complaints 180 days or older from prior years.

Measure: Percentage of complaints resolved within 180 days.

Year Target Actual

2017 80% 81%

2018 80 84

2019 80 92

2020 80 90

2021 80

2022 80

Measure: Percentage of complaints pending over 180 days.

Year Target Actual

2017 < 25% 58%

2018 < 25 62

2019 < 25 60

2020 < 25 61

2021 < 25

2022 < 25
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Additional information: OCR will continue to prioritize the timely processing of complaints (i.e. 

resolution of complaints within 180 days) and expects that it will continue to meet this 

performance measure in fiscal year 2022 for newly filed complaints. In fiscal year 2020, OCR 

did not fill a number of needed positions across the 12 regional offices, undermining OCR’s 

ability to reduce the backlog of complaints and increasing the risk of delays in evaluating and 

investigating new complaints. Although OCR has begun to increase hiring in FY 2021, the 

additional FTE contemplated by this request are necessary to meet the anticipated growth in 

complaints in FY 2022 and beyond.

OCR has not yet met the second performance measure but has made progress toward meeting 

this metric in the fiscal years 2019 and 2020. OCR continues to strive for quality and timeliness, 

while upholding its mission to vigorously enforce civil rights laws.

Measure: Mean score of customer satisfaction survey.

Year Target Actual

2017 3.66 3.75

2018 3.66 3.78

2019 3.66 3.60

2020 3.66 3.75

2021 3.66

2022 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 complainants and recipients by 

OCR staff; 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). 

Civil Rights and School Reopening

Safeguarding civil rights and equal opportunity is central to our national response to the COVID19 pandemic and its effects on students, families, and schools. OCR continues to receive and 

respond to discrimination complaints from students and their parents and guardians. In addition, 

OCR will continue to take steps to provide information, including:

• In May 2021, OCR issued Questions and Answers on Civil Rights and School 

Reopening in the COVID-19 Environment, providing answers to common questions 

about schools’ responsibilities under the civil rights laws. The document was designed to 

help students, families, schools, and the public support all students’ rights in educational 

environments, including in elementary and secondary schools and postsecondary 

institutions.

• In the Executive Order on Supporting the Reopening and Continuing Operation of 

Schools and Early Childhood Education Providers, President Biden directed OCR to 
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author a report on the disparate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on students and 

schools. OCR expects to publish the report in fiscal year 2021. 

• Access to date and information is critical to understanding the disparities that 

students may face in their opportunities and experiences at schools across the 

country. The CRDC is the single largest database in the United States with leading civil 

rights indicators from every public school that offers Pre-K through 12th grade education. 

As mentioned above, OCR intends to administer a CRDC for school years 2020-21, 

2021-22, and, depending on funding and other factors, 2022-23.

Preventing Discriminatory Discipline Practices

Racial and other disparities in the administration of school discipline, including in the use of

exclusionary school discipline policies and practices, tangibly harm our nation’s students, 

particularly students of color, students with disabilities and LGBTQI+ students. OCR hosted a 

convening in May 2021 exploring these issues and possible solutions, including strategies for 

addressing harmful and discriminatory school discipline practices and creating positive school 

climates.

OCR will continue to work on issues of racial equity, as they are core to OCR’s mission and a 

central priority of the Administration, as articulated in the President’s Executive Order on 

Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal 

Government.

Ensuring an Education Free from Sex-Based Discrimination—Including Violence 

and Harassment

OCR is actively taking steps to fulfill President Biden’s Executive Order on Guaranteeing an 

Educational Environment Free from Discrimination on the Basis of Sex, Including Sexual 

Orientation or Gender Identity. This Executive Order states: 

“All students should be guaranteed an educational environment free from discrimination on the 

basis of sex, including discrimination in the form of sexual harassment, which encompasses 

sexual violence, and including discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender 

identity.”

OCR has announced plans for a comprehensive review of agency regulations and other actions 

under Title IX, including:

• A public hearing, to be held in June 2021, to gather input and insights from students, 

parents, teachers, faculty members, school staff, administrators and other members of 

the public on the issues of sexual harassment, including sexual violence, in educational 

environments, and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity;

• A forthcoming Q&A document to provide additional clarity about how OCR interprets 

schools’ existing obligations under Title IX; and 
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• An anticipated public notice of a rulemaking process to explore amendments to the 

Department’s Title IX regulations.

Protecting Students from Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sexual 

Orientation

OCR has also begun action under President Biden’s Executive Order 13988 on Preventing and 

Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation, which makes 

this commitment: “All persons should receive equal treatment under the law, no matter their 

gender identity or sexual orientation.” In this order, President Biden specifically addressed the 

needs of students, saying that “children should be able to learn without worrying about whether 

they will be denied access to the restroom, the locker room, or school sports.”

In addition to the public hearing noted above, OCR has also formally withdrawn earlier actions

that sought to penalize schools under Title IX for permitting transgender girls to participate in 

interscholastic athletics competitions and addressed other prior OCR statements that sought to 

restrict legal protections for transgender students in conflict with the Executive Order. These 

include a memorandum on the Supreme Court’s decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, which 

recognized that sex discrimination protections encompass discrimination based on sexual 

orientation and gender identity, and an earlier OCR letter that withdrew protections for 

transgender students. OCR will continue to respond to complaints and engage in compliance 

reviews and technical assistance activities to protect students from discrimination on the basis 

of gender identify and sexual orientation.