A Joint Message from Governor Charlie Crist and
Education Commissioner Eric Smith

Florida is rich in diversity, and our varying languages and cultures allow us the unique opportunity to learn from one another. Every 10 years, the federal government provides our state the occasion to identify our diverse population and better understand the people of the Sunshine State. That opportunity is known as the United States census, and it will happen in 2010.

As a Floridian, each of us can benefit from the 2010 Sunshine Census. Parents, educators, and students all play a vital role in raising awareness about this important endeavor. Our involvement in the 2010 Sunshine Census is critical to Florida’s success, particularly as it relates to education funding. By providing accurate information to the federal government, Florida students will benefit – especially those in schools with a high percentage of low-income children and students who rely on special education and college tuition grant and loan programs.

Children are the number-one undercounted population in Florida. To help us count every child in Florida, we must involve parents, teachers and administrators in increasing awareness about the importance, confidentiality, and simplicity of 2010 Sunshine Census. In the coming months, you will be hearing about the Census in Schools program. This program teaches students and their families about demographics, civics and the value of being counted in the census. We applaud the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, Florida School Boards Association, and the Florida Parent Teacher Association for helping introduce and implement the Census in the Schools program in conjunction with the 2010 Sunshine Census.

We must all work together to ensure that each individual is counted during the 2010 Sunshine Census. Thank you for helping to ensure that Florida’s census is accurate and successful.

Sincerely,

Charlie Crist,
Governor of Florida

Dr. Eric J. Smith,
Florida Education Commissioner

Events

Lesson Plans and Take-Home Materials

Promotional Materials

Census in Schools Week