Learning about Education through Statistics. Second Edition.

Overview & Synopsis

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) gathers data on all aspects of education from across the United States and releases the resulting surveys and studies as survey reports, information compendia, and special reports that focus on specific educational topics. NCES also participates in joint research activities, brings together data collected by federal, state, and local agencies, and reports on education in the United States compared with other countries. Brief descriptions are given for the following NCES components and surveys related to elementary and secondary education: (1) Common Core of Data; (2) Private School Survey; (3) School District Data Book; (4) Schools and Staffing Survey; (5) National Assessment of Educational Progress; and (6) several elementary and secondary longitudinal studies. The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, the National Study of Postsecondary Faculty, postsecondary longitudinal studies, and the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study collect data related to postsecondary education. The National Household Education Survey and the various library surveys are other data gathering operations of NCES. NCES also collects data from adult literacy surveys and the Data on Vocational Education project and it participated in international studies, such as the Third International Mathematics and Science Study. Some data reporting operations, including the Fast Response Survey System, are described. Resource information and a list of NCES publications are attached. (SLD)