Census Protocol
Pursuant to Education Article §24–703.3, Annotated Code of Maryland, the MLDS Center is required to develop a protocol for geocoding K-12 student data. Geolocation data on students will allow the Center to associate each student within a Census block and tract and utilize detailed demographic information about the Census block and tract contained in the American Community Survey produced by the U.S. Census Bureau. This will provide policymakers with more in-depth information on students’ socioeconomic status. The MLDS Center is required to develop a protocol for county boards to convert a student’s home address and geolocation information into Census tract and block numbers.
This page contains resources and tools for LEAs to convert student home addresses into Census tract and block numbers.