Accurately Counting Our People And Our Children

Beginning in 2010, the Education Department is mandating a new method of counting the race of new students. Best will be if local school districts apply the new method to all students, but new students is the requirement.

The change involves multiracial students.

Many have been forced to choose either black or white, or as this story indicates, Hispanic or Asian. The new method will lead to a better accounting of America's growing multiracial population. Estimates suggest that 4% of the population under age 18 is multiracial. And, in fact, so is the president.

Some civil rights folks have qualms with this; fearful that the changes might lead to decreased numbers of blacks and Hispanics. Possibly. But, accuracy must be paramount in developing good public policy.