Making every resident count for 2020 census

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KSWT, KECY) - The Imperial County office of education is helping valley teachers prepare students for the 2020 Census. 

With a new curriculum designed by the state of California, teachers will be implementing the importance of the census into their lessons starting next semester. 

While officials said it's been a challenge to get an accurate count of valley residents, this is an opportunity for teachers to engage students and community members on why everyone matters and for the valley to not get undercut in government funds. 

Todd Evangelist, ICOE's Curriculum Department Coordinator said, "We want to make sure that we are accounted for, every single person. It impacts schools, it impacts roads. It impacts facilities, it impacts all types of form of life here in Imperial County. The more funding we have here from the federal government the better for our residents."

Census day is April 1, 2020.