Categories

• Federal Government Information
• Parental Involvement
• Articles, Databases, and Directories
• Organizations
• Charter Schools, Choice, and Vouchers, Home Schooling
  
• Education Reform
• Kindergarten
• Online Learning
• Standards and Testing
• School Reports and Statistics
  

Federal Government Information

• U.S. Department of Education -- Information on the department's organization and activities as well as access to statistics and reports is available at this extensive site.
• National Center for Education Statistics -- Search for statistics or for specific publications, or go directly to Education Statistics at a Glance which links to such reports as The Condition of Education and The Digest of Education Statistics.
• No Child Left Behind -- Information about the 2002 education reform law.
• Educational Attainment -- Annual data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) for the United States, with limited detail for states and some metropolitan areas.
• Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data -- State-by-state data from the U.S. Census.

Parental involvement

• FAPE "The Families and Advocates Partnership for Education (FAPE) project is a strong partnership that aims to improve the educational outcomes for children with disabilities. It links families, advocates, and self-advocates to communicate the new focus of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The project represents the needs of 6 million children with disabilities."
• Getting Involved in Your Child's Education This page from the website of the National Education Association (NEA) offers parents advice on getting involved in their child's education. Popular guides for parents cover the following topics: understanding testing, helping your child with reading, math, and science and getting involved in your child's school. Other resources include tips for making the most of parent-teacher conferences and research on the connections between parental involvement and student achievement.
• National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education (NCPIE) NCPIE advocates for the involvement of parents and families in their children's education, and fosters relationships between home, school, and community to enhance the education of young people in the U.S. "NCPIE was founded in 1980, at the initiative of what was then the National School Volunteer Program (now National Association for Partners in Education), with funding from the Ford Foundation and Union Carbide. From the outset, the participating organizations included parent organizations and advocacy groups as well as national education organizations representing teachers and administrators. The group has been meeting monthly ever since to monitor legislation, initiate projects, and share information and ideas about research, programs, and policies."
• National Network of Partnership Schools Established by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, the NNPS provide partnership program information to help educators and parents develop productive school-family-community involvement.
• Parent Involvement in Education - Connect for Kids "Learn how schools, businesses and community members can play a role in helping parents ensure their children's success in school." Resources on the site address how parents can help their children develop as learners, work on their homework, and prepare for going back to school. Other information focuses on how parents can get involved in the classroom and improve the school system.
• PTA Site provides tips for parents on opportunities to get involved in their children's education. The site is organized into the following sections: Help Your Child Succeed (for example, setting expectations), Parent Talk (for example, 100 Ways for Parents to Become involved in Their Child's Education guide), Health & Safety (School Safety and Security Toolkit), Drugs & Alcohol (expert advice on discussing drugs), and Family Fun (activities). Access is available to Spanish resources.
• Parents - ED.gov A wealth of information for parents from the U.S. Department of Education. Includes tips for parents and questions for parents to ask about schools.
• Parents Action for Children Parents Action for Children, "is a national non-profit dedicated to advancing the interests of families and young children. Parents' Action develops parent education materials, connects parents with one another, and fights for issues such as early education, health care, and high quality and affordable child care." The site is divided into four areas: Learn, Share, Act, and Videos.
• Partnership for Learning Partnership for Learning "helps schools and communities work together to boost learning from birth through the transition to college. The Partnership publishes reports, conducts trainings, and coordinates programs as a non-position-taking collaborative resource." Site provides access to these reports and guides of particular value to parents of elementary-age students, such as "When Good Kids Get Bad Grades", "4 Steps to Finding the Right Tutor", "Breaking Barriers Without Breaking the Bank", and "Does My Child Have a Learning Disability".
• Pathways to School Improvement Pathways synthesizes research, policy, and best practices on issues critical to educators engaged in school improvement, such as assessment, at-risk students, family & community, instruction, leadership, literacy, mathematics & science, policy, professional development, and technology in education, as well as access to archived favorites.
• Project Appleseed Project Appleseed is devoted to getting parents involved and volunteering in order to improve their public schools. This site has a parental involvement pledge for parents to formalize their commitment to working with their child's school.
• PTO Today PTO Today is a resource for parent-teacher organizations. This site includes ideas on how to improve your group, fundraising, and increase involvement in your school. Also has useful peer-to-peer message boards.
  

Articles, Databases, and Directories

• EducationAtlas.com -- Provides a "map to the world of education". Categories include, early childhood, K-12, higher education, teachers, distance learning, and special education.
• Education Finance Database -- The National Conference of State Legislature's (NCSL) database of K-12 education funding in the 50 states.
• Education Journals -- Provides annotations and Internet links for selected journals in education, with an emphasis on titles supportive of K-12 education.
• EducationNews.org -- Features a daily compilation of education articles published in newspapers and other media sources. Includes both United States and international news.
• Education Next -- This quarterly journal reports on issues related to K-12 education reform in the United States.
• Education Policy Analysis Archives (EPAA) -- Provides access to the full text of all articles that have appeared in Education Policy Analysis.
• Education Week -- Access current and archived issues.
• Educator's Reference Desk -- Includes resource guides on a variety of education issues.
• ERIC Database -- A bibliographic database of more than 1.1 million education citations dating back to 1966. Provides abstracts of journal articles and, in some cases, the full text of documents.
• Search for Schools, Colleges, and Libraries -- This National Center for Education Statistics database is searchable by institution name, city, or zip code. A variety of statistics are available for each institution.

Organizations

• ACCESS -- Seeks to strengthen the link between school finance litigation and the standards-based reform movement. Includes education finance litigation by state.
• American Association of School Administrators (AASA) -- A professional organization for educational leaders. Includes access to their publications and links to a variety of information.
• American Federation of Teachers (AFT) -- An affiliated international union of the AFL-CIO which represents the economic, social, and professional interests of classroom teachers.
• Center on Education Policy (CES) -- "The Center helps Americans better understand the role of public education in a democracy and the need to improve the academic quality of public schools."
• Consortium for Policy Research in Education (CPRE) -- Research reports in the areas of school reform, policy and governance, and school finance.
• Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) -- A nonprofit organization composed of public officials who lead the states' K-12 education departments. View 50-state reports and profiles of state accountability systems.
• Education Commission of the States (ECS) -- Created to improve public education by facilitating the exchange of information, ideas, and experiences among state policy makers and education leaders. View comparative state-by-state charts on a variety of topics.
• Education Trust -- Information on a variety of topics including K-16 initiatives, the No Child Left Behind law, and a database of state and national data on student achievement and opportunity patterns.
• National Education Association (NEA) -- Provides information on the NEA's policies and state affiliates and links to additional education sources.
• Program on Education Policy and Governance (PEPG) -- Located at Harvard University, the PEPG provides systematic analysis of education policy and governing arrangements.
• Regional Educational Laboratories -- Educational research and development organizations supported by the U.S. Education Department.
• State Education Agencies -- Links to state department of education Web sites.
• Thomas B. Fordham Foundation -- Reports on a variety of education issues.
• Selected Education Issues

Charter Schools, Choice, and Vouchers

• Charter School Laws Across the States -- The Center for Education Reform offers a comprehensive evaluation of all state charter school laws.
• Innovations in Education: Successful Charter Schools -- A U.S. Department of Education Report.
• National Charter School Clearinghouse -- A collaborative network created to advance ideas, information, and technology among the members of the charter school community.
• Center for School Change at the University of Minnesota.
• US Charter Schools -- An information source for those involved with, or interested in charter schools.
• Choices in Education -- This Heritage Foundation site profiles school choice in the 50 states and school choice in the courts.
• Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice -- Links to school choice research and publications including, Grading Vouchers: Ranking America's School Choice Programs.
• School Choice -- The Center for Education Reform's site provides a variety of resources.

Home Schooling

• Homeschool Legal Defense Association -- a nonprofit advocacy organization established to defend and advance the constitutional right of parents to direct the education of their children and to protect family freedoms. Through annual memberships, HSLDA is tens of thousands of families united in service together, providing a strong voice when and where needed.
• ParentalRights.org - Protecting Children by Empowering Parents through the Parental Rights Amendment.

Education Reform

• Annenberg Institute for School Reform An independent center located at Brown University, this institute is focused on improving the conditions and outcomes of schools, particularly in urban communities or serving disadvantaged children.
• Catalog of School Reform Models -- Developed by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, this catalog outlines a number of school reform initiatives.
• Center for Comprehensive School Reform and Improvement -- Its mission is to help schools organize, plan, implement, and sustain improvement.
• Center for Education Reform -- Includes education reform activities by state.
• Center on Reinventing Public Education Since 1993, the CRPE has performed research and analysis with a focus on how schools, particularly in urban areas, can be strengthened and provide equal opportunity for all children. The site contains reports, models, tools and guides for those looking at alternatives in public schooling.
• The Education Trust An organization that focuses on high academic achievement for all students with an emphasis on partnerships between colleges and K-12. This site provides reports, presentations, standards and other information on the latest advancements in schools.
• Forum for Education and Democracy Articles, research reports, and blog posts on public education reform issues by the conveners of the Forum, who include Deborah Meier, Theodore Sizer, and Linda Darling-Hammond.
• Great Lakes Center for Education Research & Practice The GLC focuses on identifying and utilizing empirically sound research to analyze initiatives and reports on public education. This includes serving as a "watchdog" on quality and standards for research and reports from think tanks, such as the CATO Institute and the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.
• NEA: No Child Left Behind This site, from the National Education Association (the U.S.'s largest education organization), gives the NEA's views and news regarding the education reform act, No Child Left Behind.
• No Child Left Behind -- This report by Minnesota's Office of the Legislative Auditor examines the likely impact of the federal No Child Left Behind Act in Minnesota.
• No Child Left Behind (NCLB) -- Learn about the federal education reform law. This U.S. Department of Education site also includes state NCLB accountability plans.
• No Child Left Behind Database -- View the status of individual state plans or compare states' activities. Provided by the Education Commission of the States.
• No Child Left Behind Detailed information on the landmark U.S. education reform passed in 2002 . This site from the U.S. Department of Education includes an overview of the act, statistics, guides, FAQ and much more.
• Pathways to School Improvement Pathways synthesizes research, policy, and best practices on issues critical to educators engaged in school improvement, such as assessment, at-risk students, family & community, instruction, leadership, literacy, mathematics & science, policy, professional development, and technology in education, as well as access to archived favorites.
• RAND Education Since the 1970s, this research organization has conducted empirical studies and analysis on education and the effectiveness of reforms, such as charter schools and class size reduction.
• School Redesign Network Resources on effective school design, small school research, and guidelines on how to go from big to small for practitioners, scholars, and policymakers.
• Small Schools Project An introduction to the small schools movement, and tools for teachers and administrators who are starting small schools.
• SchoolMatters -- A national education database providing in-depth information, analyses, and comparative data for public schools, districts, and state education systems. Includes student achievement information and financial and demographic data.
• Thomas B. Fordham Foundation -- Information on a variety of education reform topics.
• Tools for School Improvement Planning A searchable database of surveys, questionnaires, and other tools for school improvement planning. Other features include infomation for practitioners and community members on how to analyze the data they gather and a downloadable school improvement guide.
• U.S. Charter Schools This site provides an overview of charter schools, relevant reports and research, information about starting a charter school, profiles of charter schools, information on states with charter school laws, and access to discussion groups.

Kindergarten

• All-Day, Every Day Kindergarten -- An initiative of the Minneapolis Foundation; includes Minnesota legislative updates.
• Full-Day Kindergarten -- The Clearinghouse on Early Education and Parenting (CEEP) offers a variety of resources.
• Kindergarten -- The Education Commission of the States (ECS) provides information on state kindergarten funding policies, kindergarten statutes, and a Kindergarten Policy Database.
• Resources on Full and Half Day Kindergarten -- This National Conference of State Legislature's (NCSL) site links to research, articles, facts, and legislation dealing with kindergarten.

Online Learning

• Education Commission of the States: Technology -- Overviews of state educational technology activities, and information on specific technology issues such as finance, access, and teacher training.
• eSchool News -- This monthly publication covers education technology in all its aspects including legislation, litigation, case studies, and new products.
• Minnesota Department of Education: Online Learning -- Includes a listing of Approved online learning providers in Minnesota.
• National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) -- Working to develop standards that will guide educational leaders toward the effective use of technology in Pre-K and K-12 education.
• North American Council for Online Learning (NACOL) -- Includes a Clearinghouse of online learning laws and operating online learning programs in the United States.
• North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL): Technology in Education -- A variety of research including the report, Keeping Pace With K-12 Online Learning: A Snapshot of State-Level Policy and Practice.
• Office of Educational Technology, U.S. Department of Education -- Develops and implements national educational technology policy.
• State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) -- Seeking to improve student achievement through technology.

• Alternative Schools Research Project -- Designed to gather and synthesize information about the policies and practices of alternative schools across the nation, especially in relation to students with disabilities.
• National Association of State Directors of Special Education -- Information useful to state agencies, schools, parents, and advocates.
• Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services -- A division of the U.S. Department of Education, this office focuses on the education of children and youth with disabilities.

Standards and Testing

• 4Tests.com Limited but free online practice tests from Barron's Educational Series for ACT, SAT, GED and more. Also provided are study guides to help prepare for the tests. Along with the free tests and guides, there are also links to additional resources, usually books and CD-Roms for purchase, about each test.
• ACT Scores -- ACT Inc. provides statistics, including scores by state.
• Educational Testing Service (ETS) Nonprofit organization which, among other activities, administers tests such as the SAT and Advanced Placement. Also conducts research and assessment development.
• FairTest: The National Center for Fair & Open Testing A non-profit advocacy organization that works to show there are better ways to evaluate schools, teachers, and their students than standardized tests. This site offers alternatives to standardized test and focuses on racial, class, and gender concerns.
• Family Education: Standardized Tests From the Family Education Network, this site has information about standardized tests. It includes articles, ways to get ready, tips, and practice questions for elementary through high school.
• General Education Developlment (GED) Testing Service A searchable resource from ACE, the American Council on Education, which is the major coordinating body for all the nation's higher education institutions and also develops and distributes the GED. This service provides information for potential test takers, sample tests, test center locations and more.
• National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) -- Also known as the Nation's Report Card, the NAEP is a continuing national assessment of American students' performance in selected subject areas.
• National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) -- Focuses on designing educational assessments and accountability systems that monitor educational results for all students, including those with disabilities or limited English proficiency.
• National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing Browse policy briefs and recent research reports; download resources on evaluation and assessment for parents and teachers; look up unfamiliar terms in the glossary.
• Pathways to School Improvement Pathways synthesizes research, policy, and best practices on issues critical to educators engaged in school improvement, such as assessment, at-risk students, family & community, instruction, leadership, literacy, mathematics & science, policy, professional development, and technology in education, as well as access to archived favorites.
• SAT Scores -- The College Board provides statistics, including scores by state.

School Reports and Statistics

• CARET: Center for Applied Research in Education Technology A project focused on developing educational technology research and studies that can be applied to areas such as student learning, curriculum and instruction and assessment and evaluation. For example: how can technology influence student academic performance? CARET is a collaboration between the International Society for Technology in Education, Education Support Systems, the Sacramento County Office of Education with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

• Digest of Education Statistics A compilation of American education statistics. Information includes number of schools, number of teachers, enrollment rates, finance information and a host of other tables and charts.

• Educational Vital Signs Education Vital Signs is a compendium of key education statistics and trends for K-12 schools nationwide. It is published each year as a print and online supplement to the American School Board Journal. It includes state-by-state statistics, such as teacher salaries, per-pupil expenditures, and also reports and articles on many important school topics such as parent involvement, high school completion, student health and student performance on reading, math, and science assessments.

• NAEP - The Nation's Report Card The NAEP is a measure of student achievement that allows apples-to-apples comparison of the performance of students in different states. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education.

• Pathways to School Improvement Pathways synthesizes research, policy, and best practices on issues critical to educators engaged in school improvement, such as assessment, at-risk students, family & community, instruction, leadership, literacy, mathematics & science, policy, professional development, and technology in education, as well as access to archived favorites.

• SchoolMatters Search this database of education information and analysis from Standard & Poor's for performance, spending, and demographic data at the local, state, and national level. For policymakers, educators, and parents.