Hirono, Jayapal Introduce Legislation to Ensure AANHPI Students are Accounted for in Schools

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) introduced the All Students Count Act, legislation that would require more comprehensive and equitable disaggregation of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) student data in K-12 schools. Disaggregating student data would help ensure AANHPI student groups are better accounted for by states and school districts and supported by schools across the country.

"In Hawaii, we celebrate our diverse communities and recognize the differences in their backgrounds, experiences, and challenges faced. By disaggregating AANHPI student data, this legislation helps schools better understand and address students' individual needs," said Senator Hirono. "As this regime continues its attacks on diversity, I will continue fighting to ensure all students feel recognized and supported in the classroom."

"As someone who came to this country alone at 16 with nothing in my pockets, I deeply understand the unique challenges in the US education system that immigrant communities face. Our students deserve visibility at all levels. By ensuring that student data collections capture the diverse experiences of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander children, we can work to close the education gap in our communities," said Representative Jayapal.

Around the country, states and school districts have made significant progress in disaggregating data on K-12 student achievement for major racial and ethnic groups, including for "Asian American" and "Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander" students. However, these two categories condense dozens of distinct racial and ethnic subgroups, each with unique histories and varying access to social and economic opportunities, making it difficult to identify and address disparities between these subgroups.

"Protecting Southeast Asian American and other AANHPI students' right to be seen is more important than ever, especially during AANHPI Heritage Month when we are called to reflect on the strength and diversity of our communities," said Quyen Dinh, Executive Director at the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC). "Our students have navigated overlapping crises, from COVID-19, to rising anti-Asian hate and targeting by ICE, and the impacts are still felt in classrooms today. In order to address our communities' needs, their lived experiences must be seen in federal data. SEARAC thanks Sen. Hirono and Rep. Jayapal for their continued leadership in championing the All Students Count Act."

"We applaud Senator Hirono and Representative Jayapal for continuing to champion the importance of disaggregating data by race and ethnicity to ensure that the diverse experiences and needs of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) students are accurately represented. Without such critical data, AANHPI students' needs will remain invisible in education system," said Jo Ann Paaio, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) Policy Director.

The All Students Count Act of 2026 would support equitable access to education by ensuring that student data collections capture the diverse experiences of AANHPI children. Specifically, the bill would:

• Require the U.S. Department of Education, state education agencies, and school districts to collect and report disaggregated data for a minimum of 15 Asian American and 6 Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander subgroups; and
• Add an effective date of 18 months after the legislation has been enacted to give states and school districts time to make changes to their data collection and methodology.

In addition to Senator Hirono, this legislation was also cosponsored by Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Dick Durbin (D-IL).

In addition to Representative Jayapal, companion legislation in the House of Representatives was cosponsored by Representatives Ed Case (D-HI), Sharice Davids (D-KS) Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL).

The All Students Count Act is endorsed by the AAPI Equity Alliance, American Association of University Women (AAUW), APAPA (Asian Pacific American Public Affairs), APIA Scholars, Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC, Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education (APAHE), Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia, Chinese for Affirmative Action, Clearinghouse on Women's Issues, Feminist Majority, Japanese American Citizens League, Khmer Anti-deportation Advocacy Group (KhAAG), National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE), National Center for Youth Law, National Education Association, National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), National Korean American Service and Education Consortium, National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance, NBJC, OCA Sacramento Chapter, OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates, OCA-NY, PFLAG National, PIVOT, The Progressive Vietnamese American Organization, South Asian Public Health Association, Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC), Stop AAPI Hate, The Cambodian Family, The Sikh Coalition, and the United Territories of Pacific Islanders Alliance.

Senator Hirono has long advocated on behalf of AANHPI communities-especially students- in Hawaii, the U.S., and Pacific Island nations and territories. Earlier this month, Senator Hirono's resolution recognizing May as AANHPI Heritage Month passed the Senate by unanimous consent. Last month, Senator Hirono held a bicameral press conference, highlighting the Administration's all-out attacks on minority students. For the past year, Senator Hirono has been fighting back against the Trump Administration's anti-diversity agenda for public schools across the country. Last May, she introduced a bill to promote the teaching of Asian Pacific American history for high school students and teachers who enroll in the U.S. Department of Education's American History and Civics Academies programs.

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