Perceived Need to Make
Changes to the Current System

About one-third of the states (18) were of the opinion that there was no need to change the current system of classifying race and ethnicity, and that any problems with the five standard federal categories were minor (Table 12). Three of these states had already implemented use of a "multiracial" category. In Georgia, the addition had been made in response to requests primarily from parents; in Ohio, the parent of a multiracial child had gone to the state legislature advocating the change; and in Indiana, the change came about as a result of a change in the state code, but the respondent did not know why the code had been changed and personally saw no need for change. Another four of the respondents who shared this view-representatives from Idaho, Mississippi, Nevada, and Wyoming-qualified this opinion by noting that there was little racial or ethnic diversity in their student population.

Respondents from 20 states expressed the belief that new categories were needed either to reflect the increased racial diversity in the nation (7 states) or the growing number of individuals with mixed racial heritage (13 states). Of the seven states that suggested new categories were needed to reflect racial diversity, none had already made changes, and two were considering making changes. Of the 13 states that suggested adding a "multiracial" category, 2 had already made changes.

Alabama and Montana expressed a need for an "unknown" or "other" category. Six states indicated that they considered there to be some need for changes to the system, and another four states considered there to be a great need for change, but were not specific about the changes needed.

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