Department of Education

OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

Fiscal Year 2019 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

Activity:

Office for Civil Rights .......................................................................................................... Z-7
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

Z-1

Appropriations Language

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

Department of Education Organization Act, $107,438,000.

NOTE

A full year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the fiscal year 2019 Budget was 

prepared; therefore, the Budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 

(Division D of P.L. 115-56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the 

continuing resolution.
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

Z-2

Amounts Available for Obligation

(dollars in thousands)

Appropriation and Adjustments 2017

2018

Annualized CR 2019

Discretionary appropriation:

Discretionar y budget authority:Appropriation.................................................. $108,500 $108,500 $107,438

Discretionar y budget authority:Across-the-board-reduction (P.L. 115-56) ...... 0 -737 0

Discretionar y budget authority: Subtotal, appropriation............................... 108,500 107,763 107,438

Discretionar y budget authority:Unobligated balance, expiring ........................ -43 0 0

Total, direct obligations............................. 108,457 107,763 107,438
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Z-3

Obligations by Object Classification

(dollars in thousands)

Obj ect class number Object Class 2017 

2018

Annualized CR 2019

Change from 

2018 to 2019

11.10 Full-time permanent $61,005 $57,572 $57,572 $0

11.31 Full-time temporary 587 894 894 0

11.32 Part-time 1,150 671 671 0

11.33 Consultants 0 0 0 0 

11.51 Overtime 24 8 16 8

11.52 Awards 357 81 450 369

11.80 Other Compensation 22 0 0 0 

Subtotal R ow

 Subtotal, Personnel Comp. 63,145 59,226 59,603 377

12.00 Benefits 20,202 19,502 19,669 167

13.1 Benefits for Former Personnel 0 400 0 -400

Subtotal R ow

 

 Subtotal, Per. Comp. & Ben. 83,347 79,128 79,272 144

21.00 Travel 381 405 405 0

22.00 Transportation of things 3 0 0 0 

23.10 Rental Payments to GSA 8,246 9,877 9,372 -505

23.31 Communications 21 19 72 53

23.32 Postage/fees 0 32 32 0 

Subtotal R ow

 Subtotal, 23 8,447 9,928 9,476 -452

24.00 Printing & Reproduction 5 12 12 0 

25.1 Advisory and Assist Serv 3 0 0 0

25.21 Other Services 800 819 864 45

25.22 Training/Tuition/Contracts 74 270 243 -27

25.30 Goods/Services from Gov't 2,173 2,142 2,183 41

25.40 Operations/Maint of Facilities 0 1 1 0 

25.71 Operations/Maint of Equipment 0 15 15 0 

25.72 IT Services/Contracts 12,960 14,826 14,737 -89

Subtotal R ow

 Subtotal, 25 16,010 18,073 18,043 -30

26.00 Supplies 73 58 57 -1

31.10 IT Equipment/Software 185 159 173 14

31.30 Other Equipment 3 0 0 0 

Subtotal R ow

 Subtotal, 31 188 159 173 14

32.00 Building Alterations 3 0 0 0 

Total Row

Total, obligations 108,457 107,763 107,438 -325
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Z-4

Summary of Changes

(dollars in thousands)

2018.................................................................................................. $107,763

2019.................................................................................................. 107,438

Net Change................................................................ -325

Increases:

2018 

Annualized CR

Change from

Annualized CR

Built-in:

Net increase in costs associated with employee 

health benefits and awards.

$79,128 +$144

Program:

Increase in communications. 19 +53

Increase in other services. 819 +45

Increase in goods/services from the Government. 2,142 +41

Increase in IT equipment/software. 159 +14

Subtotal, increases +297

Decreases:

Built-in:

Built uiltDecrease in rent. $9,877 -$505

Program:

Program Decrease in central services training. 270 -27

Program Decrease in IT service contracts. 14,826 -89

Program Decrease in supplies. 58 -1

Subtotal, decreases -622

Net Change -325
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B

Z-5

Z-5

Authorizing Legislation

(dollars in thousands)

Activity

2018

Authorized

2018

Annualized CR

2019

Authorized

2019

Request

Civil Rights (DEOA)..................................................... Indefinite $107,763 Indefinite $107,438

Total appropriation................................................... 107,763 107,438
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Z-6

Appropriations History

(dollars in thousands)

Year

Budget 

Estimate 

to Congress

House 

Allowance Footnote

Senate 

Allowance Footnote AppropriationFootnote

2010 $103,024 $103,024 $103,0241 $103,024

2011 105,700 103,0242 105,7001 102,8183

2012 107,772 102,8184 102,8184 102,624

2013 102,624 102,6245 102,6245 98,356

2014 98,356 N/A6 98,3561 98,356

2015 102,000 N/A6 102,0007 100,000

2016 130,691 100,0008 100,0008 107,000

2017 137,708 100,0009 110,0009 108,5009

2018 106,797 108,50010 117,00010 107,76310

2019 107,438

 1 The level for the Senate allowance reflects Committee action only.

2 The level for the House allowance reflects the House-passed full-year continuing resolution. 3 The level for appropriation reflects the Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations 

Act, 2011 (P.L. 112-10). 4 The level for the House allowance reflects an introduced bill and the level for the Senate allowance 

reflects Senate Committee action only. 5 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.

6 The House allowance is shown as N/A because there was no Subcommittee action. 7 The level for the Senate allowance reflects Senate Subcommittee action only.

8 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. 9 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.

10 The levels for the House reflect floor action on an Omnibus appropriation bill; Senate allowances reflect 

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

Continuing Resolution level.
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

Z-7

Office for Civil Rights

(Department of Education Organization Act, Section 203)

(dollars in thousands)

FY 2019 Authorization: Indefinite

Budget Authority:

Annual Fund

2018

Annualized CR 

2019

Request

Change from

2018

Annualized CR 

Personnel Compensation and Benefits 

Costs $79,128 $79,272 +$144

Non-Personnel Costs 28,635 28,166 -469

Total 107,763 107,438 -325

FTE 529 529 0

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 a statute that ensures 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 
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

Z-8

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).

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.

OCR Program Information

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, a Deputy Assistant Secretary for 

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

Operations.

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 

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 on page Z-12 under “Personnel Compensation and Benefits 

(PC&B) Costs.” 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.
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Z-9

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 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 Operations has the responsibility for 

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

and administrative policy for OCR.

Funding levels for the past 5 fiscal years were:

Fiscal Year (dollars in thousands)

Footnotes

2014.................................................................................... $98,356

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

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

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

2018.................................................................................... 107,763

FY 2019 BUDGET REQUEST

For fiscal year 2019, the Department requests $107.4 million for the Office for Civil Rights

(OCR), supporting an FTE level of 529, a decrease of $325,000 below the fiscal year 2018

Annualized Continuing Resolution (CR) level. This funding request supports the resources 

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

• The Personnel Compensation and Benefits (PC&B) request of $79.3 million is an

increase of $144,000 over the fiscal year 2018 Annualized CR level. The 2019 request will 

support PC&B costs associated with an FTE level of 529, increases in employee awards 

and transit subsidy benefits. To operate within an FTE level of 529 and still handle its 

caseload, OCR will have to maximize the number of its investigative staff while eliminating 

non-investigative positions and delayering management. OCR will also have to rethink how 

it investigates its complaints by revising the current case processing manual to reduce the 

length of time it takes to process complaints.

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

$4.7 million is an increase of $850,000 over the fiscal year 2018 Annualized CR level. The 

majority of non-personnel funds are for the Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC): $3.5

million; travel: $405,000; software support to operate OCR’s Case and Activity Management 

System (CAMS): $310,000; and Online Discrimination Complaint Form Enhancement: 

$102,000. 
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Z-10

• OCR’s fiscal year 2019 share of the Department’s Centralized Services (overhead) is 

$23.5 million, a decrease of $768,000 below the fiscal year 2018 Annualized CR level. 

FY 2019 Budget

(dollars in millions)

Total: $107.438

FTE: 529

For OCR to more efficiently operate to enforce civil right laws with a FTE level of 529 and a 

budget level of $107.438 million, OCR revised its Case Processing Manual (CPM) to reduce the 

length of time it takes to process cases, allowing staff to handle a certain number of cases per 

investigative staff. OCR seeks to improve the efficiency in which investigative staff process 

cases to curtail the high volume of complaints that are pending over 180 days. As of March 31, 

2017, OCR had 3,696 cases pending more than 180 days. The revised CPM is being 

implemented in fiscal year 2018 and OCR anticipates seeing a decline in the number of cases 

pending over 180 days in fiscal year 2019. Efficient case resolution will likely positively impact 

the ratio of cases per staff in fiscal year 2019, which is currently projected to be 39 cases per 

staff. Improved case resolution time will enable the investigative FTE to better handle the 

projected high volume of case receipts in fiscal year 2019. 

Additionally, OCR has taken steps to restructure the organization to maximize the number of 

investigative staff. For example, in fiscal year 2018, OCR identified positions for which it offered 

Voluntary Early Retirement Authority and Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment 

(VERA/VSIP). The goal of this offering was to abolish positions associated with outdated 

position descriptions or for which certain skills were no longer utilized or required. The 

abolished positions will help reduce OCR’s FTE level from 569 to 529 in fiscal year 2018 (a 

difference of 40 FTE). Of the 529 FTE, OCR is proposing to convert 11 positions from noninvestigative to investigative positions in order to ensure an appropriate balance of cases per 

staff. 

OCR is also exploring ways to reduce its overhead costs in centralized services by reducing 

rent and other costs associated with physical office locations.

*Non-Personnel:

Travel

Trans. of things

Communications

Printing

Copier rentals

Training

Supplies

Non-IT equip./ 

furniture

Technology

Building alterations

PC&B

$79.3 M

74%

(includes 

Overtime & 

Awards)

Centralized 

Services

$23.5 M

22%

*NonPersonnel

$4.7 M

4%
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Z-11

Current Organizational Structure and Staffing 

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.

The Office for Civil Rights is led 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, a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Operations 

and Outreach, and a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management and Operations, depending 

on which positions the Administration chooses to utilize.

Boston

New York City 

Philadelphia

Washington, D.C. 

(Headquarters and 

Field office 

Regional Offices 

Field Offices

OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS 

2019 Headquarters & Regional Staff

Seattle

San

Francisco Denver

Kansa City

Chicago

Atlanta

Dallas

Cleveland

Regional & Field Offices: 477 FTE

Headquarters: 52 FTE

Total Staff Level: 529 FTE
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Z-12

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 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 biggest component of 

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

For fiscal year 2019, PC&B costs are 74 percent of the request, or $79.3 million, an increase of 

$144,000 over the fiscal year 2018 Annualized CR level. The request supports 529 FTE, the 

same as the fiscal year 2018 FTE level. 

The 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 FY 2010 to 

$100 million in FY 2015). From FY 2006 to FY 2017, the number of complaints is projected to 

increase by 124 percent. While there was an increase in the number of complaints between 

FYs 2015 and 2016, the increase was attributable to one individual who filed 6,201 complaints 

in FY 2016. As a result, OCR projects a decrease in complaints from FY 2016 of 16,720 to 

12,837 in FY 2017. 
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Z-13

Prior to fiscal year 2016, the caseload grew by nearly 500 additional cases per year since fiscal 

year 2006. The fiscal year 2017 ratio of cases per investigative staff was 34 to 1, a decrease 

from the 2016 ratio of 40 to 1. 

Table A: Caseload per Staff in FY 2006, FY 2016, and FY 2017

Caseload per Staff FY 2006 FY 2016 FY 2017

Number of Attorneys/Equal Opportunity 

Specialists (excluding managers) 391 422 379

Complaints Received & Proactive 

Investigations Launched 5,816 16,7201 12,837

# of cases per staff 15 40 34

# of multi-jurisdiction cases 766 1,656 1,702

Monitoring Caseload 1,054 2,734 3,688

# of monitoring cases per staff 2.7 6.5 10.0

Investigated Cases2 4,803 7,396 8,577

 

1 In fiscal year 2016, OCR received a record high of 16,720 complaints, which was primarily attributed to one 

individual that filed 6,201 Title IX complaints against school districts and elementary and secondary schools. These 

complaints filed by one individual were partially responsible for the number of cases per staff increasing to 40.

2 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, Early Complaint Resolution, or change with or 

without a resolution agreement.

1980 1990 2000 2006 2010 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

FTE 1148 815 712 630 585 540 563 579 529 529

Complaints Received 3,497 3,384 4,897 5,805 6,933 10,39216,72012,83712,50013,500

1148

815

712

630

585

540 563 579 529 529

3,497 3,384 

4,897 5,805 

6,933 

10,392 

16,720 

12,837 

12,500 

13,500 

 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 1980-2019 (FY 2018-2019 are estimates)
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Z-14

Caseload per Staff FY 2006 FY 2016 FY 2017

# of investigated cases per staff 12 17 22

Table B: Impact of FTE per Staff Based on 13,500 Complaint Receipts & 4,300 Monitoring 

Cases Projected in FY 2019

Number/Staff Level 2019

Request

Projected (through FY 18) number of Attorneys/Equal Opportunity Specialists

(excluding managers) 380

Decreased number of Attorneys/Equal Opportunity Specialists for FY 2019 -23

Projected Total for FY 2019 357

# of cases per staff 38

# of monitoring cases per staff 12

Investing in Investigative and Administrative Staff, and IT Services

To address the high volume of complaints OCR receives and decreased staffing levels, OCR 

must restructure the way it operates. 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; and (3) supporting the Civil Rights Data 

Collection.

The fiscal year 2019 request supports the core functions of the investigative and administrative 

staff above. However, OCR must direct resources toward improving and maintaining OCR’s 

website, facilitating increased use of technology in enforcement and technical assistance 

activities, and monitoring and maintaining OCR’s database investments (including CRDC, 

CAMS, and Online Discrimination Complaint Form).

Awards & Overtime

OCR is requesting $450,000 for awards and $16,000 for overtime for a total of $466,000, an 

increase of $377,000 over the fiscal year 2018 Annualized CR level. The request will cover 

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

Z-15

Non-Personnel Costs

The total request for Non-Personnel activities in fiscal year 2019, excluding Departmental 

Centralized Services, is $4.7 million, an increase of $850,000 over the fiscal year 2018 

Annualized CR level. 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. 

Listed below are several detailed IT services non-personnel projects. 

Information Technology Services: Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 

OCR is requesting $3.541 million for the CRDC, an increase of $1.286 million over the fiscal 

year 2018 Annualized CR level. The request will support the data upload preparation and data 

analysis for the 2017-18 data collection and pre-collection and technical assistance activities to 

prepare 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. Because of limited funding in fiscal year 2017, OCR was unable to support the 

necessary updates and system enhancements to the CRDC Reporting website, which can 

jeopardize the functionality of the website. The fiscal year 2019 request will support the start of 

these critical activities to ensure the CRDC Reporting Website is brought up to industry 

standards by fiscal year 2020 and to increase operational efficiency. 

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. 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, 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-of-school 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 2018-19 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) the pre-collection includes Phases I and II; (2)

collection activities comprise of Phase III; and (3) post-collection 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 
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

Z-16

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 new 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 2016, OCR released data 

from the 2013-14 CRDC, which was the third universal collection. NOTE: Previous universal 

collections were conducted for the 2000 and 2011-12 school years. The 2015-16 CRDC and 

2017 -2018 CRDC are universal collections. The 2013-14 CRDC was released on June 7, 

2016, including a First Look report that provided a broad overview of the data in key areas of 

inequity and progress. The collection surveyed more than 16,700 school districts and 95,500 

public schools representing over 50 million students.

The following table provides a detailed account of the CRDC budget for fiscal years 2017-2019.

School 

Year

Major Activity Fiscal Year 

2017

Fiscal Year 

2018

Fiscal Year 

2019

CRDC

2015-16

Phase IV - Finalizing Data Files: Data quality review 

and editing, time series, privacy protection.

196,022

CRDC

2015-16

Phase V – Data Upload: Applying CRDC 2015–2016 

data to the CRDC (Reporting) website; hosting and 

releasing the new data to the general public. (This 

Phase is now separate from Phase IV.)

CRDC

2017-18

Phase I - Notification and Guidance: Notification to 

school districts, identifying primary point of contact, 

guidance (Q&A). 409,408 186,899

CRDC

2017-18

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. 420,300

CRDC

2017-18

Phase III - Survey Submission Window: Begin data 

collection from LEAs, Partner Support Center for 

technical support for school districts' data submissions. 1,578,801

CRDC

2017-18

Phase IV - Finalizing Data Files: Data quality review 

and editing, time series, privacy protection.

81,353 730,338

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.

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

2019-20

Phase I - Notification and Guidance: Notification to 

school districts, identifying primary point of contact, 

guidance (Q&A).

365,692
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Z-17

School 

Year

Major Activity Fiscal Year 

2017

Fiscal Year 

2018

Fiscal Year 

2019

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 

Reporting 

Website

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

(Reporting) website’s operation and maintenance. 269,298 274,364 364,697

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.

390,069 49,799 920,066

Web 

Hosting Web hosting under the EDUCATE contract. 83,784 83,784 83,784

Total

CRDC $1,768,881 $2,255,000 $3,540,989

Information Technology Services: Case Activity Management System (CAMS) 

OCR is requesting $310,000 for CAMS, an increase of $5,000 above the fiscal year 2018 

Annualized CR level. 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. 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

OCR is requesting $102,000, a decrease of $494,000 below the fiscal year 2018 Annualized CR

level. Of this request, $75,000 covers two subtasks in support of the contracting task: (a) 

General O&M to support OCR’s publically accessible website1

; 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.

• 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 

 1 http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html
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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.

Travel

OCR is requesting a travel budget of $405,000, the same as the fiscal year 2018 Annualized CR

level. 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 leadership in 

the enforcement offices are able to receive critical training, civil rights updates, and 

management skills necessary to improve OCR operations. OCR has greatly expanded its use 

of video teleconference technology to enable optimal video communications and conferencing 

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

Printing

OCR is requesting $12,000 for printing, the same as the fiscal year 2018 Annualized CR level,

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

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

Training

OCR is requesting a training budget of $4,000, the same as the fiscal year 2018 Annualized CR

level. 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 focus its professional and technical training to online and Web

platforms to minimize training costs.

Communications, Copier Rentals, and Operations and Maintenance of Facilities

OCR requests $88,000, an increase of $53,000 over the fiscal year 2018 Annualized CR level. 

These funds are needed to replace existing copier rental and maintenance agreements with 

multifunctional devices that can copy, scan, and print - $83,000, overnight shipping costs -

$4,000, and maintenance of facilities - $1,000.

Other Services

OCR is requesting $152,000, the same as the fiscal year 2018 Annualized CR level. The 

request includes: 

• Legal Research Services - $98,000. The contract provides an automated full-text legal 

information system that offers online access to Federal and State case law, statutes of all 50 
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States, legal publications, and law reports. This service allows attorneys to conduct legal 

research without having to leave the office.

• Miscellaneous Services - $54,000. The request supports 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.

Goods/Services from the Government

OCR is requesting $38,000, the same as the fiscal year 2018 Annualized CR level. This 

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

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

Supplies

OCR is requesting $53,000, the same as the fiscal year 2018 Annualized CR level. 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

Approximately 83 percent of the total Non-Personnel budget request is to cover OCR’s share of 

the Department’s centralized services. The request provides $23.5 million for centralized 

services, a decrease of $768,000 below the fiscal year 2018 Annualized CR level. The 2019 

request will cover the costs of services such as rent; departmental training; personal 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. 

PROGRAM OUTPUT MEASURES

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

year 2006. Actual data are shown for fiscal years 2006-2017 and estimates are shown for fiscal 

years 2018-2019.
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Complaint Receipts and Resolutions (FY 2006 – FY 2019)

In fiscal year 2017, total complaint receipts decreased by 23 percent, or by 3,883 compared to 

the previous year when OCR received record high 16,720 complaints. As stated earlier in this 

request, the record high in fiscal year 2016 was primarily attributed to one individual that filed 

6,201 Title IX complaints against school districts and elementary and secondary schools.

The pie chart on the next page displays the fiscal year 2017 complaint caseload by jurisdiction

as of September 30, 2017. OCR disability discrimination complaints made up the largest 

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

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

2006 2010 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018* 2019*

Receipts 5,805 6,933 9,989 10,392 16,720 12,837 12,500 13,500

Resolutions 5,893 6,830 9,407 9,235 8,625 17,787 10,500 12,500

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 2017 Complaint Caseload by Jurisdiction (October 1, 2016 – September 30, 2017)

OCR complaints receipts in fiscal year 2017 decreased by 23% from fiscal year 2016.

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

12 years, fiscal years 2006 through 2017, as of September 30, 2017. 

Complaint Caseload by Jurisdiction

(Fiscal Years 2006 – 2017)

Jurisdiction FY 2006 FY 2010 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017**

Race 998 1,056 1,203 1,143 1,294 1,280

Sex 334 391 2,354 2,390 7,068* 2,249

Disability 3,025 3,405 3,909 4,052 5,063 5,567

Age 86 131 122 147 108 156

Multiple 750 1,037 1,588 1,399 1,655 1,702

Other 612 913 813 1,261 1,532 1,883

TOTAL 5,805 6,933 9,989 10,392 16,720 12,837

* In FY 2016, of the 7,068 Sex Discrimination complaints, 6,201 were attributed to one individual that filed these 

Title IX complaints against school districts and elementary and secondary schools.

** FY 2017, data is as of September 30, 2017.

Race/National 

Origin 1,280 (10%)

Sex Discrimination 

2,249 (18%)

Disability 

Discrimination 

5,567 (43%)

Age Discrimination 

156 (1%)

Multiple 

Allegations

 1,702 (13%)

Other Complaints 

1,883 (15%)

Total Complaints - 12,837
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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 2018 and

2019 due to the revisions to the Case Processing Manual that are intended to help decrease 

case processing times. The anticipated increased ratio of investigative staff in fiscal year 2019 

should also have a positive impact on performance.

Current performance measures for complaint workload:

Measure: Percentage of complaints resolved within 180 days (as of September 30, 2017).

Year Target Actual

2014 80% 94%

2015 80 86

2016 80 78

2017 80 81

2018 80

2019 80

Measure: Percentage of complaints pending over 180 days.

Year Target Actual

2014 < 25% 23%

2015 < 25 34

2016 < 25 23

2017 < 25 58

2018 < 25

2019 < 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 81)

as of September 30, 2017. OCR failed to keep the percentage of complaints pending over 180 

days 25 percent or less (target <25, actual 58). OCR has a plan to address this issue by 

eliminating unnecessary levels of review.
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Measure: Mean score of customer satisfaction survey (as of September 30, 2017).

Year Target Actual

2014 3.66 3.79

2015 3.66 3.59

2016 3.66 3.73

2017 3.66 3.75

2018 3.66

2019 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 baseline at 3.66 (on a scale of 

1 through 5). OCR exceeded the target as of December 31, 2016.

OCR’s Initiatives and Activities to Support the Department’s Strategic Plan 

The Department is currently revising its strategic plan. Once the plan is finalized, OCR will 

demonstrate how its initiatives and activities align with the Department’s Strategic Plan. In the 

meantime, OCR is responsible for ensuring educational institutions’ compliance with Federal 

civil rights laws and enhancing the public’s knowledge of their civil rights.