Definition: A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. The term "Spanish origin" can be used in addition to "Hispanic or Latino."

Data Standards:

Missing

Before FY 2000: Phased-in requirement.

(See Internal Consistency Standard.)

Effective FY 2000: Always required.

Out of Range

0 - 1:
0 = No
1 = Yes

Internal Inconsistency

Before FY 2000: At least one of Elements 18 through 23 must be answered "Yes" (equal to 1).

FY 2000 and after: No internal consistency standard.

Field Size: 1

Format: Number

Guidance: Enter the one digit code for the ethnicity of each child. Ethnicity must be determined for every child.

OMB has requested a change to the child race definitions to comply with the new Census Bureau definitions of race published in the Federal Register of October 30, 1997. These new definitions are incorporated in the final version of the ACF-801 Form and Instructions.

Leave the field blank as "missing" data for those that refused to report their race. This is the same way "unknown" is reported.

For further information concerning ethnicity, view the OMB Revision initiated in 1997.

Note that a zero is used for a specific reason; for “unknown/not reported” use a blank or space.