Disaggregated data, more granular information within a given data set, is critical for public policy. Crucial information can be hidden within broad averages. For example, 34% of Texans hold a bachelor’s degree; but that’s 63% for Asian Texans and 19% for Hispanic Texans. And even 63% hides differences among Asian Texans that broad categories can’t show.

Our latest report, Beyond the Baseline, identifies race and ethnicity data gaps in various governmental organizations in Austin and calls for local and state action to implement standard data collection practices that will ensure everyone is seen. It outlines possible changes to federal policy that could limit our understanding of who lives in our communities, thereby limiting our ability to respond with appropriate public policy.

State and local governments must be able to 1) count on federal data, and 2) have their own capacity to gather and analyze data with standards that hold steady no matter which way federal leadership moves. The report shows how the Austin City Demographer’s data collection guide could be a municipal model for standardized, community-centered data collection.

The U.S. Census set a gold standard globally for the collection and distribution of data that is used by everyone from policymakers to researchers in the academic and private sectors. It is used for everything from education to health care to tax policy and business site development. The Census also is used to determine elected representative districts.

Complete counts are foundational to the success of the United States, and every community in the country. Texas needs data that goes Beyond the Baseline.