Department of Education

OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Request

CONTENTS

Appropriations Language..............................................................................................................1

Amounts Available for Obligations ................................................................................................2

Obligations by Object Classification..............................................................................................3

Summary of Changes ...................................................................................................................4

Authorizing Legislation..................................................................................................................5

Appropriations History...................................................................................................................6

Significant Items in FY 2022 Appropriations Reports ...................................................................7

Activity:

Office for Civil Rights ................................................................................................................9
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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, $161,300,000.

Note

A full-year 2022 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2022 (Division A of P.L. 117-43, 

as amended). The amounts included for 2022 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.
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Amounts Available for Obligations

(dollars in thousands)

Appropriation and Adjustments 2021 2022 2023

Discretionary appropriation $131,000 $131,000 $161,300

Unobligated balance expiring -163 0 0

 Total, direct obligations $130,837 $131,000 $161,300
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Obligations by Object Classification

(dollars in thousands)

Object class number Object Class

2021

Actual

2022

Estimate

2023

Request

Change from 

2022 to 2023

11.10 Full-time permanent $68,902 $69,932 $86,386 $16,454

11.31 Full-time temporary 1,100 999 1,045 46

11.32 Part-time 1,052 874 914 40

11.33 Consultants 25 0 0 0

11.51 Overtime 66 60 60 0

11.52 Awards 1,091 1,004 1,080 76

11.8 Other Compensation 6 0 0 0

Subtotal Row

 Compensation subtotal 72,242 72,869 89,485 16,616

12.00 Benefits 25,382 26,966 33,122 6,156

13.1 Benefits for former personnel 0 0 0 0

Subtotal Ro

 Comp/benefits subtotal 97,624 99,835 122,607 22,772

21.00 Travel 13 25 801 776

23.10 Rental payments to GSA 9,681 10,100 10,458 358

23.31 Communications 1 5 10 5

23.32 Postage/fees 27 4 4 0 

Subtotal Row

 Subtotal 23 9,709 10,109 10,472 363

24.00 Printing & reproduction 2 5 5 0 

25.1 Advisory and assistance services 0 0 0 0 

25.21 Other services 2,506 1,085 1,194 109

25.22 Training/tuition/contracts 246 240 509 269

25.30 

Goods/services from Federal 

sources 2,142 2,428 2,520 92

25.40 Operations/maint of facilities 0 0 0 0 

25.71 Operations/maint of equipment 0 1 1 0

25.72 IT services/contracts 18,124 16,791 22,643 5,852

Subtotal Row

 Subtotal 25 23,018 20,545 26,867 6,322

26.00 Supplies 5 53 103 50

31.10 IT equipment/software 416 428 445 17

31.30 Other Equipment 8 0 0 0 

Subtotal Row

 Subtotal 31 424 428 445 17

32.00 Building Alterations 73 0 0 0 

Total Row

Total, Obligations 130,868 131,000 161,300 +30,300
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Summary of Changes

(dollars in thousands)

2022 $131,000

2023 161,300

Net Change +30,300

Increases: 2022 Base

Change 

from Base

Built in

Built in: Increase in salaries and benefits for increased FTE, 

projected benefits increase, and a 4.6 percent pay 

raise. $98,831 +$22,696

Built in: Increase in Rent. 10,100 +358

Program:

Program Increase in awards. 1,004 +76

Program Increase in travel. 25 +776

Program Increase in communications. 5 +5

Program Increase in other services mainly for space plan 

design and relocation. 1,085 +109

Program Increase in training. 240 +269

Program Increase in goods and services from government. 2,428 +92

Program Increase in IT services mainly for CRDC, IT 

modernization, and central IT services. 16,791 +5,852

Program Increase in supplies. 53 +50

Program Increase in IT equipment and software. 428 +17

Subtotal, increases +30,300

Decreases: 2022 Base 

Change 

from base

Program:

 Decreases – none. 0 0

Subtotal, decreases 0

Net Change +$30,300
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Authorizing Legislation

(dollars in thousands)

Activity

2022

Authorized

2022 

Estimate

2023

Authorized

2023

Request

Civil Rights (DEOA) Indefinite $131,000 Indefinite $161,300

Total appropriation 131,000 161,300
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Appropriations History

(dollars in thousands)

Year

Budget 

Estimate 

to Congress

House 

Allowance Footnote

Senate 

Allowance Footnote AppropriationFootnote

2014 $98,3561 N/A $98,356 $98,356

2015 102,0002 N/A 102,000 100,000

2016 130,6913 $100,000 100,000 107,000

2017 137,7084 100,000 110,000 108,500

2018 106,7975 108,500 117,000 117,000

2019 107,4386 117,000 125,000 125,000

2020 125,0007 130,000 125,000 130,000

2021 130,0008 132,000 130,000 131,000

2022 144,0009 144,000 144,000 144,000

2023 161,300 

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

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

Senate Subcommittee action only. 3 The levels for House and Senate allowances reflect action on the regular 2016 appropriations bill, which proceeded 

in the 114th Congress only through the House Committee and Senate Committee. 

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

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

5 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). 

6 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).

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

Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-94). The level for the House allowance reflects subcommittee action. 

8 The level for the Senate Allowance reflects the Chairman’s mark; the Appropriation reflects Division H of the FY 

2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 116-260). 

9 The House allowance reflects floor action on the FY 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act; the Senate allowance 

reflects the Chairman’s mark; and the Appropriation reflects the annualized continuing resolution level.
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Significant Items in FY 2022 Appropriations Reports

OCR Closing of Civil Rights Cases

House: The Committee is concerned by the number of civil rights cases, including racial 

discrimination and sexual harassment, that are closed without any findings of 

wrongdoing or corrective action, often due to insufficient evidence. The 

Committee directs the Department to include in its fiscal year 2023 

Congressional Budget Justification the following information, broken down by 

jurisdiction: (1) the number of civil rights complaints evaluated; (2) the number of 

civil rights complaints investigated; (3) the number of civil rights complaints 

monitored; (4) the number of civil rights complaints that resulted in enforcement 

action; and, (5) the number of civil rights complaints not evaluated and the 

reason for not evaluating.

Response: The Department will include the requested information in its fiscal year 2023 

Congressional Budget Justification.

OCR The State of Desegregation Orders

House: The Committee is concerned by research from the UCLA Civil Rights Project 

indicating that schools and school districts are becoming increasingly racially and 

socioeconomically segregated across the country. At the same time, there is no 

clear or accurate reporting or transparency on the number of federal 

desegregation orders, the status of these orders, or the impact they have had on 

segregation in districts. The Committee, therefore, urges the Office for Civil 

Rights to make a report publicly available on the Department’s website, detailing 

a comprehensive list of all existing federal desegregation orders in the United 

States, their principle requirements, and the status of the affected districts’ 

compliance with these orders.

Response: The Department will make a report publicly available on the Department’s 

website.

OCR Disaggregated Data on Student Bullying During COVID-19

House: The Committee is concerned about the rates of anti-Asian bullying of Asian 

American students during the COVID-19 pandemic. There have been numerous 

reports of students being bullied, shunned, verbally abused, and in some cases, 

physically assaulted due to them being scapegoated for the spread of COVID-19. 

As schools are reopening for in-person learning, the Committee is concerned 

about reports of parents foregoing in-person learning due to fear of the 

discrimination their students may face. The Committee recognizes data 

collections by the Department, OCR, and NCES on student bullying insufficiently 

reflects the diversity of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) sub-ethnic 

groups, as the U.S. Census Bureau reports data on at least 25 distinct AAPI 
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Significant Items in FY 2022 Appropriations Reports — Continued

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ethnic groups. The Committee strongly encourages the Department to collect 

and report data on student bullying related to anti-Asian sentiment during the 

COVID–19 pandemic, disaggregated by all racial and ethnic groups and subgroups identified in the American Community Survey, no later than 60 days from 

the enactment of this act. The Committee believes OCR must promptly 

investigate such student bullying, conduct compliance reviews and effectively 

support LEAs in meeting their nondiscrimination obligations.

Response: The Department will comply with this directive.
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OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

(Department of Education Organization Act, Section 203)

(dollars in thousands)

FY 2023 Authorization: Indefinite

Budget Authority:

Annual Fund

 2022 Estimate

2023 

Request Change

Personnel Compensation 

and Benefits Costs $99,835 $122,607 +$22,772

Non-Personnel Costs 31,165 38,693 +7,528

Total $131,000 $161,300 +30,300

FTE 575 676 +101

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

2018 $117,000

2019 125,000

2020 130,000

2021 131,000

2022 Estimate 131,000

FY 2023 BUDGET REQUEST

For fiscal year 2023, the Administration requests $161.3 million for OCR, $30.3 million more 

than a fiscal year 2022 annualized CR level based on the fiscal year 2021 appropriation. Funds 

would support an FTE level of 676 and provide resources necessary for OCR to deliver on its 

statutory and regulatory mandates.

• The Personnel Compensation and Benefits (PC&B) request of $122.6 million is 

$22.8 million more than a fiscal year 2022 annualized CR level based on the fiscal year 

2021 appropriation. The fiscal year 2023 Request will support PC&B costs associated with 

an FTE level of 676, which includes 663 FTE for OCR and 13 FTE for centralized FTE costs 

(e.g., human resources support, facilities management). The request also incorporates a 

proposed 4.6 percent pay raise for January 2023 and projected benefits increases. The 101 

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 be staff in enforcement 

positions, OCR’s ongoing policy development and commitment to transparency and 

improved customer engagement may also necessitate additional staffing of OCR’s policy 

and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) teams and other positions related to customer 

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

$10.8 million is $5.8 million more than a fiscal year 2022 annualized CR level based on 

the fiscal year 2021 appropriation. This increase mostly supports additional funds for 

training, especially for the new FTE who would be hired; travel to investigate complaints; 

the 2023-24 collections cycle for the Civil Rights Data Collection; the new IT 

Modernization project; and enhancements to apply business process changes and to 

improve the usage of the Case and Activity Management System (CAMS). The largest 

parts of the OCR non-personnel funds are for the Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC): 

$6.4 million; IT Modernization: $1.6 million; travel: $802,000; software support to operate 

OCR’s Case and Activity Management System (CAMS): $574,000; and the Online 

Discrimination Complaint Form and Back-end Database: $414,000.

• OCR’s fiscal year 2023 Request share of the Department’s Centralized Services 

(overhead) is $27.9 million, $1.7 million more than the fiscal year 2022 annualized CR level

based on the fiscal year 2021 appropriation. The increase is mostly due to the Enterprise 

Cybersecurity program mandatory requirements and Security rent charges.

The chart below shows the funding level by category percentage share of the Fiscal Year

2023 request.

FY 2023 Budget by Category

(dollars in millions)

Total: $161.3

FTE: 676

*Non-Personnel:

Travel

Communications

Printing

Copier rentals

Training

Supplies

Non-IT equipment/ 

furniture

Technology

PC&B

$122.6 M

76%

(Includes 

Overtime & 

Awards)

Centralized 

Services

$27.9 M

17.3%

*NonPersonnel

$10.8 M

6.7%
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Organizational Structure and Staffing 

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2023 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 include a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement, a Deputy Assistant Secretary 

for Policy and Development, a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Operations and 

Outreach, a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs, and a Deputy Assistant Secretary for 

Management and Planning. 

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 

Regional Enforcement Offices: 575 FTE

Headquarters: 101 FTE

Total Staff Level: 676 FTE
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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 monitor recipients’ compliance with 

voluntary resolution agreements. In addition, they develop and provide technical assistance to 

foster greater understanding of the statutes that OCR enforces.

The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs advises the Assistant Secretary on legal 

matters, supports the policy development and strategic planning activities of OCR, and executes 

assignments on matters of special concern to the Assistant Secretary.

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 leads 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 oversees the planning, 

development, and implementation of budget, operational, and administrative policies 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 

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 
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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 the fiscal year 2023 Request, PC&B costs are 76 percent of the request, or $122.6 million, 

$22.8 million more than a fiscal year 2022 annualized CR level based on the 2021 

appropriation. The 2023 Request provides a 4.6 percent pay raise effective January 2023 and 

supports 676 FTE, 101 more than the fiscal year 2022 annualized CR level based on the 2021 

appropriation, and 77 more than the 2023 President’s Request. The 676 FTE include 663 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 exclude the 13 FTE for Office of Finance and Operations, 

Human Resource office FTE costs in fiscal years 2020 through 2023.

The chart above indicates that OCR’s volume of complaints received has increased significantly 

since 1981 while the FTE levels have decreased considerably in the same period. From fiscal 

year 2011 to fiscal year 2021, OCR’s FTE decreased by 2 percent, from 585 FTE to 571 FTE. 

At the same time, the number of complaints received increased by 14 percent, from 7,840

complaints in fiscal year 2011 to 8,921 in fiscal year 2021. OCR anticipates receiving 28,457 

complaints in FY 2022, which is 70% higher than the 16,720 complaints received in FY 2016, 

1981 1991 2001 2011 2016 2020 2021 2022* 2023*

FTE 1099 797 696 585 563 530 571 562 663

Complaints Received 2,887 3,809 4,571 7,840 16,720 9,707 8,921 28,457 28,457

1099

797

696

585

563

530 571

562

663

2,887 3,809 4,571 7,840 

16,720 

9,707 8,921 

28,457 28,457 

 -

 3,000

 6,000

 9,000

 12,000

 15,000

 18,000

 21,000

 24,000

 27,000

 30,000

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Complaints Received

FTE Usage

FTE Usage vs Complaints Received

Fiscal Years 1981-2023 (FY 2022 and FY 2023 are estimates*)
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the highest number of complaints received on record.1 Excluding the thousands of complaints 

filed by a handful of complainants, OCR anticipates receiving 10,843 complaints in FY 2022, an 

increase of 22% over the FY 2021 total.2 The additional FTE requested for fiscal year 2023 will 

improve OCR’s ability to efficiently respond to the increased volume of complaints anticipated 

through fiscal year 2023.

This increase in complaints is expected for a number of reasons. First, OCR has already seen a 

sizeable increase in complaints during the current fiscal year. In the first quarter of FY 2022, 

OCR received 9,958 complaints, which includes 7,339 complaints filed by a handful of 

complainants. Even excluding the complaints filed by a few complainants, OCR’s complaint 

receipts are up nearly 53% compared to the first quarter of FY 2021, when OCR received 1,715 

complaints. Second, with the return of students to the classroom and in the unprecedented 

context of the pandemic, it is reasonable to assume that more students and families will file 

complaints with OCR. Third, the Biden-Harris administration has made a concerted effort to 

ensure that students, families, and advocates are aware of the rights and responsibilities 

assured in the federal civil rights laws OCR enforces; this effort will increase awareness and, in 

turn, likely drive an uptick in complaints. 

Of the total additional 101 FTE, at least 91 staff will work directly on investigations. OCR’s perstaff caseload has increased markedly over the last decade. More manageable caseloads 

would enhance OCR’s ability to resolve cases in a timely manner and improve OCR’s capacity 

to engage in directed investigations and compliance reviews. Table A below indicates that the 

average caseload per staff has increased 42 percent from 19 cases in 2011 to 27 cases in 

2021.

Table A: Caseload per Staff in FY 2011, FY 2020, and FY 2021

Caseload per Staff FY 2011 FY 2020 FY 2021 

Number of Attorneys/Equal Opportunity 

Specialists (excluding managers) 417 360 334

Complaints Received & Proactive Investigations 

Launched 7,882 9,752 8,938

# of cases per staff 19 27 27

As depicted in Table B, based on the projected complaint volume for FY 2023, the additional 

FTE requested would reduce the average caseload per investigative staff from 27 to 26. In other 

words, because of an increase in the number of complaints received, the additional FTE would

1 The estimate for FY 2022 is a twelve-month projection that includes nearly 7,500 complaints received 

thus far in FY 2022 that were filed by a handful of complainants who file large numbers of complaints. 

Likewise, the FY 2016 complaint totals include more than 6,000 complaints filed by a single complainant. 

OCR excludes these complaints from its calculation of caseloads per staff.

2 This estimate was calculated as follows: from October 1, 2021, through February 28, 2022, OCR 

received 4,518 complaints, or an average of 903.6 complaints per month for the first five months of FY 

2022. The monthly average, multiplied by twelve, equals 10,843 complaints.
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keep the caseload per staff nearly level with FY 2021. Without the requested increase in FTE, 

the investigative staff caseload burden will increase. 

Table B: Impact of Additional FTEs per Staff Based on 10,843 Cases Projected in FY 

2023

Staff Level 2023 

Request

Projected number of Attorneys/Equal Opportunity Specialists (excluding 

managers) in FY 2022 327

Increased number of Attorneys/Equal Opportunity Specialists +91

Projected Total for FY 2023 418

# of cases per staff 26

Investing in Enforcement Staff

OCR’s enforcement staff is responsible for the following: (1) resolving complaints of 

discrimination; (2) conducting directed investigations and compliance reviews; and (3) providing 

technical assistance to help recipients achieve voluntary compliance with federal civil rights 

laws.

Awards and Overtime

The Administration is requesting $1.1 million for awards and $60,000 for overtime, which is 

$76,000 more than the fiscal year 2022 annualized CR level based on 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 2023 Request, excluding 

Departmental Centralized Services, is $10.8 million, $5.8 million more than a fiscal year 2022 

annualized CR level based on the fiscal year 2021 appropriation. The increases include 

additional collections for the CRDC; a new IT Modernization project, enhancements to the 

CAMS project, travel, legal services, and training. 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 2023 Request funds will also support the maintenance, monitoring, 

enhancement, and hosting of OCR’s database investments (CRDC, CAMS and Online 

Discrimination Complaint Form), as well as the beginning of a comprehensive IT modernization 

project.

Information Technology (IT) Non-Personnel Costs

Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 

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 
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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. OCR administered a 2020–21 CRDC as planned, as well as a 2021-22 collection. 

The Administration requests $6.4 million for fiscal year 2023 for the CRDC, an increase of 

$3.3 million above the 2022 Annualized CR level. This request supports tasks related to three 

separate cycles, as follows:

•Data file creation and reporting tasks for the 2021–22 CRDC; 

•Pre-collection, collection, and post-collection tasks for the next CRDC; and

•Planning and improvement tasks for the next CRDC. 

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 for students in pre-K through grade 12. OCR has administered the 

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

administering, overseeing, and enforcing the civil rights statutes for which it is responsible. For 

over 50 years, the CRDC has informed the efforts of the OCR, education 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. Furthermore, 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), as of 

December 31, 2018, SEAs that receive Title I funds are required to include certain CRDC data 

in their state and local report cards. Specifically, ESSA requires that state and LEA report cards 

include information on measures of school quality, climate, and safety, such as information on: 

(1) in-school suspensions; (2) out-of-school suspensions; (3) expulsions; (4) school-related 

arrests; (5) referrals to law enforcement; (6) incidents of violence, including harassment or 

bullying; and (7) chronic absenteeism. SEA and LEA report cards must include the number and 

percentage of students enrolled in preschool programs, and the number and percentage of 

students enrolled in accelerated coursework to earn postsecondary credit while in high school 

(e.g., Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate). The numbers and percentages must 

be for all students and each student demographic group (e.g., sex by race/ethnicity; sex by 

disability status; and sex by English learner status). Under ESSA, information must be reported 

at the state, LEA, and school levels. 

There are several major tasks associated with the administration of the CRDC that would be 

supported by the budget request. 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;
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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 

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 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 serving 50.1

million students in the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. In May 2021, OCR 

released a corrected public-use data file for the 2017–18 CRDC. National and state estimates 

were released in June 2021.

The CRDC budget table below provides an overview of the CRDC budget for FY 2021, 

FY 2022, and FY 2023. The FY 2022 CRDC budget does not include the $2 million that OCR 

received in American Rescue Plan Act funds.
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SCHOOL 

YEAR ACTIVITY FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

2020-21 CRDC

2020-21 Planning and Improvement Phase 

2020-21 Pre-collection Phase $763,127 

2020-21 Collection Phase $1,080,858 

2020-21 Post-collection Phase $594,539

2020-21 Data File Creation and Reporting $80,000

2021-22 CRDC

2021-22 Planning and Improvement Phase

2021-22 Pre-collection Phase $652,691

2021-22 Collection Phase $673,665

2021-22 Post-collection Phase $652,691

2021-22 Data File Creation and Reporting $436,213

Future CRDC

N/A Planning and Improvement Phase $2,000,000

N/A Pre-collection Phase $2,343,145

CRDC Research and Evaluation

N/A

Data Quality Projects (e.g., independent 

quality reviews, topic-specific research projects) $131,702 $406,213

CRDC Reporting Website

N/A

Operation and Maintenance

Tasks needed to sustain the reporting website 

at the current capability, including compliance 

and transition management. $181,515 $184,965 $188,479

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. $664,320 $703,734 $1,005,615

N/A

Web Hosting

Web hosting under the PIVOT contract. The 

Department’s centralized services covered the 

hosting cost for FY2021. OCR will cover the 

cost beginning in FY 2022. $65,985 $59,952 $59,663

Total CRDC $3,350,344 $3,139,400 $6,439,328

IT Modernization 

The Administration is requesting $1.6 million for IT Modernization, a new request. This new 

request will support the modernization of OCR’s complaint management system by addressing 

the inefficiencies in the current disparate legacy systems, Case and Activity Management 

System (CAMS) and the Online Complaint Form, providing a single platform solution for 

complaint filing and management that will benefit internal and external users. The funding will 
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cover one-time fees that include $676,000 for software and hardware and $540,800 for 

implementation. The request also includes $338,000 for operations and maintenance and 

$135,200 for server hosting.

CAMS was developed in 2002 and the Online Complaint Form was developed in 2003. Since 

then, various patches have kept the two systems functioning despite outdated technology. 

Currently, civil rights complaints are electronically filed in the Online Complaint Form and are 

then uploaded manually into CAMS. Generally, end users experience CAMS as two separate 

systems – a case docketing/activity log system and a document management system. The 

system does not have sufficient functionality to operate as an official electronic case repository 

and is not accessible for people with disabilities, as required by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation 

Act of 1973.

Modernization of OCR’s complaint management system would improve efficiency and 

effectiveness, automate many of the complaint processing activities, provide electronic solutions 

to reduce paper waste, limit cyber-security risks, and ensure compliance with Section 508.

Moreover, OCR anticipates that the IT Modernization project will yield future cost savings once 

CAMS and the Online Complaint form are retired. 

Case Activity Management System (CAMS)

The Administration requests $574,000 for the CAMS, an increase of $9,000 above the 2022 

Annualized CR level. The increase of $9,000 supports contractual increases for operations and 

maintenance and enhancements. 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. 

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

Online Complaint Form and Back-End Database Project

The Administration is requesting $414,000, a decrease of $8,000 from the fiscal year 2022 

Annualized CR level. Of this request, $344,000 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 

1 http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html
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resolution letters and agreements entered into on or after October 1, 2013. The remaining 

$70,000 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 several 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 to provide transparency to the public about OCR 

enforcement and compliance activities.

Non-IT Costs

Travel

The Administration requests a travel budget of $802,000, $777,000 more than a fiscal year 2022 

annualized CR level based on the 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. The increase will support travel costs associated with the additional 101 

FTE, assuming a return to normal travel post-pandemic. 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 a fiscal year 2022 annualized 

CR level based on 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 $315,000, $265,000 more than a fiscal year 

2022 annualized CR level based on the fiscal year 2021 appropriation. Training expenses in 

fiscal year 2020 and 2021 were much lower than normal due to the pandemic. OCR’s 

leadership recognizes that the success of its work depends on the quality of its staff across all 

levels of the organization. The increase will support training cost associated with the additional 

101 FTE. 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.
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Communications and Equipment Repairs and Maintenance 

The Administration is requesting $11,000 in fiscal year 2023 Request for communications and 

equipment repairs and maintenance, $5,000 more than a fiscal year 2022 annualized CR level

based on the 2021 appropriation. These funds are needed for overnight shipping costs and 

maintenance of copiers and other equipment.

Other Services

The Administration requests $124,000, the same as the fiscal year 2022 annualized CR level

based on the 2021 appropriation. The request supports $70,000 for the reimbursement of 

attorneys’ bar dues; $42,000 for translation and interpretation services (translating documents 

and pamphlets into several languages which is different than the printing of documents in 

different languages); and $12,000 for miscellaneous services (advertisement and short-term 

contractual services).

Goods/Services from the Government

The fiscal year 2023 Request includes $334,000, $77,000 more than the fiscal year 2022 

annualized CR level based on the 2021 appropriation. Of this request, $296,000 supports legal 

research. 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. The fiscal year 2023 $69,000 increase over fiscal 

year 2022 covers the annual escalation in the cost per user.

The request also supports Education publications (ED Pubs) totaling $15,000, and General 

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

Supplies

The Administration is requesting $100,000, $50,000 more than the fiscal year 2022 annualized 

CR level based on the 2021 appropriation. The increase will cover the cost of supplies for the 

additional 101 FTE. 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 2022 annualized CR level

based on the 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 $27.9 million for centralized 

services, $1.7 million more than the fiscal year 2022 annualized CR level based on the 2021 

appropriation. The 2023 Request will cover the costs of services such as rent; departmental 
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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.

PROGRAM OUTPUT MEASURES

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

year 2010. Actual data are shown for fiscal years 2010-2021 and estimates are shown for fiscal 

years 2022-2023.

Complaint Receipts and Resolutions (FY 2010 – FY 2023)

*Estimate 

In fiscal year 2021, total complaint receipts decreased by 786 compared to the previous year. 

However, through fiscal year 2023 complaint receipts are projected to exceed the previous 

record high level from 2016. We are projecting cases to remain above the fiscal year 2021 level 

because the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated preexisting inequities in our nation’s 

schools. These inequities could potentially raise civil rights concerns. We also anticipate an 

uptick in complaint receipts as students return to the classrooms.

The FY 2021 Complaint Caseload by Jurisdiction pie chart displays the fiscal year 2021

complaint caseload by jurisdiction. Disability discrimination complaints comprise the largest 

2010 2013 2016 2019 2020 2021 2022* 2023*

Receipts 6,933 9,950 16,720 9,986 9,707 8,921 28,457 28,457

Resolutions 6,830 10,128 8,625 10,644 10,184 8,036 8,640 10,800

0

3,000

6,000

9,000

12,000

15,000

18,000

21,000

24,000

27,000

30,000
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percentage of complaints with OCR, followed by other complaints. In general, disability 

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

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

11 years, fiscal years 2010 through 2021.

Complaint Caseload by Jurisdiction

(Fiscal Years 2010 – 2021)

Jurisdiction FY 2010 FY 2013 FY 2016 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 

Race 1,833 2,209 2,439 1,258 1,043 1,117 13%

Sex 796 2,839 7,747 873 2,2171 832 9%

Disability 4,004 5,022 5,936 4,487 3,652 3,410 38%

Age 131 522 581 111 81 550 6%

Multiple 1,037 1,333 1,655 1,701 1,401 1,426 16%

Other 913 786 1,532 1,556 1,313 1,586 18%

TOTAL 8,714 12,711 19,890 9,986 9,707 8,921 100%

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

Race/National Origin, 

1,117 (13%)

Sex Discrimination, 

832 (9%)

Disability,

3,410 (38%) Age,

550 (6%)

Multiple Allegations, 

1,426 (16%)

Other Complaints, 

1,586 (18%)

FY 2021 Complaints Caseload by Jurisdiction

Total Complaints - 8,921
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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 2023 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 2023 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.

Fiscal Year Target Actual

2018 80% 84%

2019 80 92

2020 80 90

2021) 80 87

2022 80 -

2023 80 -

Measure: Percentage of complaints pending over 180 days.

Fiscal Year Target Actual

2018 < 25% 62%

2019 < 25 60

2020 < 25 61

2021 < 25 50

2022 < 25 -

2023 < 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 2023 for newly filed complaints. The additional FTE 

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

fiscal year 2023 and beyond.

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

this metric in the fiscal year 2021. 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.

Fiscal Year Target Actual

2018 3.66 3.78

2019 3.66 3.60

2020 3.66 3.75

2021 3.66 3.35

2022 3.66 -

2023 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).