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National Center for Education Statistics : Publications

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Programs and Plans of the National Center for Education Statistics

Programs and Plans of the National Center for Education Statistics, 2005 Edition

  • Comprehensive overview of the current data collection, activites, and published reports of NCES.
  • Information about collections and publications planned for the future.
  • The first chapter includes a table that communicates which current surveys fall under a variety of topical headings (see pp. 6-7 of the report).
  • An excellent guide if you are new to using NCES's resources.

View and download the Programs and Plans of the National Center for Education Statistics, 2005 Edition (note: clicking this link will download a PDF).

Annual Publications

The Condition of Education

  • Congressionally mandated.
  • Summarizes developments and trends in education from early childhood through postsecondary.
  • Major goal - present a "big picture" look at the conditions of education in the United States.
  • Divided into five sets of indicators:
    1. Participation in education;
    2. Learner outcomes;
    3. Student effort and educational progress;
    4. Contexts of elementary and secondary education; and
    5. Contexts of postsecondary education.
  • Data come from a variety of sources, including students, teachers, state education agencies, and local schools, colleges, and universities, using both surveys and compliations of administrative documents.
  • Methods methods and data can change from year to year - exercise caution in making year-to-year comparisons.

Previous editions of the Condition

 

 

The Digest of Education Statistics

  • A compilation of data from other NCES activites.
  • Data are chosen for inclusion in a given year based on nation-wide scope and being of "current interest and value."
  • Wonderful report to use if you need a snapshot of education at a particular time, or if you are interested in seeing what topics were being emphasized in a particular year.
  • The statistics in the Digest change from year to year based on current needs and trends, so if you are interested in longitudinal comparisons, start with the Condition of Education instead.

Previous editions of the Digest

 

Projections of Education Statistics

  • Uses the data and trends collected over the past fourteen years to make projections eight years into the future.
  • Included in the projections: enrollment, number of graduates, number of teachers, and expenditures in elementary and secondary schools; and enrollment, earned degrees conferred, and expenditures of degree-granting institutions.
  • A wonderful tool for policymaking and long-term planning, but caution should be used in interpreting projections, as there will be unforseen events and trends that are unaccounted for in such a report.
  • Futher information about the methodology used in making the projections can be viewed in Appendix A of the report.

Previous editions of the Projections

 

Indicators of School and Crime Safety

  • A joint project conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and National Center for Education Statistics.
  • Examines crime occurring in school as well as on the way to and from school.
  • Based on data from students, teachers, and principals, as well as compiled data from a vareity of other studies.
  • Topics covered include victimization, bullying, fights, weapons, and student use of drugs and alcohol, as well as students' perceptions of safety at their schools.

Previous editions of the Indicators (note: click on the "Reports" section)

Additional Publications

All links include a description of the product, links to the actual reports, and options to download .pdf files and/or order a hard copy.

Early Childhood Education

 

Early Childhood Longitudinal Programs

National Household Education Survey Program

 

Elementary and Secondary Education

 

Beginning Teacher Longitudinal Study

Career/Technical Education Statistics

Common Core of Data

Current Population Survey - Education Supplement

Educational Longitudinal Study of 2002

High School & Beyond

High School Longitudinal Study of 2009

High School Transcript Studies

National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988

National Household Education Survey Program

National Longitudinal Study of 1972

Private School Universe Survey

Rural Schools

School District Demographics System

School Survey on Crime and Safety

Schools and Staffing Survey

State Education Reforms

Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems Grant Program

 

Postsecondary

 

Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study

Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study

Career/Technical Education Statistics

High School & Beyond

IPEDS: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
IPEDS is the major primary source for data on postsecondary institutions in the United States

National Longitudinal Study of 1972

National Postsecondary Student Aid Study

National Study of Postsecondary Faculty

Postsecondary Education Descriptive Analysis Reports

Postsecondary Education Quick Information System

 

Adults/Lifelong Learing

 

Library Statistics Program

National Assessment of Adult Literacy

National Household Education Survey Program

 

International Data

 

Adult Literacy and Lifeskills

Civic Education Study

International Activities Program

Program for International Student Assessment

Progress in International Reading Literacy Study

Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study

The National Assessment of Educational Progress

The National Assessment of Educational Progress / a.k.a. The Nation's Report Card

  • Purpose is to collect a nationally representative, continuous assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subject areas.
  • Assessments are conducted in the following topical areas: mathematics, reading, science, writing, the arts, civics, economics, geography, and U.S. history.
  • Collection and publication of data happens on an on-going basis.

View the outline of current NAEP activites
View recent results at the Nation's Report Card website
View current data for Wisconsin
Construct and view a comparison of different states
Access the raw data set and construct your own analysis (includes a tutorial)

Subject Guide