Statistics in Schools and 

the 2020 Census of the 

U.S. Virgin Islands

This is your chance to shape the future of your 

students, school, and community.

U.S. Virgin Islands
Table of Contents

Introduction for Education Leaders 1

SIS Program Overview 2

Frequently Asked Questions 4

Resources for Every Grade 6

Get Your School Involved 8

Important Next Steps 10

Printable Flyer for Teachers 12

Student Take-Home Flyer 13
1

Shape the future of schools. 

Start here.

This is your opportunity.

Once every 10 years, you get an opportunity to shape 

the future of your islands, school, and community. 

By adding your voice to the 2020 Census of the 

U.S. Virgin Islands as an education leader, you can help 

ensure that funding is allocated where it’s needed most.

While the counting of the entire U.S. population begins 

in spring 2020, there are ways you can start making 

a difference today. The U.S. Census Bureau created a 

free educational program, Statistics in Schools (SIS), 

for use in every classroom from pre-K through 12th 

grade. This kit will introduce you to the program and 

its importance as well as detail ways you can promote 

SIS and the counting of every child in the U.S. Virgin 

Islands in the 2020 Census.

There’s a story behind 

every number.

Statistics in Schools uses Census Bureau data to create 

activities, materials, and resources to enhance learning 

across a variety of subjects. This program was created 

by teachers all across the United States, including 

teachers from the U.S. Virgin Islands. Educators across 

the United States have been using the program for 

years, integrating its resources into their lesson plans 

during decennial and nondecennial years.

New SIS activities for the 2019-2020 school year 

will educate students and those they live with about 

the 2020 Census of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the 

importance of making sure everyone is counted, 

especially children. The new resources and this 

administrator kit include materials for adults who 

have children in their home to encourage them to 

complete the 2020 Census of the U.S. Virgin Islands 

questionnaire.

Make sure your school counts.

An accurate count is critical: Responses to the 2020 

Census of the U.S. Virgin Islands help your community 

plan for hospitals and schools, support local programs, 

improve emergency services, construct roads, inform 

businesses looking to add jobs, and more.

By encouraging your teachers to use SIS materials in 

their classrooms, you will be helping every student 

in the U.S. Virgin Islands and the adults in their home 

understand the importance of the 2020 Census. 

Use this kit to get started.

1
2020 CENSUS 

TEACHER’S

GUIDE Places Within the 

Community: Population 

Change in the Island Areas

Topic(s):

Data collection, decennial 

census, population change

Grade Level:

5-6

Approx. Time Required:

45 minutes

Learning Objectives: 

Students will be able to:

• Draw conclusions based on class discussions. 

• Analyze data and calculate percentages related to the four Island Areas.

• Understand the importance of census data and population change. 

Introduction

The 2020 Census Statistics in Schools (SIS) program is designed to educate students about the decennial 

census and to teach them educational concepts and skills, such as data literacy, through the use of census 

data in the classroom. Responses to the 2020 Census affect plans for hospitals and schools, support 

for local programs, improvements in emergency services, and construction of roads. They also inform 

businesses that are looking to add jobs. By educating students about the 2020 Census, you can help 

encourage a complete count.

The 2020 Census SIS program can be used with educational standards across the United States. You 

can use the topics and learning objectives above to determine which subject and unit plan or theme this 

activity will best fit into.

About the 2020 Census

In addition to the information that is built into instructions for this activity, the following points provide an 

easy, grade-appropriate way to explain the census to your students.

• The decennial census is a count of every person living in the United States and its territories that 

occurs every 10 years.

• It is important that every person be counted to make sure the government can provide money to 

each community for things like roads, schools, and hospitals.

• Make sure an adult in your home counts you in the 2020 Census.

D-WS-TE-EN-185

SIS Program Overview

What is Statistics in Schools?

Statistics in Schools is a U.S. Census Bureau program 

that uses census statistics to create classroom 

materials for grades pre-K through 12. Teachers and 

subject matter experts nationwide helped develop each 

SIS activity to make sure it is valuable and engaging. 

The SIS program includes more than 200 activities and 

resources that enhance learning in a variety of subjects, 

including various resources designed specifically for 

students in the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

What’s new for 2020?

SIS has crafted materials specifically for the 

2020 Census, including:

• 67 new activities for grades pre-K through 12 

that have students use data in interactive ways 

to build skills in subjects such as history, math, 

geography, and English. All activities are tailored 

for specific grade levels and geographic locations, 

including the U.S. Virgin Islands.

• Large, colorful maps with fun, census-based 

facts about the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

• A storybook with activities and a music video

for children in preschool and early grades.

• Resources for English language learners and 

adult English as a second language students.

Name

2020 CENSUS STUDENT 

ACTIVITY

Places Within the 

Community: Population 

Change in the Island Areas

1. Complete the table below using U.S. Census Bureau data, found online at Recent Population Trends 

for the U.S. Island Areas: 2000 to 2010 (https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/

publications/2015/demo/p23-213.pdf).

Island Area 1990 population 2000 population 2010 population

American Samoa

Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands

Guam

U.S. Virgin Islands

2. Based on the data, what do you think accounts for the change in population within your assigned island 

area from 2000 to 2010?

3. Based on the bar graph called “Change in Population for U.S. Island Areas: 1990 to 2020,” which shows 

the predicted percentage change in population, make a prediction of the population for your assigned 

island in 2020. Explain your answer.

D-WS-ST-EN-302

2

Everyone counts --all your 

neighbors and friends.

Count how many people are 

on these two pages. 

16
How does the use of SIS impact 

school funding?

By using new SIS materials, you can educate students 

and adults in their home on the importance of 

counting everyone in the 2020 Census of the U.S. 

Virgin Islands, especially children.

Responses to the 2020 Census of the U.S. Virgin 

Islands will drive decisions about funding for hospitals 

and schools, local programs, emergency services, and 

road construction, and they will inform businesses 

looking to add jobs.

Why should you get involved?

By using and promoting the SIS program, you can:

• Help your local lawmakers make informed 

decisions about your community.

• Influence student readiness for learning.

• Enhance student learning across subjects.

• Boost students’ statistical literacy and 

data-finding skills.

• Prepare students for a data-driven world.

• Empower teachers to easily bolster their 

existing lesson plans.

• Motivate households to complete the 

2020 Census of the U.S. Virgin Islands 

questionnaire.

3
Frequently Asked Questions

As an administrator, you may find that teachers come to you or your staff with 

questions about SIS. Here are some of the more common questions we hear from 

teachers and answers to help you respond. 

Who develops the SIS materials?

SIS materials are created by teachers, for teachers. 

Teachers and subject matter experts across the 

country—including teachers from the U.S. Virgin 

Islands—work with Census Bureau experts to create 

each SIS activity. That helps ensure the value, 

relevance, relatability, and usability of the activities 

and makes them engaging for students.

How does SIS benefit my students?

By using SIS materials, you will enhance students’ 

learning, boost their statistical literacy and data-finding 

skills, and prepare them for a data-driven world. 

The new materials for the 2019-2020 school year will 

provide even more value by highlighting the importance 

of counting everyone in the 2020 Census of the 

U.S. Virgin Islands, especially children. The count affects 

the amount of federal funding your islands, school, and 

community receive for programs and services that can 

make a real difference in the education and lives of 

your students.

Do I need special expertise 

to use SIS?

No. These activities are easy to follow and can be 

used by all teachers to supplement their instruction. 

You don’t need any special understanding of statistics, 

and every activity comes with a teacher guide. 

Each activity includes a list of materials, a student 

worksheet, and easy-to-follow teacher directions.

Why is the 2020 Census of the 

U.S. Virgin Islands so important 

for my school?

Responses to the 2020 Census of the U.S. Virgin 

Islands will drive decisions on the allocation of 

federal funds to the U.S. Virgin Islands each year for 

the next 10 years. That includes money for school 

programs and services such as special education, 

free and reduced-price lunches, class size reduction, 

technology purchases, teacher training, and afterschool activities. Responses to the 2020 Census of 

the U.S. Virgin Islands help your community plan 

for hospitals and schools, support local programs, 

improve emergency services, construct roads, inform 

businesses looking to add jobs, and more. 4
For what subjects and grade 

levels can I use SIS?

SIS activities are provided for pre-K through 12th 

grade. They can be used for math, English, history, 

geography, sociology, and more. 

How do I access SIS materials 

and resources?

It’s easy and free, and it doesn’t require any 

registration. Just go to census.gov/schools/USVI, 

select the activities and resources you want—including 

those specifically designed for the U.S. Virgin Islands—

and access or download them on the spot. 

Are these activities compatible 

with the education standards 

I use in my classroom?

Yes. All of the activities include recommendations 

on how to align them with any standards used 

across the United States, including in the U.S. 

Virgin Islands, making it easy to adapt the activities 

for use in any classroom.

Are SIS materials available 

in Spanish?

Yes. Resources like worksheets, maps, storybooks, 

and more are available in Spanish.

5
Resources for Every Grade

Check out all of the resources the SIS program has to offer at census.gov/schools! 

SIS offers more than 200 activities, videos, and other resources for students 

at all grade levels. 

• An engaging video explains to students why the 2020 Census of the 

U.S. Virgin Islands is important and why everyone needs to be counted 

accurately.

• Activities with accompanying teacher guides, specifically designed 

for the U.S. Virgin Islands, include easy-to-relay facts about census 

enumeration and participation. There is a take-home portion that 

students can use to engage members of their home in conversations 

about the 2020 Census of the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

• A map of the U.S. Virgin Islands provides a colorful classroom tool that 

highlights census data appropriate for elementary students.

Elementary 

School

• A fun trivia video presents questions related to census statistics and 

challenges students to think about why the data the Census Bureau 

collects is essential to our democracy.

• Activities with accompanying teacher guides, specifically designed 

for the U.S. Virgin Islands, include easy-to-relay facts about census 

enumeration and participation. There is a take-home portion that 

students can use to engage members of their home in conversations 

about the 2020 Census of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

• A map of the U.S. Virgin Islands provides a colorful classroom tool that 

highlights census data appropriate for middle school students.

Middle 

School

• An engaging video teaches students how to use Census Bureau 

data to inform personal decisions, such as choosing a field to study 

or deciding where to live after high school.

• Activities with accompanying teacher guides, specifically 

designed for the U.S. Virgin Islands, spark discussion in the classroom 

about diversity, changes in demographics across the U.S. over time, 

and more. Each activity includes a take-home portion that students 

can use to engage members of their home in conversations about the 

2020 Census of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

• A map of the U.S. Virgin Islands provides a colorful classroom tool 

that highlights census data appropriate for high school students.

High 

School

6
The 2020 SIS program offers pre-K materials, available in both 

English and Spanish, to engage children under age 5 and the adults 

who care for them.

• A storybook with activities uses an interactive narrative to teach 

children what the 2020 Census of the U.S. Virgin Islands is and why it 

is important that everyone be counted, especially children.

• A three-part video series brings concepts about the 2020 Census 

of the U.S. Virgin Islands to life and guides children through counting 

everyone in their home, their community, and the country. 

• A singalong video introduces preschoolers to the concept of the 

2020 Census of the U.S. Virgin Islands with an engaging singalong 

that is fun for the classroom and at home.

• Interactive activities with accompanying teacher guides cover 

topics such as counting, colors, and animals.

Pre-K

The SIS program offers adapted K-12 activities to be used with ELLs in the 

classroom. Because these activities are adapted from those developed 

for all K-12 students, teachers have the materials they need to instruct all 

students in their classroom. 

• An educator guide provides guidance on how teachers can use the 

SIS materials and provides overviews on how to adapt each activity to 

target the needs of ELLs.

• Activities with accompanying teacher guides include easy-to-relay 

facts about census participation. There is a take-home portion students 

can use to engage members of their home in conversations about the 

2020 Census of the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

English 

Language 

Learners 

(ELLs) 

SIS adult ESL materials provide information on the census that teachers 

can use with students to help them learn about the 2020 Census of the 

U.S. Virgin Islands and how it can benefit their communities. 

• An educator guide provides guidance on how teachers can use the 

SIS materials with their adult students.

• Activities with accompanying teacher guides are designed to 

enhance adult students’ understanding of the English language and the 

2020 Census of the U.S. Virgin Islands. They include a take-home portion 

that encourages adults to share what they’ve learned in class with their 

friends and family.

Adult 

English as 

a Second 

Language 

(ESL)

7
8

Get Your School Involved

In addition to the many resources already available on the Statistics in Schools 

website, the program will release exciting new activities and resources 

throughout the 2019-2020 school year. For the most up-to-date information, 

you can sign up for our newsletter at census.gov/schools. The roadmap below 

gives you a sneak peek into all that will be happening throughout the year.

Start Now!

New materials for the 2020 Census 

of the U.S. Virgin Islands Statistics in 

Schools program as well as traditional SIS 

resources in math, sociology, history, 

and more are live at census.gov/schools. 

Teachers can simply go to the website 

and start using the resources.

Join Our Kickoff Event!

The national kickoff event is taking place in 

Memphis, Tennessee. Visit census.gov/schools to 

learn more and find out how to join in virtually.

Oct 

2019

Video Delight! 

Check out the cool new videos 

and webisodes that help children 

understand what the 2020 Census of 

the U.S. Virgin Islands is and why it’s 

important for everyone to be counted.

Dec 

2019
9

Take Part in SIS Week!

This national movement is a great opportunity 

to get your school involved with SIS. Educators 

across the nation can join forces to use the SIS 

program in their classrooms and partake in 

fun events that can be done in any school. 

This week is also a great opportunity for 

schools to earn media recognition for the 

ways they are teaching students about the 

importance of the 2020 Census of the 

U.S. Virgin Islands.

Mar 2-6 

2020

Census Day! 

Educators can help their 

communities by sending the flyer 

in this packet home with students. 

This flyer will help remind an adult 

in their home to participate in the 

2020 Census of the U.S. Virgin 

Islands. Census results will drive 

decisions on the amount of federal 

funding provided to your schools 

and community.

Apr 1 

2020

To respond to the 

2020 Census of the 

U.S. Virgin Islands, 

visit 2020census.gov.
Important Next Steps

As an education leader, you are in the best position to promote the use of SIS in your community’s 

schools. As a trusted voice in your community, you can explain the urgency of responding to the 

2020 Census of the U.S. Virgin Islands. You can be an influencer for programs and services that 

benefit schools and communities.

• Make a difference for student learning and school-related funding on your islands. 

Promote the SIS program among the educators you work with by distributing the teacher 

flyer on Page 12.

• Increase excitement in your schools about the 2020 Census of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Give teachers the grade- and location-specific maps included with this kit to display in 

their classrooms. 

• Help make sure every child in your community is counted, which will help your 

community receive the funding it needs. Send home with students the letter on 

Page 13 to educate the adults in their home about the importance of participating in the 

2020 Census of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

• Lead the way for your schools and teachers. Sign up for the Statistics in Schools newsletter 

at census.gov/schools to stay up to date on all the key events and new materials that will be released 

during the 2019-2020 school year. Then let everyone else know what is new and available. 

Visit census.gov/schools to get started. 

10
11

Take the 

first step.

Please copy and distribute 

the following two pages to 

teachers and students.

Digital copies are also available at

census.gov/schools/USVI.
Make a Difference for 

Your Students With 

Statistics in Schools

Statistics in Schools (SIS) is a U.S. Census Bureau program that 

uses census data to create activities, materials, and other 

resources you can use in your classroom. Use SIS to:

• Bolster your existing lesson plans.

• Enhance student learning across subjects.

• Boost students’ statistical literacy and data-finding skills.

• Prepare students for a data-driven world.

• Impact the amount of federal funding your school receives.

These free resources—created by teachers, for teachers—are engaging for students, aligned with standards, 

and designed for use with existing lesson plans. SIS provides activities for preschool through grade 12 

to support learning in nearly every subject. The SIS website has more than 200 activities and resources. 

Teachers across the United States have been using SIS in their daily instruction.

SIS and School Funding

For this school year, teachers created 67 activities to highlight the 2020 Census. These activities educate 

students and people in their home about the importance of the once-a-decade count of the U.S. population, 

with a special focus on counting all children. This is critical because responses to the 2020 Census of the 

U.S. Virgin Islands will help your community plan for hospitals and schools, support local programs, improve 

emergency services, construct roads, inform businesses looking to add jobs, and more.

Beyond 2020

SIS is not a one-and-done program. Many of the materials are designed to 

be used year after year to enhance student learning. 

Easy to Access and Use

Act now—the 2020 Census of the U.S. Virgin Islands begins next 

spring. Get started by visiting the SIS website and sign up for the 

Statistics in Schools newsletter to stay up to date on all of the key events 

and new materials that will be released during the 2019-2020 school year. 

Find out more at CENSUS.GOV/SCHOOLS/USVI.

Printable 

Flyer for 

Teachers

“SIS provides meaning 

through data. It is 

important to support and use 

SIS because we are all a part 

of our growing community.”

—Althea Albanzas, 

teacher, St. Thomas, 

the U.S. Virgin Islands

U.S. Virgin Islands
Shape Your Future. Start Here.

We all want to create a better future for children. 

The U.S. Census Bureau’s Statistics in Schools program offers 

free materials and resources to schools that help students learn. 

To explore these resources, visit census.gov/schools/USVI.

Right now, students are learning about the 2020 Census of the U.S. Virgin Islands, which will 

take place in spring 2020. It will count everyone who lives in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Participating 

in the 2020 Census of the U.S. Virgin Islands is very important. Responses are used to determine 

how federal funds are distributed to communities each year. The money is used for things that 

help children. This includes schools, health programs for mothers and children, housing, parks, 

and food assistance.

The law requires the Census Bureau to keep your information confidential and use your 

responses only to produce statistics. The Census Bureau cannot publicly release your 

responses in any way that could identify you.

Use this checklist to make sure every child in your home is counted: 

Count children who live with you, even if their parents do not.

Count children who are living in your home on April 1, 2020, 

even if they are only staying with you temporarily.

Count every child who lives and sleeps in your home 

at least half of the time.

If a child’s time is evenly divided between two homes, 

count where the child is on Census Day—April 1, 2020.

Count newborn babies, even if they are still in the 

hospital on April 1, 2020.

Make sure every child in your home is counted. Completing the 

2020 Census of the U.S. Virgin Islands questionnaire is an easy 

way to improve the future for all children in the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Find out more at 2020CENSUS.GOV.

Student 

Take-Home

Flyer











U.S. Virgin Islands
CENSUS.GOV/SCHOOLS/USVI

U.S. Virgin Islands