FAQ
What is CRT?
CRT seeks to understand why inequality persists in a society that has explicitly condemned racism and has repeatedly adopted laws and policies intended to eliminate it. Drawing on research in history, social sciences and humanities, CRT demonstrates how laws and policies can reproduce racial inequality—even when they are adopted without explicit racial bias. CRT is thus an important tool to support our nation’s ongoing efforts to achieve a robust multiracial democracy.
How is the CRT Forward Tracking Project data collected?
All information about Tracking Project data collection process can be found on the Methodology Page.
What makes the Tracking Project different from other anti-CRT tracking projects?
Multiple academic institutions, advocacy organizations, and education think tanks, like the African American Policy Forum (AAPF), UCLA Institute for Democracy, Education and Access, PENAmerica, and EdWeek, are engaged in the important work of identifying and tracking anti-CRT measures that distort CRT and restrict antiracist speech and teaching in the form of either state legislative bills or local actions. The CRT Forward Tracking Project is unique for four reasons. First, the Tracking Project not only identifies and tracks anti-CRT measures, but also analyzes the substance of the anti-CRT measure in our database to identify: (a) the type of conduct that is restricted or required; (b) the institution targeted for regulation; (c) the specific features of the conduct being targeted; and (d) enforcement mechanisms used to regulate the conduct. Second, the Tracking Project is the only database that combines and makes available anti-CRT measures at three levels—local, state, and federal—in a single location. Third, the anti-CRT measure, and related progress status, is made available to users. Finally, the Tracking Project is an interactive database that allows users to filter for content based on factors that are important for their purposes.
How is data accuracy ensured?
Each anti-CRT measure has been verified through a screening process that included more than 4,000 newspapers for local, state, and federal anti-CRT measures. To ensure all relevant data is identified, tracked, and interpreted, the team has implemented strategies in addition to screening media articles to identify anti-CRT measures that have not been included in screened documents because news outlets have not reported on the particular anti-CRT measure. One strategy involves searching for anti-CRT measures in the form of state legislation through a state legislative search on Lexis, a legal information database. Additionally, researchers track any updates to introduced and pending anti-CRT state legislation and update the database when those changes become available. Further, the process for interpreting the content of the anti-CRT measure is conducted through a systematic, multiple coders, process to ensure consistency and accuracy. And finally, the team conducts legal research to identify the progress status link and full text of the anti-CRT measure and shares that information on this website.
How often is the Tracking Project data updated?
New data is collected through regular screening of media articles and Lexis searches of state legislative anti-CRT measures. The database is updated once a quarter to reflect new measures identified through the article screening and Lexis state legislative search processes. The CRT Forward Tracking Project Team also updates the progress of introduced and pending state legislative anti-CRT measures as updates become available.
Are there any instances of measures that are supportive of CRT, antiracism, antisexism, racial and gender justice?
There are many instances of states, school boards, cities, and private organizations issuing supportive legislation resolutions and statements in support of CRT, antiracism, racial and gender justice. The CRT Forward Tracking Project is not currently systematically tracking pro-CRT measures. Please visit the AAPF Truth Be Told website to connect with organizations engaged in tracking and identifying pro-CRT measures.
What are some limitations of the data?
Our data is dependent on media reports for local and non-legislative anti-CRT measures. If anti-CRT measures are not reported on through a newspaper in the Lexis or Westlaw databases, it is possible that the unreported anti-CRT measure is not available in the CRT Forward Tracking Project.
I am a researcher who is interested in citing to the CRT Forward Tracking Project Data? How should I cite to the data?
There are two different citations – one for use in media reports and stories and another for use in academic journals and reports. The citation for media reports and stories is as follows: CRT Forward Tracking Project, www.crtforward.law.ucla.edu. The citation for academic journals and reports is as follows: Taifha Natalee Alexander, LaToya Baldwin Clark, Isabel Flores-Ganley, Cheryl Harris, Jasleen Kohli, Lynn McLelland, Paton Moody, Nicole Powell, Kyle Reinhard, Milan Smith, and Noah Zatz. CRT Forward Tracking Project [date database was accessed]. UCLA School of Law Critical Race Studies Program, www.crtforward.law.ucla.edu.