October 11, 2011

From IES Newsflash: NCES Report Analyzes Use of Private Loans in Postsecondary Education

A new report on postsecondary private loan borrows found that the percentage of undergraduates who took out private loans rose from 5 percent to 14 percent from 2003–04 to 2007–08.

The Expansion of Private Loans in Postsecondary Education, a Statistics in Brief, examines trends in borrowing from commercial lenders for postsecondary education, the characteristics of undergraduate and graduate private loan borrowers, and combining private and federal loans. Results are based on nationally representative data collected through the 2003–04 and 2007–08 National Postsecondary Student Aid Studies (NPSAS:04 and NPSAS:08).

Other findings include:

• Among full-time dependent undergraduates, higher percentages of students from lower middle-income (21 percent) and upper middle-income (20 percent) families than students from low-income (15 percent) or high-income (16 percent) families borrowed private loans in 2007–08.

• The largest proportion of borrowers who took out private loans either exclusively or in combination with public loans (42 percent) was found among those enrolled at for-profit institutions in 2007–08.

• Among dependent private loan borrowers, 53 percent had also borrowed the maximum federal Stafford loan amount.

This Statistics in Brief is a product of the National Center for Education Statistics at the Institute of Education Sciences, part of the U.S. Department of Education.

To view the full report please visit
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2012184

Posted by ronbo at 06:25 PM

March 09, 2011

From IES Newsflash - NCES Releases Statistics on Public High School Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teachers

This new set of Web Tables describe public school teachers of grades 9–12 whose primary teaching assignment was in career and technical education (CTE). This 2007–08 school year data looks at demographic and professional characteristics of these teachers, the location and types of schools in which they taught, the characteristics of their students, and their main teaching assignment.

These tables are a product of the National Center for Education Statistics at the Institute for Education Sciences, part of the U.S. Department of Education.

To view the tables, please visit
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2011235.

Posted by ronbo at 01:44 PM

From IES Newsflash - NCES releases “Projections of Education Statistics to 2019” with data on enrollment, teachers, graduates, and expenditures

Postsecondary enrollment rose by 34 percent between 1994 and 2008, and is projected to increase another 17 percent by 2019. The Projections of Education Statistics to 2019 provides national-level data on enrollment, teachers, high school graduates, and expenditures at the elementary and secondary school level and enrollment and earned degrees at the postsecondary level for the past 14 years and projections to the year 2019. This is the 38th edition of a publication first initiated in 1964.

Other findings include:

• Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools rose 10 percent between 1994 and 2007 and is projected to increase an additional 6 percent between 2007 and 2019.

• Reflecting actual and projected changes in the high school-age population, the number of high school graduates increased by 27 percent between 1994-95 and 2006-07, and a further increase of 1 percent is projected by 2019-20.

• After adjusting for inflation, current expenditure per pupil increased by 29 percent between 1994-95 and 2006-07, and a further increase of 14 percent is projected by 2019-20.

This compendium is a product of the National Center for Education Statistics at the Institute of Education Sciences, part of the U.S. Department of Education.

To view the full report please visit
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2011017

Posted by ronbo at 01:43 PM

From IES Newsflash - NCES Releases 2004/2009 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study Restricted-Use Data File

The newly released 2004/09 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/09) restricted-use data are now available for restricted-use license holders. BPS:04/09 followed a cohort of 2003-04 first-time beginning students in their first, third, and sixth year since entering college. These record-level data are based on student interviews and other administrative data sources and allow users to examine topics related to enrollment, persistence, and degree attainment over six academic years, from 2003-04 to 2008-09. Transcripts were also collected from all the institutions ever attended by BPS cohort members over a six year period. Transcript data will be available in the fall of 2011 as a separate restricted-use file.

Restricted-use data files are intended for experienced researchers who cannot meet their complex analytical needs with our existing public data tools, QuickStats and PowerStats. In order to obtain restricted-use data files, you must have a restricted-use data license. For more information about how to obtain, or amend, a restricted-use data license, go to: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/licenses.asp.

BPS:04/09 data are also available via PowerStats, an easy-to-use tool for generating complex tables and regressions. For more basic analyses, BPS:04/09 is available in QuickStats which allows users to generate simple tables from a subset of the variables available in PowerStats. For more information, go to http://nces.ed.gov/datalab.

For more information go to http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/bps/

This data file is a product of the National Center for Education Statistics at the Institute of Education Sciences, part of the U.S. Department of Education.

Posted by ronbo at 01:22 PM

January 27, 2011

From IES Newsflash - NCES releases data on transition from high school to college and work

This new set of Issue Tables describes the transition of high school career and technical education (CTE) participants into postsecondary education and the labor market during the first two years after high school graduation (from 2004 to 2006). For the transition to postsecondary education, the tables include information on postsecondary enrollment in general; enrollment in 4-year institutions; immediate, full-time enrollment; persistence; and the relationship between CTE coursetaking in high school and postsecondary field of study. For students who did not enroll in postsecondary education, the tables look at employment and unemployment rates, wages, full-time employment, and the relationship between CTE coursetaking in high school and occupation.

These tables are a product of the National Center for Education Statistics at the Institute for Education Sciences, part of the U.S. Department of Education.

To view the tables, please visit
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2011234

Posted by ronbo at 05:11 PM

From IES Newsflash - Early Childhood Data Training Offered by NCES

The National Center for Education Statistics will be conducting a one-day training seminar on its early childhood studies at the 2011 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development on March 30 in Montreal. This free seminar provides information on three NCES large-scale data collections:

• The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K),

• The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort of 2001 (ECLS-B), and

• The National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES).

The seminar will present overviews of the study designs and technical issues associated with using and analyzing the data, highlights about the data collected from 1991 through 2007 pertaining to children from birth through 8th grade, information on how the surveys complement each other, and computer demonstrations of software that assists users in preparing data for analyses.

The seminar is for graduate students, faculty, and researchers who have a solid understanding of statistics and limited familiarity with the ECLS and NHES data. Researchers who have previously attended an overview seminar on these studies, or who have attended an in-depth training on one of the studies and are not interested in the other NCES studies, may not benefit from this seminar.

This free seminar – at the SRCD meeting site in Montreal – will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30. For more information or to register, please send an e-mail to ecls@air.org.

For more information about the 2011 SRCD Biennial Meeting, please visit http://www.srcd.org. To learn more about the survey programs, visit http://nces.ed.gov/ecls and http://nces.ed.gov/nhes.

Posted by ronbo at 04:51 PM

January 11, 2011

From IES Newsflash - NCES Updates International Data Table Library

Fifteen new tables have been added to the International Data Table Library. New tables include data from the Program for International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) on education outcomes, school contexts, and students’ experiences and attitudes about education.

The International Data Table Library is a compendium of statistical tables that compare facets of education in the United States with those of other countries. The data have been collected by NCES and other organizations, including the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement.

The five subject areas addressed in the table library are:
1) participation in education
2) education outcomes
3) school contexts
4) students’ experiences and attitudes about education, and
5) education system characteristics.

To access the table library, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/international/table-library.asp

Posted by ronbo at 02:56 PM

January 10, 2011

From IES Newsflash - Summer Research Training Institute in Single-Case Design Research

The National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER) at the Institute of Education Sciences announces its 2011 Summer Research Training Institute on Single-Case Intervention Research Design and Analysis. The Training Institute is intended to increase the national capacity of education researchers to conduct single-case intervention studies that have scientifically credible methodology and analyses.

When:
June 27th to July 1st, 2011

Where:
University of Wisconsin-Madison; Madison, WI

All applications must be received no later than Friday, March 11, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. EST. For more information about the Training Institute, including the application procedures, please visit: http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=772

Posted by ronbo at 09:43 PM

January 05, 2011

From IES Newsflash - New NCES Commissioner wants statistical center to play key role in informing education changes

Sean P. “Jack” Buckley, the new Commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, said he hopes to bring a new relevance and timeliness to NCES work during this critical time of change in schools, districts and state education agencies across the country.

Buckley, confirmed last month by the U.S. Senate, was an associate professor of applied statistics at New York University. He also served as Deputy Commissioner of NCES from 2006 to 2008 under former NCES commissioner Mark Schneider. He is known for his research on school choice, particularly charter schools, and on statistical methods for public policy. His term runs through June 21, 2015.

“Jack’s sterling reputation, his technical expertise and his first-hand knowledge of NCES and its many programs make him uniquely qualified to be Commissioner,” said IES Director John Q. Easton. “We are all very pleased to welcome him.”

Buckley said he was extremely excited to lead a center that plays such an important role in informing all areas of US education policy. His key goals will focus on ensuring that NCES increases the relevance and timeliness of its data collections and reports to policy makers and the public, and that the center’s work is on the leading edge of statistical methodology in survey sampling, psychometrics, data collection, and the protection of confidentiality.

NCES collects and analyzes statistics on the condition of education, conducts long-term longitudinal studies and surveys, runs the State Longitudinal Data System program, supports international assessments, and carries out the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the Nation's Report Card.

“Issues in education ranging from the importance of early childhood learning to increasing our rate of college access to improving the United States’ global standing with respect to our economic competitors will be a huge part of the policy agenda in Washington in the next few years,” Buckley said. “NCES must and will play a central role in ensuring that all parties to these debates have the timely, accurate, and unbiased information they need.”

Buckley was an affiliated researcher with the National Center for the Study of the Privatization in Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and in 2007 he published a book with Schneider entitled Charter Schools: Hope or Hype? He served as an adjunct assistant professor at Georgetown University, an assistant professor at Boston College, and an instructor at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Buckley spent five years in the U.S. Navy as a surface warfare officer and nuclear reactor engineer, and he also worked as an analytic methodologist at the Central Intelligence Agency.
Buckley earned his bachelor’s degree in government from Harvard University, and holds a doctorate and master’s degree in political science, with a focus on statistical methodology and public policy, from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

Visit Jack Buckley's bio on NCES.
Visit the National Center for Education Statistics homepage.

Posted by ronbo at 06:57 PM

From IES Newsflash - NCES Releases New Urban Education in America Website

Data on urban education in the United States are now available on the Urban Education in America website, hosted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the Institute of Education Sciences.

The Urban Education in America website, which draws primarily on data collected by NCES and the Census Bureau, compiles and disseminates data on urban education in four general areas: 1) students, 2) teachers, 3) school environment, and 4) finances. Examples of specific topics within these areas are enrollment and participation rates by race/ethnicity, disability and English proficiency status, and poverty, student performance, school discipline and school crime data, and revenues and expenditures of districts.

To view the site, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/urbaned/

Posted by ronbo at 06:56 PM

From IES Newsflash - NCES Releases Update to Rural Education in America Website

New data on rural education in the United States are now available on the Rural Education in America website, hosted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the Institute of Education Sciences.

The Rural Education in America website, which draws primarily on data collected by NCES and the Census Bureau, compiles and disseminates data on rural education in four general areas: 1) students, 2) teachers, 3) school environment, and 4) finances. Examples of specific topics within these areas are enrollment and participation rates by race/ethnicity, disability and English proficiency status, and poverty, student performance, school discipline and school crime data, and revenues and expenditures of districts.

To view the site, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/ruraled/

Posted by ronbo at 06:55 PM

November 23, 2010

From IES Newsflash - NCES releases new indicator report on school crime

The total at-school crime and theft victimization rates of students ages 12 to 18 declined between 2007 and 2008, according to Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 2010, a new report jointly released by the National Center for Education Statistics and the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

The report examines crime occurring in school as well as on the way to and from school and presents data on crime and safety at school from the perspectives of students, teachers, and principals, drawing from an array of sources.

The Indicators of School Crime and Safety provides the most current detailed statistical information on the nature of crime in schools and school environments and responses to violence and crime at school. It also presents data on crime away from school to place school crime in the context of crime in the larger society. The report covers topics such as victimization, bullying, school conditions, fights, weapons, availability and student use of drugs and alcohol, and student perceptions of personal safety at school.

Key findings from this year’s report include:

• The total crime victimization rate of students ages 12 to 18 at school declined from 57 victimizations per 1,000 students in 2007 to 47 victimizations per 1,000 students in 2008.

• Between July 1, 2008, and June 30, 2009, there were 38 school-associated violent deaths (24 were homicides, and 14 were suicides) involving staff, students or other persons, such as parents. School-associated violent deaths occurred while the victim was on the way to or from regular sessions at school, or while attending or traveling to or from a school-sponsored event. During this time period, 15 of the homicides and 7 of the suicides were among school age youth at school.

• In 2009, 31 percent of students in grades 9–12 reported they had been in a physical fight at least one time during the previous 12 months anywhere, and 11 percent said they had been in a fight on school property during the previous 12 months. Generally, a higher percentage of 9th grade students reported having been in fights both anywhere and on school property, when compared to high school students in higher grades.

• In 2007–08, 34 percent of teachers agreed or strongly agreed that student misbehavior interfered with their teaching, and 32 percent reported that student tardiness and class cutting interfered with their teaching.

• In 2009, 21 percent of high school students (grades 9–12) reported using marijuana anywhere in the past 30 days, while 5 percent reported using marijuana on school property.

This report is a product of the National Center for Education Statistics at the Institute of Education Sciences, part of the U.S. Department of Education and the Bureau of Justice Statistics at the Office of Justice Programs, part of the U.S. Department of Justice. The full text of Indicators of School Crime and Safety 2010 (in HTML format), along with related data tables and indicators from previous years, can be viewed at http://nces.ed.gov/programs/crimeindicators/crimeindicators2010/

Posted by ronbo at 03:53 PM

November 16, 2010

From IES Newsflash - Register Now for the NAEP Database Training Seminar

NCES is sponsoring an advanced studies seminar on the use of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) database for education research and policy analysis, January 10-13, 2011. The main NAEP database contains nationally representative achievement scores of 4th, 8th, and 12th graders from public and non-public schools in a variety of academic subjects. The database also contains background information on the students who were assessed and their learning environment.

This seminar is aimed at faculty and advanced graduate students from colleges and universities. Education researchers and policy analysts with strong statistical skills from state and local education agencies and professional associations are welcome. Participants attending this seminar should have a solid understanding of basic statistics, including procedures required for analyzing survey data, and should have some familiarity with measurement theory.

The deadline for applications is November 30. Space is limited, so please act fast. See more information at http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=730&cid=2

If you are new to NAEP research, you may want to explore NAEP technical documentation and the restricted-use data currently available to licensed researchers.

NAEP is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences, part of the U.S. Department of Education.

Posted by ronbo at 01:03 PM

November 04, 2010

From IES Newsflash - NCES releases Characteristics of the 100 Largest Public School Districts

Three states -- California, Florida, and Texas -- accounted for almost half of the 100 largest public school districts, according to a new report from the National Center for Education Statistics. Characteristics of the 100 Largest Public Elementary and Secondary School Districts in the United States: 2008–09 is an annual report that provides basic information from the Common Core of Data about the nation's largest public school districts in the 2008-09 school year. The data include such characteristics as the number of students and teachers, number of high school completers, the averaged freshman graduation rate, and revenues and expenditures.

Other findings include:

• These 100 largest districts enrolled 22 percent of all public school students and employed 22 percent of all public school teachers in 2008-09.
• The districts produced 20 percent of 2007-08 school year public high school completers (both diploma and other completion credential recipients).
• Current per-pupil expenditures in fiscal year 2008 ranged from a low of $6,363 in the Granite District, Utah to a high of $23,298 in Boston, Massachusetts.

The CCD and this report are products of the National Center for Education Statistics at the Institute of Education Sciences.

To view the full report please visit
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2011301

Posted by ronbo at 01:32 PM

November 03, 2010

From IES Newsflash - NCES Releases New Data on Postsecondary Employees and Salaries

The percentage of instructional staff employed full-time has decreased since 2003 for all sectors of postsecondary degree-granting institutions, according to a new data released by the National Center for Education Statistics. Employees in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2009, and Salaries of Full-Time Instructional Staff, 2009-10 presents data from the Winter 2009-10 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, including data on the number of staff employed in Title IV postsecondary institutions in fall 2009 by occupation, length of contract/teaching period, employment status, salary class, faculty and tenure status, academic rank, race/ethnicity, and gender. Other findings include:

• Postsecondary institutions in the U.S. reported employing about 3.8 million individuals in fall 2009. Of the 3.8 million individuals, about 2.4 million were working full time and about 1.4 million were employed part time.

• From fall 2003 to fall 2009, the number of instructional staff reported to be employed at degree-granting institutions (excluding administrative offices and medical schools) increased for all sectors except 2-year private not-for-profit institutions. However, during this same period, the proportion of these instructional staff that was full-time decreased in all sectors, ranging from 2% for public 2-year institutions to 10% for private not-for-profit 2-year institutions.

• Degree-granting institutions and administrative offices with 15 or more full-time staff reported that 65 percent of full-time faculty with tenure were men and 35 percent were women.

• Between 2003-04 and 2009-10, the number of male professors at public institutions decreased by 4 percent while the number of female professors increased by 24 percent; at private not-for-profit institutions, the number of men increased by 1 percent and the number of women increased by 26 percent; and at private for-profit institutions, the number of men increased by 50 percent while the number of women increased by 73 percent.

To view the full report please visit
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2011150

This report is a product of the National Center for Education Statistics in the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 04:46 PM

November 01, 2010

From IES Newsflash - New District Profiles Tool Enhances Access to NAEP Results for Urban Schools

A new addition to the suite of National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data tools greatly expands the accessibility of data on urban students in grades 4 and 8, a population of great interest to education policy makers.

The District Profiles Tool offers information about the urban districts that participated in the NAEP Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA) program. Compare the performance of 4th and 8th grade public school students in TUDA districts to students in the nation, in large cities, and their respective states, and see how certain districts performed over time. Create downloadable maps and charts, and read snapshots with demographic information for each district.
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/districts/

NAEP is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics in the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 07:51 PM

October 28, 2010

From IES Newsflash - New IES Report Examines Access to Education and Community Activities for Young Children with Disabilities

A new Institute of Education Sciences report finds that most kindergarteners with disabilities are educated in a regular education classroom. Based on data from the Pre-Elementary Education Longitudinal Study (PEELS), the report covers access to community activities and kindergarten classroom experiences for young children with disabilities and examines how access and participation in these activities may vary by child, family, and school district characteristics. Selected findings from the report, Access to Educational and Community Activities for Young Children with Disabilities, include:

• For those PEELS children still receiving special education services in kindergarten, 73 percent of teachers indicated that the regular education classroom was considered the main education setting during kindergarten; 27 percent indicated the special education setting was the main setting.

• In terms of kindergarten curriculum, 44 percent of teachers reported that the child received regular grade-level materials without any modifications; 29 percent reported that the child received regular curriculum materials with some modifications; 12 percent received substantial modifications; and 14 percent received specialized curriculum or materials.

• More than 90 percent of parents reported that their child went to restaurants (95%), grocery stores (95%), and shopping malls (94%) in the past month, and more than half of parents reported that their child went to places of worship (72%), parks (72%), movies (58%), or libraries (52%).

For more information, see the report at:
http://ies.ed.gov/ncser/pubs/20113000/

Posted by ronbo at 06:45 PM

October 25, 2010

From IES Newsflash - NCES Releases Update to State Education Reforms Website

New state-level data on statewide policies on assessments, adequate yearly progress, high school graduation, and certification requirements for teachers are now available on the State Education Reforms website, hosted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the Institute of Education Sciences.

The State Education Reforms website, which draws primarily on data collected by organizations other than NCES, compiles and disseminates data on state-level education reform efforts in five general areas: 1) accountability, 2) assessment and standards, 3) staff qualifications and development, 4) state support for school choice and other options, and 5) student readiness and progress through school. Examples of specific reform topics within these areas are school report cards, student and teacher assessments, high school graduation policies, and professional development.

The “Accountability” and “Staff Qualifications and Development” sections of the website each had one table updated. Five tables were updated and one table was added in the “Assessment and Standards” section. In the “Student Readiness and Progress through School” section of the website, two tables were updated. To locate these tables on the SER website, please look for the "Updated!" and “New!”tags next to the table titles.

To view the site, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/statereform/

Posted by ronbo at 02:41 PM

October 19, 2010

From IES Newsflash - NCER releases report and data from the Social and Character Development Research Program

A new report released by the National Center for Education Research (NCER) found that seven Social and Character Development programs had no impact on students’ social and emotional competence, behaviors, academic performance, or perception of their school. The report, Efficacy of Schoolwide Programs to Promote Social and Character Development and Reduce Problem Behavior in Elementary School Children, examined 6,660 3rd grade students, caregivers, teachers, and principals in 84 schools and was a joint project between the Institute of Education Sciences, the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

In the study, schools were randomly assigned to implement one of the seven SACD programs for three years (the treatment group) or continue with their traditional SACD activities (the control group). Students were evaluated on their social and emotional development, behavior, academic performance, and perception of their school climate. The key findings include:

• All seven SACD programs increased the reported implementation of classroom activities intended to increase students’ social and character development.

• All control schools also reported using a variety of activities intended to increase students’ social and character development as “standard practice” but not at the same levels as the treatment schools.

• There were no differences in students' social and emotional competence, behaviors, academic performance, or perceptions of school climate between students in schools implementing one of the seven SACD programs and those in the control schools.

The report is available at http://ies.ed.gov/ncer/pubs/20112001/

This longitudinal data set includes child, primary caregiver, teacher and principal reports on 20 student and school outcomes related to social and emotional competence, behavior, academics, and perceptions of school climate. Also available are annual teacher and principal reports on the level of SACD activities taking place in the classroom and school.

Researchers can obtain the data files, documentation, and an electronic codebook from the multi-program evaluation after obtaining a restricted-use data license from IES (for information on such a license please see http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/licenses.asp ). Please use the following label when requesting the data set: Multisite Data, Social and Character Development Research Program, Complete Restricted Use Data Files and Documentation, February 2009.

Posted by ronbo at 05:23 PM

September 28, 2010

From IES Newsflash - ES Releases Report on Post-High-School Outcomes of Youth with Disabilities

A new report shows that youth with disabilities were more likely to be attending college in 2005 compared to 1990. The report, Comparisons Across Time of the Outcomes of Youth With Disabilities up to 4 Years After High School, was released by The National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER) within the Institute of Education Sciences. The study uses data from two National Longitudinal Transition Study datasets to provide comparison data on a wide range of post-high school outcomes across time (between 1990 and 2005) of youth with disabilities who had been out of high school up to 4 years.

The outcomes cover several key areas, including: postsecondary education enrollment and educational experiences; employment status and characteristics of youth’s current or most recent job; productive engagement in school, work, or preparation for work; household circumstances, including residential independence, parenting and financial independence; and social and community involvement.

The selected findings include:

• Postsecondary enrollment rates were 19 percent higher in 2005 (46%) than in 1990 (26%) for youth with disabilities.

• Youth with disabilities were more likely to have a savings account in 2005 (56%) than in 1990 (44%).

• Reported rates of youth with disabilities participating in volunteer or community service activities were higher in 2005 (25%) than in 1990 (13%).

• Youth with disabilities as a whole did not vary significantly between 1990 (62%) and 2005 (56%) in their reported employment status

• However, in 1990, youth with disabilities were more likely to report receiving paid vacation or sick leave, compared to 2005 (60 percent vs. 38 percent).

For more information, see the report at:
http://ies.ed.gov/ncser/pubs/20103008/

Posted by ronbo at 08:40 PM

From IES Newsflash - New NAEP Video Introduces "Nation's Report Card" to Students

Are you looking for a simple, clear way to describe the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) to your student or child? Trying to figure out why NAEP is a valuable addition to the other standardized tests your student takes during school hours? This new five-minute video features high school students talking about NAEP and why participation in this national assessment is valuable. Watch the video to learn more about what NAEP is, what subjects are covered, how long the assessment takes, and how results are used.

You can find the video on the NAEP Student Page, which also has more information and resources designed for students, such as answers to selected students’ frequently asked questions about NAEP, games, study tools, and more.

NAEP is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics in the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 08:38 PM

September 16, 2010

From IES Newsflash - NCES Presents Latest Teacher Compensation Data

This report provides an overview of the Teacher Compensation Survey (TCS) data collection in 17 states for school year 2006-07. It also includes a comparison of state administrative records with other sources of data, data availability and quality. This report discusses the uses of the data and the limitations and advantages of the TCS.

To view the full report please visit
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2010329

Posted by ronbo at 08:16 PM

October 13, 2009

From IES Newsflash: NCES Releases Report on the Numbers and Types of Public Elementary and Secondary Schools

The average student/teacher ratio in U.S. public schools was 15.8 in 2007-08 -- a ratio that ranged from 9.0 in Maine to 23.5 in Utah. This National Center for Education Statistics First Look report presents findings on the numbers and types of public elementary and secondary schools in the United States and the territories in the 2007-08 school year, using data from the Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey of the Common Core of Data (CCD) survey system. Other findings include:

* About 48.9 million students attended 98,916 operating public elementary/secondary schools in the 2007–08 school year.

* Almost 1.3 million students, approximately 3% of public school students, were enrolled in 4,388 charter schools in 2007-08.

* The largest percentage of students attended suburban schools (35 percent), followed by schools in cities (29 percent), rural areas (23 percent), and towns (13 percent).

To view the full report please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2010305

Posted by ronbo at 02:58 PM

September 29, 2009

From IES Newsflash: 2009 Nation's Report Card in Mathematics Coming Soon!

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) will release the 2009 Nation's Report Card in mathematics on October 14, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. EDT. The Nation's Report Card will present scores for fourth- and eighth-graders from all fifty states, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools, and the nation.
A webcast of the release event will be broadcast live at 10:00 at
http://nationsreportcard.gov

Then at 3:00, join Associate Commissioner Peggy Carr for Ask NAEP, an hour-long, online Q&A session about the results. Submit your questions online either during the chat or in advance at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard

For more information about the report, and to view recent results from the 2007 assessment, visit
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/mathematics/

NAEP is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 07:36 PM

From IES Newsflash: NCES Releases Report on Teacher Reading Strategies from an International Perspective

Presenting data from the United States and the 44 other jurisdictions that participated in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2006, this Statistics in Brief describes international patterns in the strategies reported by teachers to help fourth-graders falling behind in reading. The National Center for Education Statistics has released Teacher Strategies to Help Fourth-Graders Having Difficulty in Reading: An International Perspective. Findings include:

- The most common teacher response to a question about what they usually do if a student begins to fall behind in reading was to ask parents to help (among the highest responses in 44 of the 45 jurisdictions).

- The study found that the second most common teacher response for what they usually do if a student begins to fall behind in reading was spend more time working with the student individually (among the highest responses in 20 of the jurisdictions).

- The least common response was to have the student work with a reading specialist in a regular classroom (among the lowest responses in 40 jurisdictions).

PIRLS assesses the reading achievement of fourth-graders and collects data on teachers' reading instruction practices and strategies. These strategies include: (a) waiting to see if performance improves with maturation, (b) spending more time working on reading individually with that student, (c) having other students work on reading with the student having difficulty, (d) having the student work in the regular classroom with a teacher-aide, (e) having the student work in the regular classroom with a reading specialist, (f) having the student work in a remedial reading classroom with a reading specialist, (g) assigning homework to help the student catch up, (h) and asking the parents to help the student with reading.

To view the full report please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009013

Posted by ronbo at 07:34 PM

September 25, 2009

From IES Newsflash: NAEP State Comparisons Tool: Now With Maps

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) State Comparisons online data tool helps you compare a variety of data: NAEP scores, achievement gaps, school lunch (NSLP) eligibility, and percentiles for your state, the nation, and other states. Now, interactive U.S. maps have been added to represent complex data in a clear, graphical form.

These new maps let you see how your selected state compares with other states or the nation in NAEP performance at grades 4 and 8 in public schools. To use the tool, simply follow the steps laid out on each page, and use the Help button if needed. Once you are finished with your comparison, you can save the map to share it with others, or bookmark it and come back to it later.

Explore this new interactive feature at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/statecomparisons/

NAEP is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 08:07 PM

From IES Newsflash: NCES Releases High School Dropout and Completion Rates in the United States: 2007

Some 73 percent of high school freshman nationwide graduated on time with their peers, but this four-year graduation rate in 2006 varied widely across states--from a low of 55.9 percent to a high of 87.5 percent, according to "High School Dropout and Completion Rates in the United States: 2007." The report, released by the National Center for Education Statistics at the Institute of Education Sciences, builds upon a series of NCES reports on high school dropout and completion rates that began in 1988. It includes national and regional population estimates for the percentage of students who dropped out of high school between 2006 and 2007, the percentage of young people who were dropouts in 2007, and the percentage of young people who were not in high school and had some form of high school credential in 2007.

Annual data from 1972-2007 reveals trends by race, gender, income and other characteristics. It also includes state from national level estimates for public school students for the end of the 2005-06 school year showing estimates of how many beginning freshmen in the 2002-03 school year had graduated with their class in 2006, and how many students had dropped out between 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Other key findings include:

* Among reporting states, fourteen states had freshman graduation rates of 80 percent or higher, and 10 states had rates below 70 percent. Twenty-three states had higher AFGRs in 2005-06 compare with 2004-05, and 23 had lower rates.

* Students living in low-income families were approximately ten times more likely to drop out of high school between 2006 and 2007 than were students living in high-income families.

* One-year dropout rates have declined since 1972 among all racial/ethnic groups, although the decreases happened at different times over this 35-year period for these groups.

* About 3.3 million 16- through 24-year-olds were not enrolled in high school and had not earned a high school diploma or alternative credential, as of October 2007.

* The percentage of young White and Hispanic females who completed high school by earning a diploma or GED was higher than their male counterparts. Specifically, 94.6 percent of White females and 77.6 percent of Hispanic females had completed high school in 2007, compared with 92.4 percent of White males and 68.1 percent of Hispanic males. Overall, 89 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds nationwide have completed high school.

To view the full report please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009064

Posted by ronbo at 08:06 PM

September 18, 2009

From IES Newsflash: Using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) Database for Research and Policy Discussion

Wednesday, November 11 - Friday, November 13, 2009, Washington, DC

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences will sponsor an advanced studies seminar November 11-13, 2009 in Washington, D.C. on the use of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) database. The ECLS-B is designed to support research on a wide range of topics pertaining to young children's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development and their health status across multiple contexts (e.g., home, child care, and kindergarten).

This seminar is open to advanced graduate students and faculty members from colleges and universities nationwide and to researchers, education practitioners, and policy analysts from federal, state, and local education and human services agencies and professional associations.

There is no fee to attend this seminar. Training materials as well as computers for the hands-on practice will be provided. Transportation, hotel accommodations, and a fixed per diem for meals and incidental expenses during the training seminar will also be provided.

Deadline for applications: October 7, 2009

For more details on this seminar and to register, please visit: http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=549&cid=2

Explore the ECLS website at http://nces.ed.gov/ecls/

Posted by ronbo at 02:38 PM

September 15, 2009

From IES Newsflash: NCES Releases Projections of Education Statistics to 2018

Postsecondary enrollment rose by 28 percent between 1993 and 2007, and is projected to increase a further 13 percent with an estimated 21 million students enrolled in colleges, universities and training programs by 2018, according to Projections of Education Statistics to 2018, released today by the National Center for Education Statistics. The Projections report -- the 37th in a series first published in 1964 -- provides national-level data on enrollment, teachers, high school graduates, and expenditures at the elementary and secondary school level. The report also provides data on enrollments in elementary and secondary schools and high school graduates for the 50 States and the District of Columbia. At the postsecondary level, it includes data on enrollment and earned degrees for the past 14 years and projections to the year 2018.

Other findings include:
- Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools rose 13 percent between 1993 and 2006 and is projected to increase an additional 9 percent between 2006 and 2018
- Between 2006 and 2018 private school enrollment is expected to decrease by 2 percent.
- The number of high school graduates increased by 27 percent between 1993-94 and 2005-06, and a further increase of 9 percent is projected by 2018-19.
- There are more African American and Hispanic students in college than ever before, and their numbers represent a larger share of overall college enrollment. The number of African American college students increased from 1.7 million in 2000 to a projected 2.4 million in 2018. The number of Hispanic college students also will increase, to a projected 2.1 million in 2018 from 1.5 million in 2000.

To view the full report please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009062

Posted by ronbo at 06:14 PM

September 08, 2009

From IES Newsflash: NCES Releases Public School District Revenues and Expenditures Report

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Revenues and Expenditures by Public School Districts: School Year 2006-07 (Fiscal Year 2007)."

This brief publication contains data on revenues and expenditures per pupil made by school districts for school year 2006-07. Median per pupil revenue and expenditure data are reported by state, as well as values at the 5th and 95th percentiles. Data for charter schools are reported separately. There are also discussions on the different types of school districts, and other resources that may be helpful in analyzing school district level data. Revenues and expenditures for the 100 largest school districts are included, as well as federal revenues by program. For total revenues and expenditures for public education made by states and the nation, readers should refer to the state-level "Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education: School Year 2006-07" (NCES 2008-337)

To view the full report please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009338

Posted by ronbo at 03:08 PM

September 02, 2009

From IES Newsflash: 2009 NCES Cooperative System Fellows Program

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) would like to announce the NCES Cooperative System Fellows Program for Fall 2009. It is scheduled for October 26-30, 2009.

The NCES Cooperative System Fellows Program is a week-long training and technical assistance program delivered onsite at NCES for approximately 30 local/state/higher education/library participants each year. During the week, NCES Fellows attend a series of activities and presentations by NCES staff on some of the Center's major data collections, such as the Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), the National Educational Longitudinal Study (NELS), and the Common Core of Data (CCD). Other staff report on dissemination practices, projects to automate local and state education data systems, and efforts to integrate existing data collections. Time is also set aside for Fellows to explore their own professional interests and objectives.

Participation in the NCES Cooperative System Fellows Program is open to state and local school district staff in elementary/secondary education, state personnel for postsecondary education, and staff from all types in libraries. There is no registration fee. NCES provides air travel and housing for Fellows, and reimburses meals and other expenses at the Federal per diem rate.

Information about the Fellows Program is e-mailed to state, higher education, and library agencies and institutions. Individuals may apply at http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=184.

Applications are due on September 21, 2009 and letters of acceptance will be sent out during the week of September 28th, 2009. Please contact Renee' Rowland at renee.rowland@ed.gov if you have any questions.

Posted by ronbo at 02:42 PM

August 18, 2009

From IES Newsflash: U.S. Performance Across International Assessments of Student Achievement: Special Supplement to The Condition of Education 2009

On the most recent international tests, students in a number of countries consistently outperformed their U.S. peers across the board in reading, math, and science, according to U.S. Performance Across International Assessments of Student Achievement: Special Supplement to The Condition of Education 2009, a report released today by the Institute of Education Sciences' National Center for Education Statistics.

This report, for the first time, pulls together the evidence from the most recent international assessments taken by nearly a million students from 85 countries worldwide. This includes three internationally benchmarked exams -- the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). While the mathematics scores of U.S. students have improved since 1995, there have been no gains in science or reading.

Results from these international tests already have been released separately. However, this special analysis brings the results altogether to reveal how the United States compares with other countries across all three core subjects and at the elementary, middle and high school level in terms of students' average scores and the percentage of students reaching internationally benchmarked performance levels. It also examines trends in U.S. student performance and the range of performance for the highest- and lowest-scoring students in each country. Although the tests differ somewhat by content, grades tested and countries participating, several trends emerge.

Findings include:

* In reading, the average scores of U.S. students are the same or higher than their peers in roughly three-quarters of the other countries that have participated in PIRLS and PISA assessments. Moreover, the number of countries that outperformed the United States on PIRLS increased from three in 2001 to seven in 2006 among the 28 countries that participated in both tests.

* In mathematics, results from the 2007 TIMSS assessment show that U.S. students have improved at both grades 4 and 8 since the first administration of TIMSS in 1995.

* The most recent PISA results suggests that U.S. 15-year-olds are not as successful in applying mathematics knowledge and skills to real-world tasks as their peers in many other developed nations. The mathematics average score placed U.S. 15-year-olds in the bottom quarter of participating developed nations, a position unchanged from 2003.

* In science, results from TIMSS 2007 assessment show that U.S. 4th graders have fallen behind their peers in several countries, even though their average scores in science have not declined since the first administration of TIMSS in 1995. Among the other 15 countries that participated in the 1995 and 2007 TIMSS at grade 4, the average science score increased in seven countries and decreased in five countries; at grade 8, the average science score increased in five countries and decreased in three countries among the other 18 countries that participated in both 1995 and 2007.

The full text of "U.S. Performance Across International Assessments of Student Achievement: Special Supplement to The Condition of Education 2009" (in HTML format) can be viewed at
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/2009/analysis/

Posted by ronbo at 04:10 PM

August 11, 2009

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Technical Report and Data File User's Manual for 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy"

The report details information on the development and implementation of the 2003 NAAL. Key sections of the report include information on the development of survey instruments, field test and main assessment sample design, assessment items and scoring rubrics, data collection process and quality of the data, weighting, scaling, treatment of missing data, and data analysis.

Other sections of the report include technical information on the:

1. development of NAAL innovative additions--Fluency Addition to NAAL (FAN) and Adult Literacy Supplement Assessment (ALSA);
2. types and dimensions of the health literacy cognitive items;
3. data collection and data analysis in the US correctional institutions;
4. a user’s manual on how to use statistical programs for analyzing NAAL data.

To view the full report please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009476

Or visit the NAAL web site at: http://nces.ed.gov/naal

Posted by ronbo at 09:24 PM

July 29, 2009

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Students Who Study Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in Postsecondary Education"

Using data from the 1995-96 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:96/01), this Statistics in Brief focuses on undergraduates who enter STEM programs and examines their characteristics and postsecondary outcomes (persistence and degree completion) several years after beginning postsecondary education.

Findings include:

* Twenty-three percent of 1995-96 beginning postsecondary students had majored in a STEM field at some point between their initial enrollment in 1995–96 and about 6 years later, as of 2001.

* STEM entrants generally did better than non-STEM entrants in terms of bachelor's degree attainment and overall persistence.

* Among all STEM entrants between 1995–96 and 2001, some 53 percent persisted in a STEM field by either completing a degree in a STEM field or staying enrolled in a STEM field, and the remaining 47 percent left STEM fields by either switching to a non-STEM field or leaving postsecondary education without earning any credential.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009161

Posted by ronbo at 01:58 PM

July 23, 2009

New IES Handbook from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Financial Accounting for Local and State School Systems: 2009 Edition"

This NCES handbook has been designed as the national standard for state and local education agencies to use in tracking and reporting financial data and for school districts to use in preparing their comprehensive annual financial reports (CAFRs). The purpose of the handbook is to ensure that education fiscal data can be reported in a comprehensive manner.

The 2009 Edition contains guidance conforming to Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statements, up to Statement 47. There are chapters on budgeting, governmental accounting and financial reporting. Account codes have been updated to reflect changes in the new reporting requirements and developments in technology and security. There are also special chapters on accounting student activity funds and a model for school level program cost accounting.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009325

Posted by ronbo at 03:17 PM

July 21, 2009

From IES Newsflash: ECLS-K Releases Kindergarten Through Eighth-grade Public-use Data

The National Center for Education Statistics, within the Institute of Education Sciences, has released the kindergarten through eighth-grade public-use data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99. This includes data from all seven rounds of the ECLS-K for all study children, as well as the teacher- and school-level files from the base year. The data provide a rich source of information about children's academic, socio-emotional, and physical development from the time they first enter kindergarten to eighth grade. These data are available to download directly from the website:
http://nces.ed.gov/ecls/dataproducts.asp

An ECLS-K K-8 public-use DVD will also be available soon. This DVD contains the same public-use data and data documentation, as well as an electronic code book (ECB) that facilitates navigation through the large number of variables available in the K-8 data. An additional message will be sent when the DVD with the ECB is available.

Posted by ronbo at 05:57 PM

From IES Newsflash: New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "A Profile of Successful Pell Grant Recipients: Time to Bachelor's Degree and Early Graduate School Enrollment"

This report describes characteristics of college graduates who received Pell Grants and compares them to graduates who were not Pell Grant recipients. For both groups of graduates, data from the Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study (B&B:200/01) were analyzed to determine the time it took them to complete a bachelor's degree as well as the percentage who enrolled in graduate school within one year of college graduation. Key findings include the following:

* About 36 percent of 1999-2000 bachelor's degree recipients received at least one Pell Grant while in college.

* Higher percentages of Pell Grant recipients had at least one of several undergraduate risk characteristics (e.g., delaying postsecondary enrollment or failing to graduate from high school) than did nonrecipients.

* Parents' education was the only factor consistently related to both time-to-degree and graduate school enrollment for Pell Grant recipients. Those whose parents did not attend college took longer to attain a bachelor's degree and enrolled in graduate school at lower rates than recipients whose parents had a least a bachelor's degree.

* Although Pell Grant recipients had a longer median time-to-degree than nonrecipients, when controlling simultaneously for parents' education, undergraduate risk characteristics, and transfer history, recipients had a shorter time-to-degree than nonrecipients.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009156

Posted by ronbo at 05:55 PM

July 14, 2009

From IES Newsflash: Findings from Achievement Gaps: How Black and White Students perform on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the Institute of Education Sciences has released a new report analyzing Black-White achievement gaps at both the national and state levels, using NAEP scores as a common yardstick. The study examines data from all main NAEP mathematics and reading assessments through 2007, supplemented by data from long-term trend NAEP results through 2004. Readers will find context for understanding these gaps, as the report examines both the changes in the performance of Black and White students and the changes in the Black-White achievement gap over time.

Mathematics and reading scores on NAEP have increased since the first time the assessment was administered. These score increases have been observed among both Black and White students. However, statistically significant score differences between the two groups have also been observed.

View the full report and download the PDF at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/studies/gaps

There will be a live webcast of the official release today at 9:30 a.m. and an archived version available after 12:00 p.m. at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard

NAEP is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 01:52 PM

July 10, 2009

From IES Newsflash: America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2009 Released Online

The Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics has released "America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2009." This report continues a series of annual reports to the Nation on conditions affecting children in the United States. The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences, in cooperation with 21 other federal agencies, contributes indicators to the report and supports its production.

According to the report's section on education, performance of 4th and 8th graders in mathematics is at an all time high and performance in reading improved between 2005 and 2007. Not all the report's findings were positive, however; the percentage of children ages 3-5 who were read to every day in the last week by a family member declined, from 60 percent in 2005, to 55 percent in 2007. The report noted that this percentage is slightly higher than the proportion of 53 percent in 1993, but the rate has fluctuated in intervening years.

The report has three demographic background measures and 40 selected indicators to describe the population of children and depict child well-being in the areas of family and social environment, economic circumstances, health care, physical environment and safety, behavior, education, and health. This year's report has a special feature on children with special health care needs.

You can view, download, and print the report at http://childstats.gov/

Posted by ronbo at 05:36 PM

From IES Newsflash: CIP 2010 Website is released

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the Institute of Education Sciences is pleased to announce the launch of the 2010 Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Website. The CIP is a taxonomic scheme of instructional programs used by postsecondary institutions when reporting on degrees and awards completed by field of study. The 2010 CIP is the fifth edition of the CIP since it was created in 1980. The 2010 CIP includes more than 300 new instructional programs across more than 50 disciplines. Examples include: Viticulture and Enology (01.0309), Folklore Studies (05.0209), Informatics (11.0104), and Applied Psychology (42.2813). Unlike previous editions, CIP 2010 is only available electronically. However users can download current and past versions of the CIP from Resources Page on the CIP Website. From the website users can also:

* Browse the 2010 CIP
* Search for CIP codes using keywords
* Crosswalk the 2000 and 2010 CIP
* View a list of new CIP codes
* View a list of deleted CIP codes
* View a list of moved CIP codes
* Contact NCES for assistance
* Access a detailed help manual

In addition to the CIP Website, NCES also created two users tools, the CIP Wizard and CIP Selector, which can be accessed from the CIP Homepage. The CIP Wizard is a tool designed to aid individuals who report data to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). It allows the user to look up 2000 CIP codes that have been previously used to report degrees and award data for an institution and maps these codes to the 2010 CIP. The CIP Selector is designed to help users – data reporters and others -- in identifying possible 2010 CIP codes that best describes instructional programs. It guides users through a series of questions and returns a list of suggested 2010 CIP codes based on their responses.

CIP Homepage: http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/

CIP Resources: http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=55

For questions or assistance regarding the 2010 CIP please contact either the IPEDS Help Desk at 1-877-225-2568 or email CIP@ed.gov.

Posted by ronbo at 05:35 PM

From IES Newsflash: Achievement Gaps: How Black and White Students Perform on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

On Tuesday, July 14, the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) will release the report "Achievement Gaps: How Black and White Students in Public Schools Perform in Mathematics and Reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress." This report analyzes Black-White achievement gaps at the national and state levels and the changes in these gaps over time, using NAEP scores.

At 9:30 a.m. via a live webcast, there will be a round table discussion with expert panelists to discuss factors influencing the achievement gaps, the state perspectives on closing the gaps, and prospects for the future. To view the report and watch this webcast live on July 14, visit
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard

NAEP is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 05:33 PM

June 30, 2009

From IES Newsflash: Five New IES Reports from the National Center for Education Statistics

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released five Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) reports. SASS is a nationally representative sample survey of public, private, and Bureau of Indian Education-funded (BIE) K-12 schools, principals, and teachers in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. School districts associated with public schools and library media centers in public and BIE schools are also part of SASS.

To view, download and print the reports as PDF files, please visit the addresses below:

* Characteristics of Public School Districts in the United States: Results From the 2007-08 Schools and Staffing Survey
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009320

* Characteristics of Public, Private, and Bureau of Indian Education Elementary and Secondary Schools in the United States: Results From the 2007-08 Schools and Staffing Survey
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009321

* Characteristics of Public and Bureau of Indian Education Elementary and Secondary School Library Media Centers in the United States: Results From the 2007-08 Schools and Staffing Survey
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009322

* Characteristics of Public, Private, and Bureau of Indian Education Elementary and Secondary School Principals in the United States: Results From the 2007-08 Schools and Staffing Survey
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009323

* Characteristics of Public, Private, and Bureau of Indian Education Elementary and Secondary School Teachers in the United States: Results From the 2007-08 Schools and Staffing Survey
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009324

Posted by ronbo at 06:07 PM

June 24, 2009

From IES Newsflash: STATS-DC 2009 Data Conference

The STATS-DC 2009 Data Conference agenda with session descriptions has been posted to the NCES website. To view the agenda and other information about the conference, please visit: http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=421

Just a reminder -- the deadline to pre-register for the STATS-DC 2009 Data Conference is Friday, July 17, 2009. To register, please visit http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/Register.aspx?id=421. After this date, participants must complete registration paperwork on site at the conference.

The STATS-DC 2009 Data Conference will take place July 29-31, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Bethesda, Maryland. The theme for this year's conference is "Decisions Begin with Good Data."

Posted by ronbo at 02:12 PM

June 16, 2009

From IES Newsflash: The Nation's Report Card: 2008 Arts: Music and Visual Arts at Grade 8 is Now Available

The results are in. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has released the results of the 2008 national arts assessment.

A nationally representative sample of approximately 7,900 eighth-grade students from about 260 public and private schools participated in the 2008 arts assessment. Approximately one-half of these students were assessed in music, and the other half were assessed in visual arts.

Major findings include:

* Average responding scores in both music and visual arts were higher for White and Asian/Pacific Islander students than Black and Hispanic students. The pattern was also the same for the visual arts creating task scores.

* Female students had higher average responding scores in both music and visual arts than male students. Female students also had a higher average creating task score in visual arts.

* Thirty-three percent of eighth-graders reported that their teachers asked them to write down music at least once a month in class; this figure has increased by seven percent since 1997, when only 26 percent of students reported the same.

View the full Report Card and download the PDF at
http://nationsreportcard.gov

There will be a live webcast of the official release from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and an archived version available after 12:00 p.m. at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard

NAEP is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 04:40 AM

June 11, 2009

From IES Newsflash: New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics - "Late High School Dropouts: Characteristics, Experiences, and Changes Across Cohorts"

This report presents information about selected characteristics and experiences of high school sophomores in 2002 who subsequently dropped out of school. It also presents comparative data about late high school dropouts in the years 1982, 1992, and 2004. The findings only address dropping out in late high school and do not cover students who dropped out before the spring of 10th grade. For this reason, the reported rates are lower than those based on the students' entire high school or earlier school career. Key findings include the following:

* Forty-eight percent of all late high school dropouts come from families in the lowest quarter (bottom 25 percent) of the socioeconomic status distribution, and 77 percent of late high school dropouts come from the lowest half of the socioeconomic status distribution.

* Most late high school dropouts (83 percent) listed a school-related (versus a family- or employment-related) reason for leaving. These reasons included missing too many school days, thinking it would be easier to get a GED, getting poor grades, and not liking school.

* The overall late high school dropout rate was lower in 2004 than in 1982 (7 percent versus 11 percent, respectively) and lower in 1992 than in 1982 (6 percent versus 11 percent), but it showed no statistically significant difference in 2004 compared with 1992.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009307

Posted by ronbo at 07:15 AM

June 08, 2009

From IES Newsflash: The High School Transcript Study Kicks into High Gear!

This summer, National Association of Educational Progress (NAEP) staff will begin collecting transcript data from graduating high school seniors across the nation. Many of these seniors participated in the 2009 mathematics and science assessments, so the data will illustrate comparisons between NAEP assessment scores and their coursework. Look for these results in late 2010, and find out more about the High School Transcript Study (HSTS) at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/hsts/

If you would like to learn how to use HSTS data for research, register by June 10 for the three-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the HSTS database for education research and policy analysis. This seminar, held in Washington D.C. from July 22-24, will provide hands-on training to advanced data users. The discussions during the seminar will be aimed at faculty and advanced graduate students from colleges and universities. Education researchers and policy analysts with strong statistical skills from state and local education agencies and professional associations are also welcome. The deadline to register is June 10.

For registration information and more details, visit
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=417

Posted by ronbo at 05:18 PM

From IES Newsflash: NCES Data Systems Standards and Guidelines Website

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has developed a new Data Systems Standards and Guidelines website to help data system designers and managers build and/or improve education data systems. This site includes resources and web links from work done by NCES, technology standards organizations, the States and school districts that make up the National Forum on Education Statistics, and State data system managers who share some of the lessons learned and tools developed in building their own data systems. For more information, please visit http://nces.ed.gov/dataguidelines/

Posted by ronbo at 05:15 PM

June 03, 2009

From IES Newsflash: The Nation's Report Card: 2008 Arts: Music and Visual Arts at Grade 8

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) will release results from the 2008 arts assessment on June 15, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. "The Nation's Report Card: 2008 Arts" examines the performance of eighth-graders in music and visual arts. The 2008 NAEP arts assessment measured students' knowledge and skills in the arts by asking them to observe, describe, analyze, and evaluate existing works of music and visual art and to create original works of visual art. For more information on the assessment and to view results from the 1997 arts assessment, visit
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/arts/

A live webcast of the release event will be available from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on June 15 at
http://nationsreportcard.gov

NAEP is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 09:44 AM

May 28, 2009

From IES Newsflash: Findings From The Condition of Education 2009: Student Educational Progress Shows Modest Gains

Enrollment in America's elementary and secondary schools continues to rise to all-time highs, and younger learners continue to show gains in educational achievement over time. The overall achievement levels of secondary school students have not risen over time, but there are some increases in the percentages of students entering college after high school and earning a postsecondary credential, according to "The Condition of Education 2009" report released today by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

"This report allows us to take a big-picture look at the condition of American education," said NCES Acting Commissioner Stuart Kerachsky. "What we see are some improvements, such as higher math and reading scores for 4th- and 8th-graders, but persistent challenges remain in educating a growing and increasingly diverse population."

"The Condition of Education" is a congressionally mandated report that provides an annual portrait of education in the United States. The 46 indicators included in this year's report cover all aspects of education, from early childhood through postsecondary education and from student achievement to school environment and resources.

Among the report's other findings:

* Public elementary and secondary enrollment is projected to increase to 54 million in 2018. Over the period of 2006 to 2018, the South is projected to experience the largest increase (18 percent) in the number of students enrolled.

* Between 1972 and 2007, the percentage of public school students who were White decreased from 78 to 56 percent. This decrease largely reflects the growth in the number of students who were Hispanic, particularly in the West.

* The average reading and mathematics scores on the long-term trend National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) were higher in 2008 than in the early 1970s for 9- and 13-year-olds; scores for 17-year-olds were not measurably different over the same period.

* In 2005-06, about three-quarters of the 2002-03 freshman class graduated from high school with a regular diploma.

* The rate of college enrollment immediately after high school completion increased from 49 percent in 1972 to 67 percent by 1997, but has since fluctuated between 62 and 69 percent.

* About 58 percent of first-time students seeking a bachelor's degree or its equivalent and attending a 4-year institution full time in 2000-01 completed a bachelor's degree or its equivalent at that institution within 6 years.

* The percentage of 25- to 29-year-olds completing a bachelor's degree or higher increased from 17 to 29 percent between 1971 and 2000 and was 31 percent in 2008.

* Women accounted for 57 percent of the bachelor's degrees and 62 percent of all associate’s degrees awarded in the 2006-07 academic year.

NCES is the statistical center of the Institute of Education Sciences in the U.S. Department of Education. The full text of "The Condition of Education 2009" (in HTML format), along with related data tables and indicators from previous years, can be viewed at
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/

Posted by ronbo at 08:49 PM

May 27, 2009

From IES Newsflash: Upcoming Seminar - Using the National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES) Databases for Research and Policy Analyses

Using the National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES) Databases for Research and Policy Analyses
Monday, August 10 - Wednesday, August 12, 2009, Washington, DC

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences will sponsor a 3-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES) databases for research and policy analyses. NHES is a series of surveys designed to address a wide range of education-related issues. It provides descriptive data on the educational activities of the U.S. population, from early childhood to adult education, and offers policymakers, researchers, and educators a variety of statistics on the condition of education in the United States.

**************************************
Deadline for seminar applications: June 12, 2009
**************************************

Please visit http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=414&cid=2 to view the full announcement and application information for the seminar.

Posted by ronbo at 07:32 PM

From IES Newsflash: NAEP 2010 Is Coming Soon! Here's What You Need To Know.

Spring is a busy time for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). We are hard at work analyzing recently collected data to produce the Nation's Report Card. But did you know that we're already preparing for the 2010 assessments in civics, geography, and U.S. history?

Schools selected for 2010 can start to plan for the assessment using information on the NAEP website at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/current.asp
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/schools.asp
and
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/nonpublicschools.asp

To learn more about the 2010 assessments by subject, see:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/civics/
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/geography/
and
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/ushistory/

Those who like a challenge can try their luck at sample questions from the previous assessments in civics
http://nationsreportcard.gov/civics_2006/c0134.asp
and in U.S. history
http://nationsreportcard.gov/ushistory_2006/h0134.asp

Also be on the lookout for the 2008 Arts Report Card later this spring. The report will exhibit samples of eighth-graders' own art work.

NAEP is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 07:29 PM

May 20, 2009

From NCES - What's New: An Evaluation of Bias in the 2007 National Households Education Surveys Program: Results From a Special Data Collection Effort

The National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES) is a random digit dialing (RDD) survey program developed by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. The surveys are designed to help NCES collect data directly from households about important education topics. Like many household studies that rely on landline phone sampling frames, NHES has experienced both declining response rates and increasing undercoverage rates. The study described in this report was designed to examine bias in the NHES:2007 due to nonresponse, as well as bias due to noncoverage of households that only had cell phones and households without any telephones. Results from this study suggest that there is no systematic pattern of bias in key statistics from the NHES:2007, though it might underestimate some indicators such as the percentage of preschoolers who watch two or more hours of TV in a typical weekday and overestimate some indicators such as the percentage of preschoolers with mothers who are not in the labor force.

[Read more]

Posted by ronbo at 03:16 PM

May 11, 2009

From IES Newsflash: New Opportunities to Learn More About the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

There's no better way to prepare for the upcoming NAEP results than learning more about what American students know and can do. This spring, NAEP gives you two ways to do just that.

1) "The Nation's Report Card: 2007 At A Glance" is a new brochure that provides an overview of the NAEP activities surrounding the math, reading, and writing assessments. "At a Glance" summarizes the results of each 2007 assessment for the nation, states, and selected urban districts.

The results presented in "At a Glance" examine the change over time in average scores for all students, in addition to the changes in the gender and racial/ethnic achievement gaps observed in the 2007 assessments. The brochure pairs these results with instructive graphics to help you understand the findings. "At a Glance" also notes how many students at each grade level participated in the assessments and breaks down percentages of certain demographic details of participants, including race/ethnicity, school type, and percentage of accommodated students. Find the "At a Glance" publication at
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009486

2) The National Conference on Student Assessment offers in depth sessions on student assessment practices and results, often involving NAEP practices and data in the discussions. The 2009 Conference will run from June 21-24 in Los Angeles, CA. To see a list of NAEP-related sessions go to:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/ccsso.asp

NAEP is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 02:58 PM

May 06, 2009

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Basic Reading Skills and the Literacy of the America's Least Literate Adults: Results from the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) Supplemental Studies"

The 2003 NAAL assessed the English literacy skills of a nationally representative sample of 18,500 U.S. adults (age 16 and older) residing in private households. NAAL is the first national assessment of adult literacy since the 1992 National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS). The NAAL project comprised four assessment components: the core literacy tasks, the main literacy assessment, the Fluency Addition to NAAL (FAN), and the Adult Literacy Supplemental Assessment (ALSA). Results from the main literacy assessment are reported as averages and as the percentage of adults in each of four literacy levels: Below Basic, Basic, Intermediate, and Proficient. This report focuses on results from the FAN and the ALSA.

The Adult Literacy Supplemental Assessment (ALSA) was administered to adults unable to successfully answer the core literacy tasks. Instead of completing the main literacy assessment, these adults completed the ALSA, which gathered information about their letter-reading, word-reading, word-identification, and basic comprehension skills.

The Fluency Addition to NAAL (FAN) measures the basic reading skills of America's adults. The FAN was administered to all adults who participated in the NAAL project following the completion of the main literacy assessment or the supplemental assessment.

Key Findings:

* Seven million adults, or about 3% of the adult population, could not complete even the most basic literacy tasks in the main assessment and were given the supplemental assessment.

* Nearly 1 in 5 adults in the nonliterate in English group had a high school diploma or GED. Among them, more than half (representing roughly 600,000 adults) had earned their high school degree in the US.

* For those for whom Spanish is a first language, a delay in learning English is associated with low basic reading skills. Those who learned English before age 11 had basic reading scores similar to average native English speakers (97 words read correctly per minute); however, for those who learned English after age 21, average scores were 35 points (or about one-third) lower. Due to the correlational nature of these data, it is impossible to make causal attributions, i.e., to say that a delay in learning English causes low basic reading skills.

* Adults who took the main literary assessment were able to read, on average, 98 words correctly per minute (wpm), in comparison to 34 wpm by those in the supplemental assessment.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009481

Posted by ronbo at 01:52 PM

May 05, 2009

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Crime, Violence, Discipline, and Safety in U.S. Public Schools, Findings from the School Survey on Crime and Safety: 2007-08"

This First Look report uses data from the 2007-08 School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS) to examine a range of issues dealing with school crime and safety, such as the frequency of school crime and violence, disciplinary actions, and school practices related to the prevention and reduction of crime. SSOCS is the primary source of school-level data on crime and safety for NCES. Since 1999, it has been administered four times to the principals of nationally representative samples of public primary, middle, high, and combined schools.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009326

Posted by ronbo at 03:57 PM

April 29, 2009

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "New Indicators of Career/Technical Education Coursetaking: Class of 2005"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "New Indicators of Career/Technical Education Coursetaking: Class of 2005."

This Statistics in Brief uses data from the 2005 High School Transcript Study (HSTS) to examine the career/technical education (CTE) coursetaking of public high school graduates using new indicators of participation. These indicators examine the extent to which students participate in CTE and in specific occupational areas (such as agriculture and business) broadly (many students earning credits) versus deeply (many credits earned by participating students).

First, the brief looks at student participation across the three main CTE curriculum areas (family and consumer sciences education, general labor market preparation, and occupational education). Second, the brief looks at coursetaking within occupational areas, including occupational concentration. Finally, the brief examines coursetaking across occupational areas, including the areas that students tend to combine.

Findings indicate that high school graduates' use of the CTE curriculum is generally broad rather than narrow in the sense that most (70 percent) earn credits in both occupational education and either general labor market preparation or family and consumer sciences education, and most (58 percent) earn credits in more than one occupational area. Five occupational areas had the broadest participation (i.e., had the greatest number of graduates earning credits in the area): business; communications and design; manufacturing, repair, and transportation; consumer and culinary services; and computer and information sciences). The occupational areas with the deepest levels of participation were manufacturing, repair, and transportation; agriculture and natural resources; health sciences; and construction and architecture. Finally, some occupational areas were more likely than others to be taken together. For example, marketing coursetakers were more likely than other occupational !
coursetakers to earn credits in business.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009038

Posted by ronbo at 02:38 PM

April 27, 2009

From IES Newsflash: Will The NAEP Trend Continue? Learn More on April 28 at the 2008 Long-Term Trend Online Discussion!

In 2004, the percentage of 13-year-olds taking algebra was higher than in any previous assessment year. Students enrolled in algebra had higher scores on the 2004 long-term trend mathematics assessment than those in other courses. Will the trend continue? Find out when the 2008 NAEP long-term trend report is released on April 28.

Associate Commissioner Peggy G. Carr will be online answering your questions on April 28 at 2 p.m. Submit your questions now about the assessment, the results, or the differences between long-term trend and main NAEP at http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/statchat

Questions submitted early will be answered first!

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 05:57 PM

April 24, 2009

From IES Newsflash: STATS-DC 2009 Data Conference deadlines are approaching

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), in the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences (IES), will sponsor the 2009 National Forum on Education Statistics and the NCES Summer Data Conference at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda Hotel in Bethesda, Maryland. The Forum will be held on July 27-29, 2009. The NCES Summer Data Conference will be held July 29-31, 2009.

******REMINDER******
The deadline to submit a concurrent session or demonstration proposal for the 2009 Summer Data Conference is Friday, May 8, 2009.
The deadline for your name to appear in the program participants' list is Monday, June 1, 2009.

The theme for this year’s conference is "Decisions Begin with Good Data." For more information about the conference or to register and optionally submit a concurrent session or demonstration proposal, please visit http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=421

Posted by ronbo at 01:51 PM

April 22, 2009

From IES Newsflash: ELS:2002 and NELS:88 Training Seminars

NCES has announced two summer training seminars to be held in Washington, DC. on using NCES's high school longitudinal studies data. There are no fees to attend these seminars for accepted applicants. NCES will provide training materials, as well as computers for hands-on practice. NCES will also pay for transportation, hotel accommodations, and a fixed per diem for meals and incidental expenses during the training seminars.

Both seminars--one in July and the other in August--are the same. Each one will focus on both the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002) and the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88).

The first seminar will be on July 13-15, 2009 and the second seminar will be on August 17-19, 2009. Each seminar will include the following:

* an overview of ELS:2002 and NELS:88 sample designs, data components, and coverage;
* methodological and technological issues relevant to data use;
* instruction and practice on how to analyze longitudinal data; and
* hands-on experience in analyzing research issues posed by the participants.

For the July 13-15th seminar, please visit http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=404 to view the full announcement and application information.

For the August 17-19th seminar, please visit http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=413

Posted by ronbo at 03:27 PM

New NCES Report: Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2008

A joint effort by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and National Center for Education Statistics, this annual report examines crime occurring in school as well as on the way to and from school. It provides the most current detailed statistical information to inform the Nation on the nature of crime in schools. This report presents data on crime at school from the perspectives of students, teachers, principals, and the general population from an array of sources--the National Crime Victimization Survey, the School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the School Survey on Crime and Safety and the School and Staffing Survey. Data on crime away from school are also presented to place school crime in the context of crime in the larger society.

Posted by ronbo at 03:21 PM

April 15, 2009

From IES Newsflash: NPSAS:08 First Look Report and Data now Available

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the first round of results from the 2008 National Student Postsecondary Aid Study (NPSAS:08). This nationally representative study provides the most up-to-date and comprehensive look at postsecondary student characteristics and student financial aid for the 2007-08 academic year.

First Look.
The First Look report focuses on the types and sources of student financial aid, including loans and grants from federal, state, and institutional resources.

NPSAS:08 Data.
NPSAS:08 data are a rich source of information on student demographics, family background, education and work experiences, and student financial aid, including federal, state, institutional, and other sources. The NPSAS:08 study contains a sample of 128,000 students which represent 21 million undergraduates and 3 million graduate students enrolled in postsecondary education anytime between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008.

Selected NPSAS:08 Findings.
Among the NPSAS:08 findings:

* Nearly two-thirds (66 percent) of all undergraduates received some type of financial aid. For those receiving any aid, the total average amount was $9,100.

* About one-half (52 percent) of all undergraduates received grant aid, and more than one-third (38 percent) obtained student loans. The average grant amount was $4,900, and the average loan amount was $7,100.

* Nearly one-half (47 percent) of all undergraduates received some type of federal student aid. About one-fourth (28 percent) received an average of $2,800 in federal Pell grants, and about one-third (35 percent) obtained an average of $5,100 in federal student loans.

* Among undergraduates financially dependent on their parents, 28 percent came from families with incomes under $40,000 and another 28 percent from families with incomes of $100,000 or more.

* Three-fourths (74 percent) of all graduate students received some type of financial aid, with an average amount of $17,600. Forty-three percent took out an average of $18,500 in student loans, and about one-fifth (22 percent) received tuition aid from their employers.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009166

To Use the Data Analysis System (DAS) online, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/dasol/

Posted by ronbo at 03:58 PM

From IES Newsflash: The Nation's Report Card: Trends in Academic Progress 2008

Results from the NAEP long-term trend assessment are scheduled to be released on April 28, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. "The Nation's Report Card: Trends in Academic Progress 2008" continues a 35-year trend in national reading and mathematics results for 9-, 13-, and 17-year-olds. For more information on the assessment and to view the last results from 2004, visit http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/ltt/

View a live webcast of the release from 10 to 11 a.m. at http://nationsreportcard.gov. Then, at 2 p.m. on the day of the release, join Associate Commissioner Peggy G. Carr for an online chat about the results. Submit your questions for the chat at any time before or during the chat at http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/statchat

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 03:57 PM

From IES Newsflash: New NAEP Research Funding and Training Opportunities!

FUNDING
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) has released the FY2010 Request For Applications (RFAs), including CFDA 84.305D Statistical and Research Methodology in Education, which is especially relevant to NAEP. Letters of Intent are due April 27, 2009.

To learn more, go to http://ies.ed.gov/funding/
and click Statistical and Research Methodology in Education.

Additional information is available here:
*Overview
http://ies.ed.gov/funding/ncer_rfas/methodology.asp
*Details of the RFA (84.305D)
http://ies.ed.gov/funding/10rfas.asp
*Search the IES database of funded grants and contracts to read about previous awards involving NAEP:
http://ies.ed.gov/funding/grantsearch/index.asp

TRAINING
Two NAEP training courses are available this summer. Space is limited and early registration is advised.

*Using NAEP for Research and Policy Analysis
On July 7-10 the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the Institute of Education Sciences will sponsor an advanced studies seminar on the use of the NAEP database for education research and policy analysis. The main NAEP database contains nationally representative achievement scores on 4th-, 8th-, and 12th- graders from public and non-public schools in a variety of academic subjects. The database also contains background information on the students assessed and their learning environment.

Register for the seminar no later than May 27, 2009:
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=416

*HSTS Database Training Seminar
On July 22-24, NCES will sponsor an advanced studies seminar on the use of the NAEP High School Transcript Study (HSTS) database for education research and policy analysis.

Register for the seminar no later than June 10, 2009:
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=417

For more information on NAEP data:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata/
For more information on HSTS:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/hsts/

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 03:50 PM

From IES Newsflash: QuickStats - NEW Online Tool Makes Data Available to Public

The National Center for Education Statistics announces the availability of QuickStats, a new data tool that makes several postsecondary education datasets easily accessible to the public.

QuickStats allows public access for data consumers -- such as policy makers, legislative staff, journalists, students, and others -- to answer questions using data collected by NCES. Users can easily create tables by selecting from a list of datasets, then selecting variables contained within as column and row categories, employing a simple drag-and-drop process. Once the tables are produced, they can choose to view their results in bar graph form, downloads into MS Excel, create a printer layout, or save them by generating a unique table ID for quick retrieval.

QuickStats allows users to obtain data from the following studies:

* NEW! National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:08). Just released, NPSAS:08 is the most current nationally representative study of U.S. undergraduate and graduate students, with a special focus on how students and their families pay for college. QuickStats also includes data from NPSAS:04.
* Baccalaureate and Beyond (B & B), a study of bachelor's degree recipients and their plans for and experiences after college graduation, including graduate study. The 1992-1993 longitudinal cohort was followed periodically for 10 years after graduation.
* Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS), which follows first-time students beginning their postsecondary education, typically over a period of 6 years. The 1995-96 cohort was followed through 2001. The 2003-04 cohort was interviewed in 2006 and is currently being interviewed again.
* National Survey of Postsecondary Faculty (NSOPF), a study of full-time and part-time postsecondary faculty and instructional staff at 2-year and 4-year institutions. NSOPF was last conducted in 2004.

QuickStats users can answer such questions as:

* What percentage of all undergraduates are obtaining student loans and how much have they borrowed?
* What is the average cost of attending one year at a private 4-year college?
* What percentage of low-income freshmen who started college in fall 2003 were still enrolled three years later?
* What was the average debt of graduating seniors in 2008?
* What percentage of Hispanic 2008 bachelor's degree recipients enrolled in graduate study?

For more information, visit QuickStats at http://nces.ed.gov/datalab

Posted by ronbo at 03:49 PM

April 09, 2009

From IES Newsflash: NAEP Releases New NAEP Data Explorer

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has released a new version of the NAEP Data Explorer (NDE).
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata/

The new tool takes advantage of the latest internet technology to present users with a friendlier interface, enhanced analysis selections, and improved reporting options to aid researchers, policy-makers, the media, and others interested in investigating the results from NAEP assessments. NDE users will find powerful graphing capabilities, achievement levels as variables or statistics, new Large Central City and National Private jurisdictions, and the option to perform gap analysis on any combination of variables, years, or jurisdictions.

The new NDE will also improve the way in which the user is able to interact with the reports he has created, customizing them and exporting them beyond the NDE application into a variety of formats, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PDF, and HTML.

NAEP has provided informative alerts and detailed Help to assist users in taking advantage of the new NDE capabilities. Find it all at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata/

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 02:34 PM

April 08, 2009

From IES Newsflash: Career/Technical Education Statistics Website updated

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the Institute of Education Sciences has just updated the Career/Technical Education Statistics (CTES) website.

The CTES website includes tables describing career/technical education (CTE) at three levels: 1) secondary/high school CTE, 2) postsecondary/college career education, and 3) adult education for work. These tables are updated periodically to incorporate new CTE-related topics and data from new surveys. In this update, two sets of tables were added to the postsecondary/college career education tables: 1) a set of 21 tables with state-level information on institutional offerings and credentials awarded in CTE, and 2) a set of 7 tables describing CTE students' enrollment characteristics, for the 12 states that were oversampled in the 2003-04 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study.

To view the site, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/ctes/

Posted by ronbo at 05:25 PM

From IES Newsflash: Register Now for NAEP-Related Training Courses at the 2009 AERA Conference

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) staff members will host several training mini-courses at the 2009 American Educational Research Association (AERA) Conference. Be sure to register soon (see information below).

PDC09. Psychometrics Behind National Assessment of Educational Progress: Understanding and Analyzing NAEP Data. April 12, 9:00 a.m. –12:00 p.m.

The goal of this course is to introduce potential users to NAEP and to the AM analysis tool, which makes the rich NAEP database more accessible to researchers than it has ever been before. AM is a free statistical software package for analyzing data from complex samples, especially large-scale assessments. This course will introduce users to (a) the psychometric design of NAEP, (b) the sampling design of NAEP, and (c) data analysis strategies required by these design features, including the marginal maximum likelihood approach to computing subscale and composite scale scores, selection and use of appropriate sampling weights, and appropriate variance estimation procedures. Note: Full participation will require a laptop with wireless capability.

PDC13. Advanced Hands-On Exploration of NAEP Data on the Web. April 14, 8:00 a.m. –12:00 p.m.

Get to know the new NAEP Data Explorer (NDE), a powerful web tool recently refreshed with enhanced analysis and reporting tools. This mini-course will focus on the latest NAEP results from the 2007 assessment of mathematics, reading, and writing. Participants will be guided through a full examination of the data, with an emphasis on data that link student performance with teacher and school characteristics. The course is structured around hands-on learning and active participation and will include a short demo of the redesigned system’s features. Note: Full participation will require a laptop with wireless capability.

PDC29. Accessing and Analyzing High School Transcript Study Data for Educational Research Purposes. April 16, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

This mini-course will provide graduate students, faculty, and institutional researchers with information on how to access and analyze the NAEP High School Transcript Study (HSTS) data. Topics covered will include (a) the HSTS survey design, (b) technical issues in the proper use and handling of sampling weights and plausible values, and (c) a discussion and demonstration of current specialized software for accessing and analyzing HSTS data. The course will include extensive demonstrations, independent exercises, and group discussions. Note: Full participation will require a laptop with wireless capability.

For more information or to register for these courses, visit
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/aera.asp

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 05:23 PM

April 07, 2009

From IES Newsflash: NAEP to Release New NAEP Data Explorer

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) will be unveiling a new version of the NAEP Data Explorer (NDE) in the coming weeks. The current version is still available until the transition at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata/

The new tool will take advantage of the latest internet technology to present users with a friendlier interface, enhanced analysis selections, and improved reporting options to aid researchers, policy-makers, and others interested in investigating the results from NAEP assessments. Watch for another NewsFlash next week with the new URL and a more detailed description of the tool enhancements.

Attendees at the 2009 American Educational Research Association (AERA) conference can learn more about the features of the new NDE by registering for the mini-course "Advanced Hands-On Exploration of NAEP Data on the Web" (PDC13), on April 14, from 8:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. Course attendees will explore the new interface and capabilities with developers of the NDE. For more information or to register for this course, visit the official AERA website. Find a comprehensive list of other NAEP-related courses planned for the AERA conference at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/aera.asp

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 03:36 PM

April 03, 2009

From IES Newsflash: 2009 National Forum on Education Statistics and the NCES Summer Data Conference

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), in the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences (IES), will sponsor the 2009 National Forum on Education Statistics and the NCES Summer Data Conference at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda Hotel in Bethesda, Maryland. The Forum will be held on July 27-29, 2009. The NCES Summer Data Conference will be held July 29-31, 2009.

National Forum - Members, join your colleagues from local, state, and federal education agencies and national associations as they continue work on tools for improving education data through best practice guides on longitudinal data systems, data ethics, metadata (and its importance); and collecting and managing data on displaced students. Learn about state data system initiatives and policy affecting data collection and use. For more information about the forum, visit http://nces.ed.gov/forum.

NCES Summer Data Conference - Join us for professional networking, updates on federal and national activities affecting data collection and reporting, and information about the best new approaches in collecting, reporting, and using education statistics. This year's conference will offer more than 80 presentations, demonstrations, and workshops. Conference offering will include training and business meetings for state CCD and EDFacts data coordinators; informative sessions on school finance, building and managing data systems, data standards, and data delivery and use; and information about changes in how the U.S. Department of Education collects and uses data.

You are invited to attend the 2009 Summer Data Conference and to submit a proposal for presenting a session that will contribute to the conference's interest and usefulness. Topics are invited from all sources, but the major focus will be on education data system design and management, data standards, data delivery methods, and strategies for improving data use.

Deadline for submitting proposals for presentations, workshops, or demonstrations: Friday, May 8, 2009

For conference information and registration, visit: http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=421

Posted by ronbo at 02:20 PM

From IES Newsflash: 27 States Win Fiscal Year 2009 Grants for Longitudinal Data Systems

The Institute of Education Sciences has awarded grants to 27 state education agencies for the design and implementation of statewide longitudinal data systems. The multi-year value of individual state grants ranges from $2.5 million to $9.0 million for projects that will extend for three to five years. The full, multi-year value of all 27 grants is $150 million.

For more information, see
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/slds/

The competition for these grants was held last fall.

Posted by ronbo at 02:19 PM

April 02, 2009

From IES Newsflash: Upcoming ECLS Training Seminars

NCES announces two summer training seminars, to be held in Washington, DC. There are no fees to attend these seminars for accepted applicants. NCES will provide training materials, as well as computers for hands-on practice. NCES will also pay for transportation, hotel accommodations, and a fixed per diem for meals and incidental expenses during the training seminars.

******
Using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K) Database for Research and Policy Discussion Tuesday, August 4 - Thursday, August 6, 2009, Washington, DC

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), in the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences, will sponsor a 3-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K) database. The ECLS-K allows researchers to examine the relationships among a wide range of child, family, teacher, classroom, and school characteristics and children's development and performance in elementary and middle school.

Please visit http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=403&cid=2 to view the full announcement and application information for the seminar.

******
Using the National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES) Databasesfor Research and Policy Analyses
Monday, August 10 - Wednesday, August 12, 2009, Washington, DC

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), in the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences, will sponsor a 3-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES) databases for research and policy analyses. NHES is a series of surveys designed to address a wide range of education-related issues. It provides descriptive data on the educational activities of the U.S. population, from early childhood to adult education, and offers policymakers, researchers, and educators a variety of statistics on the condition of education in the United States.

Please visit http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=414&cid=2 to view the full announcement and application information for the seminar.

Posted by ronbo at 09:28 PM

March 25, 2009

From IES Newsflash: NAEP Training Opportunities at the National Center for Education Statistics!

Using NAEP for Research and Policy Analysis--July 7-10, 2009

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences will sponsor a 3 1/2-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the NAEP database for education research and policy analysis. The main NAEP database contains nationally representative achievement scores on 4th, 8th, and 12th graders from public and non-public schools in a variety of academic subjects. The database also contains background information on the students who were assessed and their learning environment.
Register for the seminar:
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=416

For more information on NAEP data:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata/


HSTS Database Training Seminar--July 22-24, 2009

NCES also will sponsor a 3-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the NAEP High School Transcript Study (HSTS) database for education research and policy analysis.
Register for the seminar:
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=417
For more information on HSTS:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/hsts/

Please register soon---space is limited!

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 03:24 PM

From IES Newsflash: NAEP Training and Research Opportunities at the American Educational Research Association/National Council on Measurement in Education Conference!

==== TRAINING AT AERA -- APRIL 12, 14, 16 ====
Advance registration is required for all AERA training sessions; see the AERA website at AERA.net for registration details.

* PDC09: Psychometrics Behind National Assessment of Educational Progress: Understanding and Analyzing NAEP Data (Sikali, Kolstad, Dogan)
Sunday April 12 at 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina/Warner Center.
The goal of this course is to introduce potential users to NAEP and to the AM analysis tool, which makes the rich NAEP database more accessible to researchers than it has ever been before. AM is a free statistical software package for analyzing data from complex samples, especially large-scale assessments. This course will introduce users to (a) the psychometric design of NAEP, (b) the sampling design of NAEP, and (c) data analysis strategies required by these design features, including the marginal maximum likelihood approach to computing subscale and composite scale scores, selection and use of appropriate sampling weights, and appropriate variance estimation procedures.

* PDC13: Advanced Hands-On Exploration of NAEP Data on the Web (Sikali, Kline, Trapani)
Tuesday April 14 at 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina / Green Room.
This course is for researchers interested in NAEP data. The NAEP Data Explorer is a powerful web tool that provides customized tables of NAEP results gathered since 1990. It provides an intuitive approach to selecting data that requires minimal knowledge about NAEP. This course will focus on the latest NAEP results from the 2007 assessment of math, reading, and writing. Participants will be guided through a full examination of the data, with an emphasis on data that link student performance with teacher and school characteristics. This hands-on course will include a short demo of the system’s features.
NOTE: Full participation requires a laptop with a wireless card for Internet access.

PDC29: Accessing and Analyzing High School Transcript Study Data for Educational Research Purposes (Brown, Laird, Roey, Perkins)
Thursday April 16 at 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina / Green Room.
This mini-course will provide graduate students, faculty and institutional researchers information on how to access and analyze the NAEP High School Transcript Study (HSTS) data. Topics covered by this mini-course will include 1) the HSTS survey design; 2) technical issues in the proper use and handling of sampling weights and plausible values; and 3) a discussion and demonstration of current specialized software for accessing and analyzing HSTS data. The course will include extensive demonstrations, independent exercises, and group discussions.
NOTE: Full participation will require a laptop with wireless capability.


==== RESEARCH SUPPORT AT AERA -- APRIL 15 ====

NCER Associate Commissioner for Policy and Systems Allen Ruby will be participating in a session at the AERA conference entitled "Federal Agency Support for Education Research in 2008 and 2010." This session will be held on Wednesday, April 15, 2009, from 12:25-1:55 p.m., in Ballroom 6D of the San Diego Convention Center. For additional information:
http://ies.ed.gov/ncer/projects/srcd_aera.asp

==== NAEP SESSIONS AT AERA/NCME ON THE NAEP WEBSITE ====
To see a list of all AERA sessions concerning NAEP, visit
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/aera.asp

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 03:04 PM

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Comparative Indicators of Education in the United States and Other G-8 Countries: 2009"

This report describes how the education system in the United States compares with education systems in the other G-8 countries--Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Russian Federation, and the United Kingdom. Twenty-seven indicators are organized in five sections: (1) population and school enrollment; (2) academic performance (including subsections for reading, mathematics, and science); (3) context for learning; (4) expenditure for education; and (5) education returns: educational attainment and income. This report draws on the most current information about education from four primary sources: the Indicators of National Education Systems (INES) at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS).

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009039

Posted by ronbo at 02:51 PM

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Characteristics of Private Schools in the United States: Results from the 2007-08 Private School Universe Survey"

This report on the 2007-08 Private School Universe Survey presents data on private schools in the United States for grades kindergarten through twelve by selected characteristics such as school size, school level, religious orientation, geographic region, urbanicity type, and program emphasis.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009313

Posted by ronbo at 02:50 PM

March 18, 2009

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Digest of Education Statistics, 2008"

The 44th in a series of publications initiated in 1962, the Digest's primary purpose is to provide a compilation of statistical information covering the broad field of American education from prekindergarten through graduate school. The Digest contains data on a variety of topics, including the number of schools and colleges, teachers, enrollments, and graduates, in addition to educational attainment, finances, and federal funds for education, libraries, and international comparisons.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009020

Posted by ronbo at 06:29 PM

March 16, 2009

From IES Newsflash: NCES State Education Reforms (SER) Site Has Been Reorganized!

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has just reorganized the State Education Reforms (SER) website. Modifications to the website include a revised classification of state- reform efforts and improved table accessibility. The SER website now categorizes reform activities into five areas: 1) accountability; 2) assessment and standards; 3) staff qualifications and development; 4) state support for school choice and other options; and 5) student readiness and progress through school.

In addition to the reorganization, the SER website has updated a selection of tables within the "accountability" and "assessment and standards" areas, and has added a new table on state policies regarding the teaching of English Language Learners in the "staff qualifications and development" area. To locate these tables on the website, please look for the "Updated!" and "New!" tags next to the table titles.

To view the site, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/statereform/

Posted by ronbo at 03:34 PM

March 11, 2009

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education: School Year 2006-07 (Fiscal Year 2007)"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education: School Year 2006-07 (Fiscal Year 2007)."

This brief publication contains basic revenue and expenditure data, by state, for public elementary and secondary education for school year 2006-07. It contains state-level data on revenues by source and expenditures by function, including expenditures per pupil.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009337

Posted by ronbo at 02:27 PM

March 10, 2009

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Enrollment in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2007; Graduation Rates, 2001 and 2004 Cohorts; and Financial Statistics, Fiscal Year 2007"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Enrollment in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2007; Graduation Rates, 2001 and 2004 Cohorts; and Financial Statistics, Fiscal Year 2007."

This First Look presents findings from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) spring 2008 data collection, which included four components: Enrollment in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2007; Graduation Rates, 2001 & 2004 Cohorts; and Financial Statistics, Fiscal Year 2007. These data were collected through the IPEDS web-based data collection system. Findings include:

In fall 2007, Title IV institutions in the United States enrolled a total of 18.7 million graduate and undergraduate students; 62 percent were enrolled in 4-year institutions, 36 percent were enrolled in 2-year institutions, and 2 percent were enrolled in less-than-2-year institutions.

Approximately 57 percent of full-time, first-time bachelor's or equivalent degree-seekers attending 4-year institutions completed a bachelor's or equivalent degree at the institution where they began their studies within 6 years.

During 2006-07 academic year, 73 percent of the 2.8 million full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates attending Title IV institutions located in the United States received financial aid.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009155

Posted by ronbo at 08:36 AM

February 25, 2009

From IES Newsflash: Using NCES International Databases for Research and Policy Discussion

Wednesday, May 20 - Friday, May 22, 2009
Washington, DC

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences will sponsor a 3-day seminar on the use of NCES International Databases to include: the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), and the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS).

This seminar is open to advanced graduate students and faculty members from colleges and universities nationwide, and to researchers, education practitioners, and policy analysts from state and local education agencies and professional associations. In order to better accommodate an expected high level of interest in the training, we will accept up to 30 applicants this year instead of 15 (as done in previous years).

There is no fee to attend this seminar. NCES will provide training materials as well as computers for hands-on practice. NCES will also pay for transportation, hotel accommodations, and a fixed per diem for meals and incidental expenses during the training seminar. All applications should be received no later than Friday, April 3, 2009. Applications will be reviewed and selected candidates will be informed by April 17, 2009.

For more information or to complete an application, go to:
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=402&cid=2

Posted by ronbo at 01:52 PM

February 23, 2009

From IES Newsflash: NAEP Researchers: Data Available for 2007 Writing Assessment and National Indian Education Study

Restricted-use data for the 2007 writing assessment is now available, joining the datasets for mathematics and reading issued last year. The writing assessment data are for students in grades 8 and 12, with state data at grade 8 only. Read more about the 2007 writing assessment at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/writing/

The 2007 National Indian Education Study (NIES) used samples of students in grades 4 and 8 who took the NAEP mathematics and reading assessments. The NIES contains data for selected states. Read more at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nies/

New research on NAEP data is vital for improving our nation's education system. NAEP offers many resources for researchers, such as:

* Help in planning research--explore public-use data using the NAEP Data Explorer:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata/

* Listings of variables available across several years of datasets:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/variablesrudata.asp

* An e-library and information about periodic researcher trainings and seminars:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/

* Funding opportunities for researchers and policymakers performing secondary analysis of NAEP data:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/funding.asp

All NAEP Report Cards may be read and downloaded at
http://nationsreportcard.gov/

Ordering information for the two new data sets is here:

2007 NIES
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009489

2007 NAEP writing
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009478

This summer, the datasets for the 2008 long-term trend assessment in mathematics and reading will be available to NCES-licensed researchers.

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 06:09 PM

February 10, 2009

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "After-School Programs in Public Elementary Schools"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "After-School Programs in Public Elementary Schools."

This study provides a national profile of various types of formal after-school programs physically located at public elementary schools in 2008. These programs included stand-alone programs that focus primarily on a single type of service (e.g., only day care) and broad-based programs that provide a combination of services such as academic enrichment and cultural activities. This report focuses on four broad types of after-school programs: (1) fee-based stand-alone day care programs for which parents paid fees; (2) stand-alone academic instruction/tutoring programs that focus exclusively on academic instruction or tutoring, including Supplemental Educational Services in schools that did not meet Adequate Yearly Progress; (3) the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLCs) administered through the federally funded 21st CCLC Program to provide academic enrichment opportunities; and (4) other types of formal stand-alone or broad-based after-school programs.

Fifty-six percent of public elementary schools reported that one or more after-school programs were physically located at the school in 2008. Forty-six percent of public elementary schools reported a fee-based stand-alone day care program; 43 percent reported one or more stand-alone academic instruction/tutoring programs; 10 percent reported a 21st CCLC, and 16 percent reported other types of after-school programs. Together, the various types of after-school programs accounted for an estimated 4 million enrollments. These include duplicated enrollments because students could be enrolled in more than one program. The proportion of public elementary schools reporting that their students attended after-school programs at another location ranged from 46 percent for fee-based stand-alone day care to 3 percent for 21st CCLCs.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009043

Posted by ronbo at 06:32 PM

February 04, 2009

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Course Credit Accrual and Dropping Out of High School, by Student Characteristics"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Course Credit Accrual and Dropping Out of High School, by Student Characteristics."

This Statistics in Brief uses data from the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002) to examine the number of credits earned by high school students and the relationship between course credit accrual and dropping out. Findings indicate that high school dropouts earned fewer credits than did on-time graduates within each year of high school, and the cumulative course credit accrual gap increased with each subsequent year. The pattern of dropouts earning fewer credits than on-time graduates remained across all examined student and school characteristics (student sex, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, school location, and sophomore class size). However, the size of the cumulative course credit accrual gap between on-time graduates and dropouts varied within academic years for males versus females, Blacks and Hispanics versus Whites, and students attending city high schools versus students attending suburban, town, and rural high schools. For example, the cumulative gap between on-time graduates and 12th-grade dropouts in 2001-02 and 2002-03 was larger for males than for females, indicating that male 12th-grade dropouts were further behind their on-time peers in cumulative course credits accrued than were female 12th-grade dropouts.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009035

Posted by ronbo at 11:29 AM

February 02, 2009

From IES Newsflash: State Education Reforms Website updated

NCES has just updated the State Education Reforms (SER) website. This website is based on the report "Overview and Inventory of State Education Reforms: 1990 to 2000," and is updated periodically to incorporate new data on state education reform activities.

The SER website, which draws primarily on data collected by organizations other than NCES, compiles and disseminates data on state-level education reform efforts in four areas: 1) standards, assessment, and accountability, 2) school finance reforms, 3) resources for learning, and 4) state support for school choice options. Specific reform areas include student and teacher assessments, adequate yearly progress, statewide exit exams, highly qualified teachers, open enrollment laws, and charter schools.

In the "State Support for School Choice Options" area of the website, three tables were updated. To locate these tables on the State Education Reforms website, please look for the "Updated!" tags next to the table titles.

To view the site, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/statereform/

Posted by ronbo at 11:55 AM

From IES Newsflash: Get ready for the NAEP 2009 Assessments!

Each new year brings renewed goals, fresh challenges, and the latest round of National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assessments. From January 26 to March 6, NAEP will be administered in mathematics, reading, and science to students in grades 4, 8, and 12. More than 7,000 NAEP staff will administer the assessment and associated special studies to over 1,000,000 students in approximately 19,000 public and private schools nationwide.

To learn more about why participation in NAEP 2009 is so important to the nation, visit
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naep2009.asp

User-friendly web tools are available to help both teachers and students familiarize themselves with the assessments and answer any questions.

New videos designed for students and teachers make it even easier to see what NAEP is like at all levels.
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/schools.asp#naep_in_your_school

If you are the parent or guardian of a child who has been selected for NAEP, you may have dozens of questions about what to expect. The NAEP Parents' page has a broad range of resources designed specifically for families of NAEP students at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/parents/
Usted también puede visitar la página para familias en español.
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/parents/index_sp.asp

* Download the Introduction to NAEP brochure
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008480
* Read through Frequently Asked Questions
* Learn more about NAEP subject tests
* Test yourself using real questions from past assessments and view actual student responses at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/naeptools.asp

We hope you find these NAEP resources useful, but remember there is no need for advanced preparation for the assessments. It is most important that all students do their best and know that participating in NAEP will help improve the quality of education in America.

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 11:53 AM

January 21, 2009

From IES Newsflash: Announcement of Upcoming ECLS/NHES Data Training Seminar

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences will be conducting a 1-day training seminar on its early childhood studies at the 2009 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research and Child Development (SRCD). This seminar provides information on three NCES large-scale data collections: the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K), the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort of 2001 (ECLS-B), and the National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES). The seminar will present overviews of the study designs and technical issues associated with using and analyzing the data, highlights about the data collected in 1991 through 2007 pertaining to children from birth through 8th grade, information on how the surveys compliment each other, and computer demonstrations of software that assists users in preparing data for analyses. The seminar is for graduate students, faculty, and researchers who have
a solid understanding of statistics and limited familiarity with the ECLS and NHES data. Researchers who have previously attended an overview seminar on these studies, or have attended an in-depth training on one of the studies and are not interested in the other NCES studies, will probably not benefit from this seminar.

The free seminar, which will be held in Denver at the SRCD meeting site, is scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. For more information or to register for this free seminar, please send an e-mail to ecls@air.org.

For more information about the 2009 SRCD Biennial Meeting, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/ecls/news.asp

Posted by ronbo at 02:17 PM

January 08, 2009

From IES Newsflash: First-Ever Adult Literacy Data for States and Counties Released Today

Today, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released the "National Assessment of Adult Literacy: Indirect County and State Estimates of the Percentage of Adults at the Lowest Literacy Level for 1992 and 2003", which provides estimates on the percentage of adults - for all states and counties in the U.S. - who lack basic prose literacy skills. The study provides data for 2003 and 1992. This new data is currently the only available snapshot of adult literacy rates for individual states and counties.

To produce this study, NCES gathered data from the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL), a nationally representative sample of more than 19,000 Americans age 16 and older, and the 2000 Census, which provided "predictor variables" such as education and income.

NAAL data were correlated with the predictor variables to see if there was a pattern among them. From this information, a model was established. Using the model, estimates were predicted for areas where there were not sufficient assessment data. The same approach was also applied to the 1992 National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS), so changes from 1992 to 2003 can be examined.

The report is accompanied by an interactive web tool, which shows the percentage of adults lacking Basic Prose Literacy Skills for all states and counties. In addition to allowing users to view adult literacy percentages for any given state, the web tool also allows for comparisons to be made between two states, two counties in the same state, two counties in different states, across years for a state, and across years for a county.

The report can be found at:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009482

The Interactive Web Tool can be accessed at:
http://nces.ed.gov/naal/estimates/index.aspx

Posted by ronbo at 01:44 PM

December 31, 2008

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "1.5 Million Homeschooled Students in the United States in 2007"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "1.5 Million Homeschooled Students in the United States in 2007."

This Issue Brief provides estimates of the number and percentage of homeschooled students in the United States in 2007 and compares these estimates to those from 1999 and 2003. In addition, parents' reasons for homeschooling their children in 2007 are described and compared to 2003. Estimates of homeschooling in 2007 are based on data from the Parent and Family Involvement in Education Survey (PFI) of the 2007 National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES).

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009030

Posted by ronbo at 01:26 PM

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Distance Education at Degree-Granting Postsecondary Institutions: 2006-07"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Distance Education at Degree-Granting Postsecondary Institutions: 2006-07."

This report presents findings from "Distance Education at Postsecondary Institutions: 2006-07," a survey that was designed to provide national estimates on distance education at 2-year and 4-year Title IV eligible, degree-granting institutions. Distance education was defined as a formal education process in which the student and instructor are not in the same place. Thus, instruction may be synchronous or asynchronous, and it may involve communication through the use of video, audio, or computer technologies, or by correspondence (which may include both written correspondence and the use of technology such as CD-ROM). The questionnaire instructed institutions to include distance education courses and programs that were formally designated as online, hybrid/blended online, and other distance education courses and programs. Hybrid/blended online courses were defined as a combination of online and in-class instruction with reduced in-class seat time for students.

The 2006-07 study on distance education collected information on the prevalence, types, delivery, policies, and acquisition or development of distance education courses and programs. Findings indicate that during the 2006-07 academic year, two-thirds (66 percent) of 2-year and 4-year Title IV degree-granting postsecondary institutions reported offering online, hybrid/blended online, or other distance education courses for any level or audience. Sixty-five percent of the institutions reported college-level credit-granting distance education courses, and 23 percent of the institutions reported noncredit distance education courses. Sixty-one percent of 2-year and 4-year institutions reported offering online courses, 35 percent reported hybrid/blended courses, and 26 percent reported other types of college-level credit-granting distance education courses. Together, distance education courses accounted for an estimated 12.2 million enrollments (or registrations). Asynchronous
(not simultaneous or real-time) Internet-based technologies were cited as the most widely used technology for the instructional delivery of distance education courses; they were used to a large extent in 75 percent and to a moderate extent in 17 percent of the institutions that offered college-level credit-granting distance education courses. The most common factors cited as affecting distance education decisions to a major extent were meeting student demand for flexible schedules, providing access to college for students who would otherwise not have access, making more courses available, and seeking to increase student enrollment.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009044

Posted by ronbo at 01:25 PM

December 17, 2008

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Mathematics Achievement of Language-Minority Students During the Elementary Years"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Mathematics Achievement of Language-Minority Students During the Elementary Years."

This Issue Brief uses data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K) to examine the scores of public-school language-minority students on a mathematics assessment in 1st grade, as well as the gain in their scores between 1st and 5th grades. Scores are reported by three background characteristics--student's race/ethnicity, poverty status, and mother's education--that have been found to be related to achievement. The findings indicate that language-minority students (English Proficient students and English Language Learners) scored lower on a 1st-grade mathematics assessment than did students whose primary home language was English. Between 1st and 5th grades, there was no measurable difference in gain scores on the mathematics assessment among the three language groups. However, gain score differences within and between the language groups were found by student background characteristics. For example, Asian language-minority students m
ade greater gains than their Hispanic peers.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009036

Posted by ronbo at 07:41 PM

December 11, 2008

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Employees in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2007, and Salaries of Full-Time Instructional Faculty 2007-08"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Employees in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2007, and Salaries of Full-Time Instructional Faculty 2007-08."

This report presents information from the Winter 2007-08 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) web-based data collection. Tabulations represent data requested from all postsecondary institutions participating in Title IV federal student financial aid programs. The tables in this publication include data on the number of staff employed in Title IV postsecondary institutions in fall 2007 by primary function/occupational activity, length of contract/teaching period, employment status, salary class interval, faculty and tenure status, academic rank, race/ethnicity, and gender. Also included are tables on the number of full-time instructional faculty employed in Title IV postsecondary institutions in 2007-08 by length of contract/teaching period, academic rank, gender, and average salaries.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009154

Posted by ronbo at 11:16 AM

December 10, 2008

From IES Newsflash: Results of the NAEP 2007 mathematics assessment in Puerto Rico just released

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has released results from the NAEP 2007 mathematics assessment administered in Puerto Rico. Results are reported in "The Nation's Report Card: Mathematics 2007 Performance of Public School Students in Puerto Rico." Approximately 2,800 fourth- and eighth-grade students from 100 public schools in Puerto Rico participated in the assessment. Students were assessed in the areas of number properties and operations, measurement, geometry, data analysis and probability, and algebra. Results for Puerto Rico students are compared to those for public school students nationally.

Findings include the following:

* The average question score was lower for students in Puerto Rico than public school students nationally.

* There was no significant difference in overall scores between male and female students in Puerto Rico.

* Although male students scored higher than female students in the content area of measurement, female students scored higher than male students in the content area of data analysis and probability.

Read the executive summary and download the report in English or Spanish at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/studies/2009451.asp

To view additional findings and more information on the assessment, visit
http://nationsreportcard.gov/puertorico/

For background on the history of NAEP assessments in Puerto Rico, visit
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/puertorico

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Science. The National Assessment Governing Board sets the policy for the NAEP program.

Posted by ronbo at 03:43 PM

December 09, 2008

From IES Newsflash: Highlights From TIMSS 2007: Mathematics and Science Achievement of U.S. Fourth- and Eighth-Grade Students in an International Context

This report from the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences summarizes the performance of U.S. fourth- and eighth-grade students on the 2007 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), comparing their scores with their peers internationally as well as documenting changes in mathematics and science achievement since 1995. The report also describes additional details about trends in the achievement of students within the United States, by sex, racial/ethnic background, and the poverty level of the schools they attend.

TIMSS is sponsored by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), an international organization of national research institutions and governmental research agencies. TIMSS has been administered four times: in 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. The United States participated in all four administrations. In 2007, 36 countries participated at grade four, while 48 participated at grade eight.

Mathematics

Results show that the 2007 average mathematics scores of both U.S. fourth- and eighth-grade students were higher than the TIMSS scale average. At grade four, the average U.S. mathematics score was higher than those in 23 of the 35 other countries, lower than those in 8 countries (all 8 were in Asia or Europe), and not measurably different from those in 4 countries. At grade eight, the average U.S. mathematics score was higher than those in 37 of the 47 other countries, lower than those in 5 countries (all located in Asia), and not measurably different from those in 5 countries.

Comparing average scores from the first administration of TIMSS in 1995 to the most recent results from 2007 showed that both U.S. fourth- and eighth-graders improved in mathematics.

Science

In science, the average scores of both U.S. fourth- and eighth-graders were higher than the TIMSS scale average. At grade four, the average U.S. science score was higher than those in 25 of the 35 other countries, lower than those in 4 countries (all of them in Asia), and not measurably different from those in 6 countries. At eighth grade, the average U.S. science score was higher than the average scores in 35 of the 47 other countries, lower than those in 9 countries (all located in Asia or Europe), and not measurably different from those in 3 countries.

Unlike in mathematics, the average science scores for both U.S. fourth- and eighth-grade students were not measurably different in 2007 compared to the first TIMSS results collected in 1995.

For more information on TIMSS and to view the report in its entirety, please visit http://nces.ed.gov/timss/

Posted by ronbo at 07:37 PM

December 02, 2008

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Expectations and Reports of Homework for Public School Students in the First, Third, and Fifth Grades"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Expectations and Reports of Homework for Public School Students in the First, Third, and Fifth Grades."

This brief uses data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K) to examine (1) the amount of time that students' public school teachers expected them to spend on reading/language arts and mathematics homework in first, third, and fifth grades; and (2) reports from parents of public school children of how often their children did homework at home in the first, third, and fifth grades. Teachers' expectations are reported by the percentage of minority students in the student's school and parents' reports are reported by the child's race/ethnicity. The findings indicate that the amount of reading and mathematics homework that students' teachers expected them to complete on a typical evening generally increased from first grade to fifth grade. In both subjects and in all grades, differences were found by the minority enrollment of the school. Children in schools with higher percentages of minority students had teachers who expected more hom
ework on a typical evening, whereas generally children in lower minority schools had teachers who expected less homework. In addition, in all three grades, larger percentages of Black, Asian, and Hispanic children than White children had parents who reported that their child did homework five or more times a week.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009033

Posted by ronbo at 02:58 PM

November 24, 2008

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Public Elementary and Secondary School Student Enrollment and Staff From the Common Core of Data: School Year 2006-07"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Public Elementary and Secondary School Student Enrollment and Staff From the Common Core of Data: School Year 2006-07."

This report presents 2006-07 school year information at the national and state level on student enrollment by grade and by race/ethnicity within grade, the numbers of teachers and other education staff, and several student/staff ratios.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009305

Posted by ronbo at 12:38 PM

November 05, 2008

From IES Newsflash: NCSER Training for Opportunities: Using the PEELS and NLTS2 Databases for Research and Policy Discussion

Two three-day seminars on the use of longitudinal datasets for education research and policy analysis will be held January 13-15, 2009 in Washington D.C. The seminars will focus on the Pre-Elementary Education Longitudinal Study (PEELS) database and the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2 (NLTS2) database. PEELS and NLTS2 study children and youth with disabilities and are administered by the National Center for Special Education Research within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Both seminars are open to advanced graduate students and faculty members from colleges and universities nationwide and to researchers, education practitioners, and policy analysts from federal, state, and local education and human services agencies and professional associations. The application deadline is November 23, 2008.

PEELS
The PEELS includes a sample of over 3,000 children with disabilities and is designed to describe the characteristics of children receiving preschool special education, their educational programs and services, and their transitions from preschool programs to elementary schools. For more information about PEELS, see http://www.peels.org

For more information about the PEELS database training seminar, see http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=378&cid=4

NLTS2
The NLTS2 includes a sample of more than 11,000 students with disabilities and is designed to support research on a wide range of topics pertaining to youth with disabilities as they move from secondary school into adult roles. For more information about NLTS2, see http://www.nlts2.org

For more information about the NLTS2 database training seminar, see
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=379&cid=4

Posted by ronbo at 02:49 PM

October 28, 2008

Two New IES Reports from the National Center for Education Statistics

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released two Common Core of Data (CCD) reports.

"Numbers and Types of Public Elementary and Secondary Education Agencies From the Common Core of Data: School Year 2006-07 - First Look"
This report presents findings on the numbers and types of public elementary and secondary local education agencies (LEAs) in the United States and the territories in the 2006-07 school year, using data from the Local Education Agency Universe Survey of the Common Core of Data (CCD) survey system. To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009303

"Numbers and Types of Public Elementary and Secondary Schools From the Common Core of Data: School Year 2006-07 - First Look"
This report presents findings on the numbers and types of public elementary and secondary schools in the United States and the territories in the 2006-07 school year, using data from the Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey of the Common Core of Data (CCD) survey system. To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009304

Posted by ronbo at 02:16 PM

October 27, 2008

National Household Education Surveys Program of 2001-07 Electronic Codebook, Public-Use Data Files, and User's Manuals

Two surveys were fielded in 2007 as part of the National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES): the School Readiness Survey (SR) and the Parent and Family Involvement in Education Survey (PFI). Three surveys were fielded in 2005: the Early Childhood Program Participation (ECPP), the After-School Programs and Activities (ASPA), and the Adult Education (AE) surveys. The 2003 collections were the Parent and Family Involvement (PFI) and the Adult Education for Work-Related Reasons (AEWR) surveys. Three surveys were also fielded in 2001 as part of NHES. These were earlier versions of the 2005 collections and include the Adult Education and Lifelong Learning Survey (AELL), the Before- and After-School Programs and Activities Survey (ASPA), and the Early Childhood Program Participation Survey (ECPP). The data, data documentation, and software to help search through and convert the data from these surveys into SPSS, SAS, or STATA files are available on CD. Data files and documentation can also be downloaded directly from this website.

Posted by ronbo at 06:26 PM

October 21, 2008

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Student Victimization in U.S. Schools Results From the 2005 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Student Victimization in U.S. Schools Results From the 2005 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey."

This report provides estimates of student victimization as defined by the 2005 School Crime Supplement (SCS) to the 2005 National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). NCVS is the nation's primary source of information on crime victimization and the victims of crime in the United States and the SCS is a supplement to NCVS that was created to collect information about school-related victimization on a national level. This report incorporates findings from student respondents ages 12-18 in grades 6-12 that were interviewed during the 2005 school year. It shows that student victims of crime are more likely to report conditions of an unfavorable school climate, security measures at school, and exhibit fear and avoidance behaviors. Additional topics covered in this report include the prevalence and type of student victimization at school and selected characteristics of victims, including their demographic characteristics and school type; and victim and nonvictim reports of the presence of gangs and weapons and the availability of drugs.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009306

Posted by ronbo at 06:06 PM

October 15, 2008

From IES Newsflash: 2009 National Forum on Education Statistics and the NCES Management Information Systems (MIS) Conference

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), in the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences (IES), will sponsor the 2009 National Forum on Education Statistics and the NCES Management Information Systems (MIS) Conference in Seattle, Washington. The Forum will be held on February 16-17, 2009. The MIS Conference (co-sponsored by the Washington State Department of Education) will be held February 18-20, 2009.

The 2009 MIS Conference is a concentrated 3 days of information about best practices, innovative ideas, current issues, and practical how-to advice about management information systems for K-12 education. It brings together the people who work with information collection, management, transmittal, and reporting in school districts and state education agencies.

This year, the MIS Conference will offer more than 80 presentations, demonstrations, and workshops conducted by practitioners from K-12 information systems.

You are invited to attend the 22nd Annual MIS Conference in Seattle, Washington and to submit a proposal for presenting a session that will add to the conference's interest and usefulness. Topics are invited from all sources, but the major focus will be on data use, data standards, statewide data systems, and data quality.

*** The deadline for the submission of proposals is November 07, 2008.***

For conference information and registration, visit:
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=381

Posted by ronbo at 06:07 PM

October 08, 2008

From IES Newsflash: NCES Announces DataLab

DataLab, a new website from the Institute of Education Sciences' National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), puts a wide range of survey data collected by NCES at your fingertips. Whether you want a quick number or an in-depth look at education data, the tools in the DataLab are designed to do both.

QuickStats, available now, is a guided table generator that allows users to produce a table with ease. Designed for those who are new to NCES data, or those who wish to answer basic questions -- what percent of college students are from low-income families? what percent of adults are taking coursework outside of the traditional college setting? what are the teaching challenges most often cited by public school teachers? -- QuickStats provides easy access to frequently used variables in many NCES studies of students, teachers, schools, and postsecondary institutions.

PowerStats, available in the spring of 2009, will permit users to produce complex tables and to run regressions, and to draw upon thousands of variables from many NCES studies. Like its predecessor the NCES DAS, Powerstats will allow for many kinds of regression analyses, including weighted least squares and logistic regression.

To view the site, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/datalab/

Posted by ronbo at 10:56 AM

October 07, 2008

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Postsecondary Institutions in the United States: Fall 2007 and Degrees and Other Awards Conferred: 2006-07, and 12-Month Enrollment 2006-07"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Postsecondary Institutions in the United States: Fall 2007 and Degrees and Other Awards Conferred: 2006-07, and 12-Month Enrollment 2006-07."

This report presents findings from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) fall 2007 data collection, which included two survey components: Institutional Characteristics for the 2007-08 academic year, and Completions covering the period July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007. It also presents data on 12-Month Enrollment for the 2006-07 academic year. These data were collected through the IPEDS web-based data collection system.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008159

Posted by ronbo at 07:17 PM

October 01, 2008

NCES Winter Forum and the 22nd Annual Management Information Systems (MIS) Conference "Mountains of Data - Sound Choices"

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), in the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences (IES), will sponsor the 2009 National Forum on Education Statistics and the NCES Management Information Systems (MIS) Conference in Seattle, Washington. The Forum will be held on February 16-17, 2009. The MIS Conference (co-sponsored by the Washington State Department of Education) will be held February 18-20, 2009.

The 2009 MIS Conference is a concentrated 3 days of information about best practices, innovative ideas, current issues, and practical how-to advice about management information systems for K-12 education. It brings together the people who work with information collection, management, transmittal, and reporting in school districts and state education agencies.

This year, the MIS Conference will offer more than 80 presentations, demonstrations, and workshops conducted by practitioners from K-12 information systems.

You are invited to attend the 22nd Annual MIS Conference in Seattle, Washington and to submit a proposal for presenting a session that will add to the conference's interest and usefulness. Topics are invited from all sources, but the major focus will be on data use, data standards, statewide data systems, and data quality.

For conference information and registration, visit:
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=381

Posted by ronbo at 10:02 AM

September 30, 2008

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Status and Trends in the Education of American Indians and Alaska Natives: 2008"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Status and Trends in the Education of American Indians and Alaska Natives: 2008."

This report examines both the educational progress of American Indian/Alaska Native children and adults and challenges in their education. It shows that over time more American Indian/Alaska Native students have gone on to college and that their attainment expectations have increased. Despite these gains, progress has been uneven and differences persist between American Indian/Alaska Native students and students of other racial/ethnic groups on key indicators of educational performance.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008084

Posted by ronbo at 10:00 AM

September 24, 2008

New IES report from the National Center for Education Statistics: ""Eighth Grade: First Findings From the Final Round of the Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K)"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Eighth Grade: First Findings From the Final Round of the Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K)."

This first look uses data collected from the final round of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K) when most of the cohort was in the eighth grade. This report is intended to provide a snapshot of the eighth-grade round of the ECLS-K and make the data available to encourage more in-depth analysis using more sophisticated statistical methods. It looks at multiple aspects of the cohort's middle school year; including overall achievement in reading, mathematics, and science; attainment of specific reading and mathematics proficiencies; participation in various school-sponsored activities; time spent on homework; and educational aspirations. The focus of this report is on the majority of the cohort promoted on schedule, and for these children the estimates are presented by various child and family characteristics.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008088

Posted by ronbo at 12:18 PM

Upcoming ECLS Data Training Seminar

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences will sponsor an advanced studies seminar January 7-9, 2009 in Washington, D.C. on the use of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) database. The ECLS-B is designed to support research on a wide range of topics pertaining to young children's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development and their health status across multiple contexts (e.g., home, child care, and kindergarten).

For more details on this seminar and to register, please visit:
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=377&cid=2

Explore the ECLS website at
http://nces.ed.gov/ecls/

Posted by ronbo at 12:07 PM

September 23, 2008

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Postsecondary Career/Technical Education: Changes in the Number of Offering Institutions and Awarded Credentials from 1997 to 2006"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Postsecondary Career/Technical Education: Changes in the Number of Offering Institutions and Awarded Credentials from 1997 to 2006."

This issue brief examines trends from 1997 to 2006 in the number of sub-baccalaureate postsecondary institutions that offer programs in career/technical education (CTE), and the number of sub-baccalaureate CTE credentials awarded by postsecondary institutions. Trends were examined by institutional sector, focusing on the three sectors most commonly offering CTE: Public two -year institutions, for-profit less-than-two -year institutions, and for-profit two-year institutions. In 2006, these sectors collectively accounted for 87 percent of the less-than-four-year institutions that offered CTE and awarded 94 percent of all sub-baccalaureate CTE credentials. Overall, the number of less-than-four-year institutions offering CTE increased 3 percent from 1997 to 2006, and the number of sub-baccalaureate CTE credentials awarded increased 24 percent. Over this time period, there was a shift in both CTE-offering institutions and CTE credentials, from public two-year institutions to for-p
rofit two-year and less-than-two-year institutions. Although the number of credentials awarded grew at a faster rate among for-profit institutions than among public two-year institutions, the latter still awarded most sub-baccalaureate CTE credentials in 2006 (58 percent) while for-profit two-year and less-than-two-year institutions combined awarded 35 percent.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008001

Posted by ronbo at 07:41 AM

September 18, 2008

NAEP Researchers: Data Available for 2007 Mathematics and Reading, and 2005 High School Transcript Study

Restricted-use data for the 2007 mathematics and reading assessments are now available to NCES-licensed researchers. The data for the 2007 writing assessment will be available later. See which variables are in these and other datasets at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/variablesrudata.asp

The NAEP High School Transcript Study (HSTS) restricted-use data for 2005 are also available:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008483

Explore the public-use data for these assessments in the NAEP Data Explorer:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata/

For research funding opportunities, see
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/funding.asp

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 10:19 AM

September 17, 2008

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Projections of Education Statistics to 2017"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Projections of Education Statistics to 2017."

This publication provides projections for key education statistics. It includes statistics on enrollment, graduates, teachers, and expenditures in elementary and secondary schools, and enrollment and earned degrees conferred expenditures of degree-granting institutions. For the Nation, the tables, figures, and text contain data on enrollment, teachers, graduates, and expenditures for the past 14 years and projections to the year 2017. For the 50 States and the District of Columbia, the tables, figures, and text contain data on projections of public elementary and secondary enrollment and public high school graduates to the year 2017. In addition, the report includes a methodology section describing models and assumptions used to develop national and state-level projections.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008078

Posted by ronbo at 01:18 PM

September 08, 2008

From IES Newsflash: Check Out the WWC Summer Releases

From practice guides to intervention reports and quick reviews, the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance's What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) has released a total of 17 publications throughout the summer. As a new school year begins the WWC invites you to see what's new at http://whatworks.ed.gov

The What Works Clearinghouse was established in 2002 by the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences (IES) to provide educators, policymakers, researchers, and the public with a central and trusted source of scientific evidence of what works in education.

Posted by ronbo at 02:24 PM

September 03, 2008

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Dropout and Completion Rates in the United States: 2006"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Dropout and Completion Rates in the United States: 2006."

This report builds upon a series of National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports on high school dropout and completion rates that began in 1988. It presents estimates of rates for 2006 and provides data about trends in dropout and completion rates over the last three decades (1972-2006), including characteristics of dropouts and completers in these years. Report highlights include: The averaged freshman graduation rate (AFGR), which provides an estimate of the percentage of public high school students who graduate with a regular diploma 4 years after starting 9th grade, was 74.7 percent for the class of 2005. Students living in low-income families were approximately four times more likely to drop out of high school between 2005 and 2006 than were students living in high-income families. In October 2006, approximately 3.5 million civilian noninstitutionalized 16- through 24-year-olds were not enrolled in high school and had not earned a high school diploma or alternative credential.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008053

Posted by ronbo at 01:07 PM

Recent ICPSR updates and additions - New Releases through 2008-09-01

Below is a list of new data collection additions to the ICPSR data archive along with a list of released data collections that have been updated:

New Additions

2988 Israeli Election Study, 1973
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/02988.xml

3573 Guns and Colonists, 1773-1775 [United States]
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/03573.xml

4514 CBS News/New York Times Presidential Election Poll #2, October 1996
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/04514.xml

20366 Understanding Court Culture and Improving Court Performance in 12 Courts in California, Florida, and Minnesota, 2002
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/20366.xml

21521 Eurobarometer 67.3: Health Care Service, Undeclared Work, EU Relations With Its Neighbor Countries, and Development Aid, May-June 2007
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/21521.xml

22625 Organizations Convicted in Federal Criminal Courts, 2007
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/22625.xml

22840 Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS II): Milwaukee African American Sample, 2005-2006
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/22840.xml

Updates

3401 Substance Abuse Treatment Cost Allocation and Analysis Template (SATCAAT) Study, 1992-1994: [United States]
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/03401.xml

4563 Eurobarometer 63.1: Science and Technology, Social Values, and Services of General Interest, January-February 2005
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/04563.xml

4668 Eurobarometer 62.2: Agricultural Policy, Development Aid, Social Capital, and Information and Communication Technology, November-December 2004
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/04668.xml

4669 Eurobarometer 63.2: Radioactive Waste, Transport Services, Farm Animal's Welfare, and Means of Payment, February-March 2005
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/04669.xml

6202 CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll #1, May 1993
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/06202.xml

8424 National Youth Survey [United States]: Wave II, 1977
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/08424.xml

9936 ABC News Women's Issues Poll, July 1992
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/09936.xml

You can also view a list of all studies added and updated in the last ninety days by visiting the ICPSR Web site at
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/ICPSR/access/recent.html.

Posted by ronbo at 03:31 AM

New IES Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Education and Certification Qualifications of Departmentalized Public High School-Level Teachers of Core Subjects: Evidence from the 2003-04 Schools and Staffing Survey"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Education and Certification Qualifications of Departmentalized Public High School-Level Teachers of Core Subjects: Evidence from the 2003-04 Schools and Staffing Survey."

This report uses data from the 2003-04 survey to describe various aspects of the match between teachers' majors and current teaching assignments, as well as the match to certification, for public high school-level teachers in the core academic subjects of English, math, science, and social studies.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008338

For more information about the content of this report, contact Kerry.Gruber@ed.gov or (202) 502-7349.

Posted by ronbo at 03:29 AM

August 20, 2008

NCES Releases New Report: Findings From Community Colleges: A Special Supplement to The Condition of Education 2008

Community colleges enroll over one-third of America's college students, confer the majority of associate's degrees, and serve as a gateway to bachelor's degrees for many students, according to "Community Colleges: A Special Supplement to The Condition of Education 2008" report released today by the Institute of Education Sciences' National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

This Special Supplement to "The Condition of Education 2008" provides a profile of the more than 1,000 community colleges in the United States, examines the characteristics of students who entered community college directly from high school, and looks at rates of persistence and attainment among community college students in general. It also compares the characteristics of these public 2-year institutions, and of the students who enroll in them, with those of public and private 4-year colleges and universities.

Among the report's findings:

* Among high school seniors who enrolled immediately in a postsecondary institution in the fall of 2004, 30 percent enrolled in a community college.

* About two-thirds of these immediate community college enrollees reported that they planned to pursue a bachelor's degree or higher when they were still high school seniors; the other one-third reported that they expected an associate's degree or less would be their highest attainment.

* Community colleges enroll larger percentages of nontraditional, low-income, and minority students than 4-year colleges and universities.

* In fall 2006, about 62 percent of community college students were enrolled part time compared with a quarter of students at 4-year institutions.

* Compared to 4-year institutions, community colleges rely more heavily on part-time faculty and staff. In addition, compared with the faculty and staff at 4-year institutions, the main activity of a greater percentage of community college faculty and staff is teaching compared to research or administrative duties.

The full text of "Community Colleges: A Special Supplement to The Condition of Education 2008" (in HTML format) can be viewed at http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/2008/analysis/

Posted by ronbo at 02:22 PM

August 19, 2008

New IES report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Public School Graduates and Dropouts from the Common Core of Data: School Year 2005-06"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Public School Graduates and Dropouts from the Common Core of Data: School Year 2005-06."

This report presents the number of high school graduates, the Averaged Freshman Graduation Rate (AFGR), and dropout data for grades 9 through 12 for public schools in school year 2005-06. The counts of graduates, dropouts, and enrollments by grade (which serve as the denominators for the graduation and dropout rates) are from the Common Core of Data (CCD) nonfiscal surveys of public elementary/secondary education. These data represent high school graduates receiving regular diplomas for the 2005-06 school year and dropouts from the 2005-06 school year.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008353

Posted by ronbo at 09:41 AM

August 12, 2008

New IES report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Parents' Reports of the School Readiness of Young Children from the National Household Education Surveys Program of 2007"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Parents' Reports of the School Readiness of Young Children from the National Household Education Surveys Program of 2007."

This descriptive report presents initial findings on the school readiness of young children, as reported by their parents, from the School Readiness Survey (PFI) of the 2007 National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES). It also incorporates basic demographic information about the population of children ages 3 to 6 who have not yet entered kindergarten, their parents'/guardians' characteristics, and the characteristics of the households in which they live. Topics covered include the participation of young children in preschool or other types of center-based care or education arrangements; parental plans for kindergarten enrollment and parents' beliefs about what they think they should do to prepare their children for school; children's developmental accomplishments and difficulties, including emerging literacy and numeracy skills; family activities with children in and outside of the home; and children's television-viewing habits.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008051

Posted by ronbo at 11:58 PM

August 06, 2008

New IES report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Parent and Family Involvement in Education, 2006-07 School Year, from the National Household Education Surveys Program of 2007"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Parent and Family Involvement in Education, 2006-07 School Year, from the National Household Education Surveys Program of 2007."

This report presents initial findings from the Parent and Family Involvement in Education Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES). The NHES data were collected from January to May of 2007 through interviews with parents of students in kindergarten through grade 12. Selected findings include: approximately 54 percent of students in grades K through 12 had parents who reported receiving notes or e-mail from the school specifically about their child; some 83 percent of students had parents who received information about how to help with homework; 89 percent of students in grades K through 12 had parents who reported an adult member of the household had attended a general school meeting or a meeting of a parent-teacher organization or association (PTO/PTA) since the beginning of the school year; and 59 percent of students in grades K through 12 had parents who were "very satisfied" with their child's school, and 64 percent of students had parents who were "very satisfied" with their child's teachers that year.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008050

Posted by ronbo at 02:19 PM

July 30, 2008

New IES report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Descriptive Summary of 2003-04 Beginning Postsecondary Students: Three Years Later"

This NCES report provides a description of the characteristics and enrollment patterns of a nationally representative sample of students who began postsecondary education for the first time during the 2003-04 academic year. Using data from the 2004/06 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study, the report describes the background, academic preparation, and experience of these beginning students over three academic years, from July 2003 to June 2006, and provides information about rates of persistence, program completion, transfer, and attrition. The focus is on differences among students beginning at either 4-year, 2-year, or less-than-2-year institutions. Some highlights: Most of the first-time students who began at 4-year institutions in 2003-04 were age 19 or younger (85 percent) compared to 54 percent of students who began at 2-year institutions and 32 percent who began at less than 2-year institutions. Among those under age 24 who began at a 4-year institution,
nearly all (94percent) had taken algebra II or higher mathematics courses in high school, and about one-fourth had taken calculus. Of students who began at a 4-year institution, about one-half had a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher, and about one-fourth had earned credit for courses taken at a college while still in high school. Eighteen percent of the students who began at a 4-year institution in 2003-04 transferred from the institution where they had started.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008174

Posted by ronbo at 10:48 AM

July 29, 2008

New IES report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary School Districts: School Year 2005-06"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary School Districts: School Year 2005-06."

The School District Finance Survey for School Year 2005-06 (fiscal year 2006), part of the Common Core of Data (CCD), presents data submitted annually to NCES by state education agencies (SEAs) in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. All financial transactions associated with assets, expenditures, revenues, and indebtedness are accounted for, including revenues from federal, state, and local sources and expenditures in categories such as instruction and instruction-related activities, student support services, administration, operation, capital outlay, and debt services. While agencies whose only function is to collect and allocate funds or to provide certain administrative services for a group of districts are also included on the file, this report focuses on school districts that operate public schools and charter school districts.

The survey found that regular school districts had median total revenues per pupil of $10,173 in FY 06. The federal range ratio was 1.9, which indicates that the magnitude of the difference between total revenues per pupil at the 5th ($7,349) and 95th ($21,048) percentiles of districts was approximately 190 percent. Independent charter school districts had median total revenues per pupil of $8,357 in FY 06, with a federal range ratio of 1.9. For regular school districts, median current expenditures per pupil were $8,587 in FY 06. Median expenditures per pupil on instruction and instruction-related activities in regular school districts were $5,528. For independent charter school districts, median current expenditures per pupil were $7,499 in FY 06. Median expenditures per pupil on instruction and instruction-related activities in independent charter school districts were $4,123.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008345

Posted by ronbo at 06:26 PM

New IES report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Career and Technical Education in the United States: 1990-2005"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Career and Technical Education in the United States: 1990-2005," the fourth volume to describe trends in career and technical education (CTE, formerly known as vocational education). The compendium looks over time at CTE offerings, who participates in CTE, what types of CTE students take, who teaches CTE, and the labor market and further education outcomes attained by CTE participants. The report documents that between 1990 and 2005, the number of CTE credits earned by public high school graduates remained steady, despite the national trend of increased academic coursetaking in high school. The report also found that at both the high school and college level, student participation increased in the occupational areas of health care and computer science, and decreased in business. Other highlights include:

* Just over 90 percent of public high school graduates from the class of 2005 took at least one occupational course in high school. About one in five graduates took at least three courses within one of the 18 CTE occupational program areas.

* Among the public high school class of 1992, the more occupational credits that graduates earned in high school, the lower were their postsecondary enrollment rates eight years after graduating. Nevertheless, 70 percent of the most intensive occupational course takers (those earning four or more occupational credits) in high school had enrolled in postsecondary education by 2000.

* Among students who started postsecondary education in 1995-96, 70 percent of CTE completers working in 2001 reported their job was related to their field of study.

* Thirty-nine percent of employed adults participated in work-related courses in 2004-05, with business, health, and computer science being the most common subjects.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008035

Posted by ronbo at 05:42 PM

July 14, 2008

From IES Newsflash: America's Children in Brief: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2008 Available Online

The Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics has released America's Children in Brief: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2008. The annual report profiles the status of the nation's children and youth, presenting up-to-date federal statistics in one convenient reference. The National Center for Education Statistics in the Institute of Education Sciences is one of the 22 federal agencies that participate in the Forum and contribute to the report. The report documents that mathematics and reading scores of fourth and eighth graders have increased, but shows as well that the adolescent birth rate and the proportion of infants born at low birthweight have also risen. The report also includes indicators on child poverty, health care, housing, and at-risk behavior.

You can view, download, and print the report at http://www.childstats.gov/

Posted by ronbo at 03:27 PM

July 08, 2008

New Report from the National Center for Education Statistics: "Academic Libraries: 2006 First Look"

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Academic Libraries: 2006 First Look."

This report provides a statistical profile of the libraries serving postsecondary, two- and four-year degree-granting institutions in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The report includes information on services, collections, staff, revenue, and expenditures. The data were collected through the Academic Libraries Survey (ALS), conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics. The public-use and restricted-use data files and documentation are also available.

The full report, including supplemental tables, is available at:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008337

The public-use data file is available at:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008348

For information about obtaining a restricted-use data license to use the 2006 ALS restricted-use data:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/licenses.asp

For more information about this survey, please go to the Library Statistics Program home page at http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/libraries/

Posted by ronbo at 06:12 PM

June 27, 2008

New IES report from the National Center for Education Statistics: Technology-Based Distance Education Courses for Public Elementary and Secondary School Students: 2002-03 and 2004-05 (NCES 2008-008)

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Technology-Based Distance Education Courses for Public Elementary and Secondary School Students: 2002-03 and 2004-05 (NCES 2008-008)."

This report details findings from "Technology-Based Distance Education Courses for Public Elementary and Secondary School Students: 2004-05," a survey that was designed to provide policymakers, researchers, and educators with information about technology-based distance education courses in public elementary and secondary schools nationwide. This report also compares these findings with baseline data collected in 2002-03, and provides longitudinal analysis of change in the districts that responded to both the 2002-03 and 2004-05 surveys. For these two surveys, distance education courses were defined as credit-granting courses offered via audio, video, or Internet or other computer technologies to elementary and secondary school students enrolled in the district, in which the teacher and students were in different locations.

Findings indicate that 37 percent of public school districts and 10 percent of all public schools nationwide had students enrolled in technology-based distance education courses during 2004-05. During 2002-03, 36 percent of districts and 9 percent of schools had students enrolled in technology-based distance education courses. About a quarter (26 percent) of school districts that existed in both 2002-03 and 2004-05 had students enrolled in technology-based distance education in both school years, 11 percent did not have students in this type of education in 2002-03 but had such enrollments in 2004-05, and an equal percentage of districts (11 percent) had students enrolled in technology-based distance education in 2002-03 but not in 2004-05.

The number of enrollments in technology-based distance education courses increased from an estimated 317,070 enrollments in 2002-03 to 506,950 in 2004-05. The number of enrollments varied considerably among districts, although the majority of districts (57 percent) reported between one and 20 technology-based distance education enrollments in 2004-05. Distance education was more commonly offered by high schools than by schools at any other level, with 61 percent of technology-based distance education enrollments at the high school level. Seventy-one percent of districts with students enrolled in technology-based distance education courses in 2004-05 planned to expand their distance education courses in the future.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008008

Posted by ronbo at 04:11 PM

June 26, 2008

New IES report from the National Center for Education Statistics: Characteristics of the 100 Largest Public Elementary and Secondary School Districts in the United States: 2005-06 (NCES 2008-339)

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Characteristics of the 100 Largest Public Elementary and Secondary School Districts in the United States: 2005-06 (NCES 2008-339)."

This annual report provides basic information from the Common Core of Data about the nation's largest public school districts in the 2005-06 school year. The data include such characteristics as the numbers of students and teachers, number of high school completers and the averaged freshman graduation rate, and revenues and expenditures. Findings include: In 2005-06, these 100 largest districts enrolled 23 percent of all public school students and employed 22 percent of all public school teachers. The districts produced 20 percent of all high school completers (both diploma and other completion credential recipients) in 2004-05. Across the districts, the averaged freshman graduation rate was 69.5 percent. Three states -- California, Florida, and Texas -- accounted for almost half of the 100 largest public school districts. Current per-pupil expenditures in fiscal year 2003 ranged from a low of $5,104 in the Puerto Rico School District to a high of $18,878 in the District of C
olumbia Public School District.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008339

Posted by ronbo at 09:24 AM

June 25, 2008

From IES Newsflash: New IES report from the National Center for Education Statistics

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Trends Among High School Seniors, 1972-2004 (NCES 2008-320)."

Using questionnaire and transcript data collected in 1972, 1980, 1982, 1992, and 2004, this report presents information on five cohorts of high school seniors. The analysis addresses overall trends, as well as trends within various subgroups defined by sex, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES). Key findings of the report include the following:

* The proportion of Black seniors who were in the highest SES quartile doubled from 1972 to 1992 (from 5 percent to 10 percent), and increased overall from 5 percent in 1972 to 14 percent in 2004.

* The percentage of seniors enrolling in calculus during their senior year grew from 6 percent to 13 percent between 1982 and 2004. The percentage of seniors taking no mathematics courses during their senior year declined from 57 percent to 34 percent over this time period.

* Seniors increased their senior-year enrollment in advanced science courses (chemistry II, physics II, and advanced biology) from 12 percent in 1982 to 25 percent in 2004.

* In each class of seniors, most of those who planned further schooling intended to attend four-year postsecondary schools, with the proportion of students planning to attend four-year schools rising from 34 percent in 1972 to 61 percent in 2004.

* In all years, higher percentages of Asian high school seniors, and lower percentages of Hispanic seniors (except in 1992), compared to other racial/ethnic groups, planned attendance at four-year institutions.

* No difference was observed between 1972 and 2004 between the percentage of seniors expecting a bachelor's degree as their highest level of education. Instead, growth between these two time points was greatest in expectations for a graduate or professional degree: 13 percent of seniors expected to attain this level of education as their highest in 1972, compared to 38 percent of seniors in 2004.

* In 1972, males expected to earn a graduate degree as their highest educational level in greater proportions than did females (16 percent versus 9 percent); however, in 2004, females expected to earn a graduate degree more often than males (45 percent versus 32 percent).

* Seniors increasingly expected to work in professional occupations (growing from 45 percent of seniors in 1972 to 63 percent of seniors in 2004 expecting to work in a professional field).

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008320

Posted by ronbo at 05:53 PM

From IES Newsflash: Just Released: National Indian Education Study - Part II: The Educational Experiences of American Indian and Alaska Native Students in Grades 4 and 8

This report presents information about the educational, home, and community experiences of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) fourth- and eighth-grade students that was collected during the National Indian Education Study (NIES) of 2007. AI/AN students represent about 1 percent of the student population in the United States. Approximately 10,000 AI/AN students in 1,700 schools at grade 4 and 11,000 AI/AN students from 1,800 schools at grade 8 participated in the study. Students, their teachers, and their school administrators completed the surveys.

The three major areas of findings described in this report include: characteristics of AI/AN students, characteristics of their teachers and schools, and the integration of native language and culture in their homes and schools.

Social and demographic information from the survey provides insights into the AI/AN student population. Highlighted below are only a few of the major findings.

* Fifty-six percent of AI/AN fourth-graders and 54 percent of eighth-graders attended schools in the South Central and Mountain regions. In the Mountain region, higher percentages of AI/AN students attended "high density schools" -- in which at least 25 percent of the students were AI/AN -- than attended "low density" schools.

* A higher percentage of AI/AN students in high density schools than in low density schools reported that a language other than English was spoken in their homes all or most of the time.

* Fifty-five percent of fourth-graders and 64 percent of eighth-graders in high density schools attended schools where more than three-quarters of the student body was eligible for free/reduced-price school lunch.

* Although nearly 90 percent of AI/AN students overall had teachers who provided instruction entirely in English, a higher percentage of students in high density schools than in low density schools had teachers who reported occasional use of AI/AN language in their instruction.

Find out more at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nies/

For each of the Findings, you can access related results in PDF format by clicking in the colored box.

Read the executive summary, and print the report at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/studies/2008458.asp

The study is sponsored by the Office of Indian Education (OIE) and conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics for the U.S. Department of Education.

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 05:51 PM

June 24, 2008

From IES Newsflash: Coming on June 25: National Indian Education Study - Part II: The Educational Experiences of American Indian and Alaska Native Students in Grades 4 and 8

The National Indian Education Study (NIES) is a two-part study designed to describe the condition of education for American Indian and Alaska Native students in the United States.

Part I of the 2007 NIES provides in-depth information on the academic performance of fourth- and eighth-grade American Indian and Alaska Native students on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in mathematics and reading. Part I was released on May 14. Explore Part I at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nies/

Part II of NIES was conducted through a survey to explore the educational experiences of these students who participated in the NAEP assessments. The survey focused on the integration of native language and culture into school and classroom activities. Part II will be released on June 25, at 10 a.m.

The study is sponsored by the Office of Indian Education (OIE) and conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics for the U.S. Department of Education.

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 05:30 PM

June 21, 2008

From IES Newsflash: For NAEP Researchers: New Training Opportunities, Data Available

*** TRAINING: JUNE 23 IS THE APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR TWO NAEP SEMINARS.

Both are three-day advanced studies seminars on the use of NAEP data for education research and policy analysis. These seminars are aimed at faculty and advanced graduate students from colleges and universities. Education researchers and policy analysts with strong statistical skills from state and local education agencies and professional associations are also welcome. June 23 is the application deadline for both.

Using NAEP for Research and Policy Analysis: NAEP Database Training Seminar -- July 30 to August 1

The main NAEP database contains nationally representative achievement scores of students in grades 4, 8, and 12, from public and non-public schools in a variety of academic subjects. The database also contains background information on the students who were assessed and their learning environment.

For more information and to register:
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=313&cid=2

Take a look at the variety of published data in the NAEP Data Explorer:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata/

HSTS Database Training Seminar: Use of the NAEP High School Transcript Study (HSTS) 2005 Data -- August 4-6

The NAEP High School Transcript Study collects transcripts from representative samples of America's public and private high school graduates. The most recent study was conducted in 2005, in conjunction with grade 12 NAEP assessments in mathematics and science. The database includes information on students' coursetaking, course credits earned, grade point average, performance on the NAEP assessment, and student and school background characteristics.

For more information on the seminar and to register:
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=356&cid=2

For more information on the NAEP HSTS, see
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/hsts/

Take a look at the published HSTS data in the NAEP Data Explorer:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/hstsnde/

*** NEW MICRO-DATA: LONG-TERM TREND MATHEMATICS AND READING DATA FOR SECONDARY ANALYSIS.

Data for all long-term trend (LTT) mathematics and reading assessments through 2004 are now available on CD-ROM to researchers in organizations holding licenses from NCES. See which variables are available:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/variablesrudata.asp

For more information on the long-term trend assessment, see
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/ltt/

Take a look at the published data in the NAEP Data Explorer:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/lttnde/

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 02:29 PM

June 16, 2008

From IES Newsflash: For NAEP Researchers: New Training Opportunities, Data Available

*** TRAINING: JUNE 18 IS THE APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR TWO NAEP SEMINARS.

Both are three-day advanced studies seminars on the use of NAEP data for education research and policy analysis. These seminars are aimed at faculty and advanced graduate students from colleges and universities. Education researchers and policy analysts with strong statistical skills from state and local education agencies and professional associations are also welcome. June 18 is the application deadline for both.

1. Using NAEP for Research and Policy Analysis: NAEP Database Training Seminar -- July 30 to August 1

The main NAEP database contains nationally representative achievement scores of students in grades 4, 8, and 12, from public and non-public schools in a variety of academic subjects. The database also contains background information on the students who were assessed and their learning environment.

For more information and to register:
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=313&cid=2

Take a look at the variety of published data in the NAEP Data Explorer:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata/

2. HSTS Database Training Seminar: Use of the NAEP High School Transcript Study (HSTS) 2005 Data -- August 4-6

The NAEP High School Transcript Study collects transcripts from representative samples of America’s public and private high school graduates. The most recent study was conducted in 2005, in conjunction with grade 12 NAEP assessments in mathematics and science. The database includes information on students’ coursetaking, course credits earned, grade point average, performance on the NAEP assessment, and student and school background characteristics.

For more information on the seminar and to register:
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=356&cid=2

For more information on the NAEP HSTS, see
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/hsts/
Take a look at the published HSTS data in the NAEP Data Explorer:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/hstsnde/

*** NEW MICRO-DATA: LONG-TERM TREND MATHEMATICS AND READING DATA FOR SECONDARY ANALYSIS.

Data for all long-term trend (LTT) mathematics and reading assessments through 2004 are now available on CD-ROM to researchers in organizations holding licenses from NCES. See which variables are available:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/variablesrudata.asp

For more information on the long-term trend assessment, see
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/ltt/
Take a look at the published data in the NAEP Data Explorer:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/lttnde/

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 08:32 PM

June 09, 2008

From IES Newsflash: State Education Reforms Website updated

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has expanded the State Education Reforms (SER) website. The site was based on the report "Overview and Inventory of State Education Reforms: 1990 to 2000," and is updated periodically to incorporate new data on state education reform activities.

The SER website, which draws primarily on data collected by organizations other than NCES, compiles and disseminates data on state-level education reform efforts in four areas: standards, assessment, and accountability; school finance reforms; resources for learning; and state support for school choice options. Specific reform areas include student and teacher assessments, adequate yearly progress, statewide exit exams, highly qualified teachers, open enrollment laws, and charter schools.

In the Standards, Assessment, and Accountability area of the website, three tables were updated and two new tables were added. Three tables were updated in the Resources for Learning area. To locate these tables on the SER site, please look for the "New!" and "Updated!" tags next to the table titles.

To view the site, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/programs/statereform/

Posted by ronbo at 03:27 PM

May 30, 2008

From IES Newsflash: For NAEP Researchers: Long-Term Trend Reading 1971-2004 Data; NAEP Database Training

Data for all long-term trend (LTT) reading assessments through 2004 are now available on CD-ROM to researchers in organizations holding licenses from NCES. See which variables are available:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/variablesrudata.asp

Explore the public-use LTT data for reading and mathematics in the NAEP Data Explorer:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/lttnde/
Restricted-use data for LTT mathematics assessments 1978-2004 will be available this summer.

REMINDER: June 18 is the deadline to apply for a three-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the NAEP database for education research and policy analysis that begins July 30. This seminar is aimed at faculty, advanced graduate students, and education researchers and policy analysts with strong statistical skills from state and local education agencies and professional associations. For details, see
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=313&cid=2

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 02:28 AM

From IES Newsflash: NCES Releases New Report: Condition of Education 2008

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released "The Condition of Education 2008," a congressionally mandated report that provides an annual portrait of education in the United States. The 43 indicators included in this year's report cover all aspects of education, from early childhood through postsecondary education and from student achievement to school environment and resources. Among the report's findings:

* This year, public school enrollment is expected to approach about 50 million students. Total public school enrollment is projected to set new records each year from 2008 to 2017, at which time it is expected to reach 54.1 million.

* Minority students make up 43 percent of the public school enrollment overall and 48 percent in the South and 55 percent in the West.

* In 2005–06, about a third of Black students and a third of Hispanic students attended high-poverty schools compared with 4 percent of White students.

* Average reading scores of 4th- and 8th-graders were higher in 2007 than in 1992.

* Average mathematics scores increased 27 points for 4th-graders and 19 points for 8th-graders between 1990 and 2007.

* Among public high school students in the class of 2005, about three-fourths graduated on time.

* Since 1970, women's undergraduate enrollment has increased over three times as fast as men's. Currently, women make up 57 percent of undergraduate enrollment.

* In 2006, young adults with a bachelor's degree earned about $11,000 more than those with an associate’s degree, about $16,000 more than those who had completed high school, and more than twice as much than those who did not earn a high school diploma.

The full text of "The Condition of Education 2008," along with related data tables and indicators from previous years, can be viewed at http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe.

Posted by ronbo at 02:24 AM

May 28, 2008

From IES Newsflash: Upcoming ECLS/NHES Data Training Seminar to be Held July 31

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences will be conducting a one-day training seminar on its early childhood studies on July 31 at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Sociological Association in Boston, Massachusetts. This seminar provides researchers with tools for utilizing data from two NCES programs, the Early Childhood Longitudinal Studies (ECLS) and the National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES). The seminar will provide overviews of the study designs and technical issues, highlights about data pertaining to children from birth through 8th grade, and information on how the surveys complement each other. The seminar is for graduate students, faculty, and researchers who have a solid understanding of statistics and limited familiarity with the ECLS and NHES data. Researchers who have previously attended an overview seminar on these studies, or who have attended an in-depth training on one of the studies and are
not interested in the others, probably will not benefit from this seminar.

More information on the content of the seminar and the registration procedures is available on the ECLS and NHES websites.

http://nces.ed.gov/ecls
http://nces.ed.gov/nhes

Posted by ronbo at 12:56 AM

May 19, 2008

New IES report from the National Center for Education Statistics

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Attrition of Public School Mathematics and Science Teachers (NCES 2008-077)."

Using data from the Teacher Follow-up Survey (TFS), this Issue Brief reports on trends in the attrition of public school mathematics and science teachers over a 16-year period and examines the reasons given by mathematics and science teachers for leaving teaching employment. Findings from the analysis indicate that the percentage of public school mathematics and science teachers who left teaching employment did not change measurably between 1988-89 and 2004-05. However, the percentage of other public school teachers who left teaching employment did increase over the same period. Differences were found between mathematics and science leavers and other leavers. For example, of those teachers with a regular or standard certification, a smaller percentage of mathematics and science teachers than other teachers left teaching employment. In addition, when asked to rate various reasons for leaving the teaching profession, greater percentages of mathematics and science leavers than o
ther leavers rated better salary or benefits as very important or extremely important.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008077

Posted by ronbo at 06:56 PM

May 17, 2008

From IES Newsflash: National Indian Education Study 2007 Part I on the NAEP Website

National Indian Education Study 2007 Part I: Performance of American Indian and Alaska Native Students at Grades 4 and 8 on NAEP 2007 Reading and Mathematics Assessments is now available at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard

The report presents the results of Part I of the National Indian Education Study (NIES) focusing on the performance of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) fourth- and eighth-graders on the 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress in reading and mathematics. A national sample of approximately 10,100 AI/AN students at grades 4 and 8 participated in the reading assessment and 10,300 in the mathematics assessment. Results from this study are compared to those from the first NIES conducted in 2005. The results for 11 states with relatively large populations of AI/AN students are presented in addition to the national results.

* Overall, the average reading scores for AI/AN fourth- and eighth-graders showed no significant change since 2005 and were lower than the scores for non-AI/AN students in 2007.

* There was, however, an increase in the percentage of AI/AN fourth-graders performing at or above the Proficient level from 21 percent in 2005 to 25 percent in 2007.

* In 2007 at both grades, AI/AN students attending schools in which less than 25 percent of the students were AI/AN scored higher than their peers attending schools with higher concentrations of AI/AN students, and those attending public schools scored higher than their peers in Bureau of Indian Education schools.

See complete results at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nies/

Read the executive summary of the report at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/studies/2008457.asp

NIES was conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Indian Education.

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 12:29 AM

May 13, 2008

From IES Newsflash: What's New on the NAEP Website for NAEP Researchers

==== TRAINING OPPORTUNITY: NAEP DATABASE USE

June 18 is the deadline to apply for a three-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the NAEP database for education research and policy analysis, to begin July 30. This seminar is aimed at faculty, advanced graduate students, and education researchers and policy analysts with strong statistical skills from state and local education agencies and professional associations. For details, see
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=313&cid=2

==== FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NAEP SECONDARY ANALYSIS

NAEP secondary analysts are encouraged to consider new Institute of Education Sciences (IES) RFAs for 2009 research grant competitions; application deadlines are June 25 and October 2. See
http://ies.ed.gov/funding/ for more details.
The IES website now has browsable versions of its RFAs.

The NAEP website contains much information for researchers:
* Funding opportunities at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/funding.asp
* Descriptions of tools for analyzing data at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/datatools2.asp
* A list of data available for secondary analysis at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/variablesrudata.asp
Coming soon: A CD-ROM with restricted-use data from the long-term trend assessments from the early 1970s through 2004.

==== NAEP PAPERS IN JUNE CONFERENCE

If you will be attending the National Conference on Student Assessment beginning June 15 in Orlando, please see descriptions of the NAEP papers at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/ccsso.asp

==== REPORTS COMPARING NAEP AND STATE PROFICIENCY

States vary widely in the standards for proficiency that they set for students on their state assessments, but it is possible to compare state proficiency standards by using NAEP as a common yardstick. To provide a basis for comparison, NCES developed several documents on NAEP and state proficiency standards. Read more, and see reports using NAEP data from 2005 and 2003 at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/statemapping.asp

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 08:57 PM

From IES Newsflash: New Edition of "Research News" Available Online

A new edition of the Institute of Education Sciences' newsletter, "Research News," is now available online, highlighting recent IES activities. In this issue: Meet the two newest associate commissioners on the IES senior leadership team, learn about the four new RFAs for FY 2009 and the recipients of research program grants for 2008, and find out about new longitudinal studies being launched by NCES and new Quick Review Reports from the What Works Clearinghouse. In addition to providing information about recent report releases, the newsletter offers details about upcoming conferences and training opportunities, along with other IES activities. "Research News" has been graphically redesigned as well, offering readers a pleasing new look, ease of use, and a link to previous editions of the newsletter. To read "Research News," please visit
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/newsletters/

Posted by ronbo at 07:48 PM

May 07, 2008

From IES Newsflash: NAEP Websites Offer New Features

The NAEP websites
* http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard and
* http://nationsreportcard.gov
have recently added helpful new features that include videos for teachers and students, data tools, and reference guides. Here are some of the new features:

VIDEOS FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
Information for selected schools has been updated to include videos for teachers and students, and fact sheets for teachers:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/schools.asp

NAEP NUMBERS
How many students and schools were in the sample for NAEP assessments, and how many students and schools did those small samples represent? See
http://nationsreportcard.gov/faq.asp#q2
How are students with disabilities and English-language learners included in NAEP? See
http://nationsreportcard.gov/faq.asp#q3

RECENT NAEP REPORTS
See a list of all NCES NAEP reports released in 2007 and 2008:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/current.asp#earlier
To read what NAEP assessments are planned for 2009, and what was assessed in 2008:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/current.asp

TOOLS, TABLES, AND QUICK REFERENCE GUIDES
For a one-stop portal to NAEP tools, quick data tables from the most recently reported assessments, and for Quick Reference Guides for the Questions Tool, Item Maps, State Comparisons, and Data Explorer:
http://nationsreportcard.gov/data_tools.asp

PRESS RELEASES AND OTHER RESOURCES FOR THE MEDIA
See information about releases from 2005 through 2007, and subscribe to the NCES NewsFlash to keep informed about recent releases.
http://nationsreportcard.gov/media.asp

Check the NAEP websites regularly for more information on the Nation's Report Card.

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 09:38 AM

May 06, 2008

From IES Newsflash: Using the National Household Education Surveys Program Database for Research and Policy Discussion

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences is sponsoring a three-day advanced studies seminar in Washington, DC, August 12-14, on the use of the National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES) database. The NHES is a valuable resource for understanding contemporary education issues such as early childhood program participation, parent and family involvement in education, student participation in after-school programs and activities, and adult education and lifelong learning.

For more details on this seminar and to register, please visit:
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=319

Explore the NHES website at
http://nces.ed.gov/nhes/

Posted by ronbo at 08:02 PM

From IES Newsflash: National Indian Education Study Part I Available May 14 on the NAEP Website

The National Indian Education Study (NIES) is a two-part study designed to describe the condition of education for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) students in the United States. The first part, providing in-depth information on the academic performance of fourth- and eighth-grade AI/AN students on the 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in mathematics and reading, will be released May 14. The results will be available online at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard on the day of release.

Part II of the study was conducted through a survey to explore the educational experiences of the fourth- and eighth-grade AI/AN students who participated in the NAEP assessments. The survey focused on the integration of native language and culture into school and classroom activities. Results of the 2007 survey are scheduled to be available in the summer of 2008.

NIES was first conducted in 2005, and provides data on a nationally representative sample of AI/AN students in public, private, Department of Defense, and Bureau of Indian Education funded schools. It is a reliable source of data for educators, administrators, and policymakers who address the educational needs of our students. See Parts I and II of the 2005 NIES at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nies/

The study was funded by the Office of Indian Education (OIE) and conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics for the U.S. Department of Education.

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 01:29 PM

April 28, 2008

From IES Newsflash: Spanish Language Version of College Navigator Now Online / Versión en Español de College Navigator Ahora En Línea

The U.S. Department of Education announces the release of a new Spanish language version of its college search tool, College Navigator.

College Navigator is a free consumer information tool designed to help students, parents, high school counselors, and others get information about nearly 7,000 postsecondary institutions in the United States. It provides a wide range of information -- such as programs offered, retention and graduation rates, prices, aid available, degrees awarded, campus safety, athletics, and accreditation -- in a user-friendly tool. College Navigator allows users to:

Search

* Search by programs offered, degrees offered, institution type, price, selectivity, distance from home, school size, institutional mission (historically black colleges and universities, single-sex), extended learning opportunities for adults (weekend and evening degree programs), and intercollegiate athletics programs offered.
* Modify or change their search from anywhere within the website.
* Use a simple and intuitive way of selecting keywords to search among programs at a general level (communications, journalism, and related programs), drill down through a menu to a moderate level of detail, and identify highly specific courses of study (health communication).

Compare

* Make comparisons of up to four institutions in a printer-friendly format, and maintain a list of favorite institutions from different searches

Save

* Save their sessions and receive an email with a link taking them back to where they left off.

Export

* Export search results to easily-used formats, such as Excel.

The College Navigator was developed by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the Institute of Education Sciences. Money Magazine recently named it as one of the magazine's top 28 websites and one of the best places to start a college search. On average, the search tool receives 30,000 visitors a day.

Visit the Spanish language version of the College Navigator:
https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?md=1

Posted by ronbo at 08:03 AM

April 23, 2008

From IES Newsflash: Deadline approaching for free summer training on SASS and TFS databases

When: July 23-25, 2008

Where: Washington, D.C. (Dupont Circle vicinity)

Please see http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=320&cid=2 for details and the application form.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), U.S. Department of Education, will sponsor a 2 1/2-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) and Teacher Follow-up Survey (TFS) for research and policy discussion.

This seminar is open to institutional researchers, education practitioners, and policy analysts from state and local education agencies and professional associations as well as advanced graduate students and faculty members from colleges and universities nationwide. Since an individual must have a restricted-use (RU) license in order to obtain a copy of the SASS RU dataset, preference is given to applicants who either already have a RU license or are in the process of obtaining one.

Posted by ronbo at 10:21 AM

April 22, 2008

From IES Newsflash: New IES report from the National Center for Education Statistics

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Parent Expectations and Planning for College: Statistical Analysis Report (NCES 2008-079)."

This report uses data from the 2003 National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES) Parent and Family Involvement Survey (PFI) to examine the characteristics associated with the educational expectations parents had for their children and the postsecondary education planning practices families and schools engaged in. The results presented in this report are based on a sample of students in grades 6 through 12 who represented the 28,182,000 students in grades 6 through 12 in the United States in early 2003. The data revealed that roughly nine out of every 10 students (91 percent) in grades 6 through 12 had parents who expected them to continue their education beyond high school, with about two-thirds (65 percent) having had parents who expected them to finish college. Other findings presented in this report show that about one-third (32 percent) of students had parents who perceived that their child's school did very well at providing information to help their child plan fo
r postsecondary education. Finally, among students whose parents expected them to continue their education after high school, 82 percent had parents who reported that the family was planning on helping to pay for their child's postsecondary education costs, and among those whose parents reported that the family was planning on helping to pay the costs, 66 percent had parents who reported that they had enough information about postsecondary education costs to begin planning.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008079

Posted by ronbo at 06:32 PM

April 17, 2008

From IES: New IES report from the National Center for Education Statistics

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education: School Year 2005-06 (Fiscal Year 2006) (NCES 2008-328)."

This brief publication contains basic revenue and expenditure data, by state, for public elementary and secondary education for school year 2005-06. It contains state-level data on revenues by source and expenditures by function, including expenditures per pupil.

To browse this report and to view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2008/expenditures/

Posted by ronbo at 09:05 PM

April 10, 2008

From IES Newsflash: New IES report from the National Center for Education Statistics

The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Findings from the Pilot Teacher Compensation Survey: School Year 2005-06 (NCES 2008-440)."

This brief publication contains summary data from the research and development effort to collect individual salary and demographic data on public school teachers. Seven states participated in this effort: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Data from full-time public school teachers who teach at only one school were included in the analysis. Median salaries and counts for different groupings by experience, age, race, and gender are presented.

To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008440

Posted by ronbo at 06:59 PM

April 03, 2008

From IES Newsflash: Comparison Between NAEP and State Assessment Results: 2003

Two research and development reports compare state and NAEP assessment results in reading and in mathematics, based on data from 2003 and earlier assessments. For each state, three aspects of student progress are addressed:
* Where the state standards fall on the NAEP scales for grades 4 and 8;
* How much progress the state made toward the NAEP equivalent of the state’s standards, from the earlier assessments to 2003;
* How much the racial/ethnic achievement gaps in each state have changed during this same period.

These two-volume reports also compare the NAEP findings with similar findings reported by each state on its own assessments. In each report, the first volume introduces the strengths and limitations of the study’s methodology and data sources, and the second volume contains detailed findings for each state, introduced by an explanation of the state profiles.

Download these reports:
Comparison Between NAEP and State Mathematics Assessment Results: 2003
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008475
Comparison Between NAEP and State Reading Assessment Results: 2003
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008474

To read more about research comparing NAEP and state and NAEP standards, see
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/statemapping.asp
A related report is available at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/studies/2007482.asp

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 08:43 AM

From IES Newsflash: The Nation's Report Card: Writing 2007 Results Released; Online Discussion Scheduled

Results from "The Nation's Report Card: Writing 2007" are now available, detailing performance of eighth- and 12th-graders nationally. Improvements were seen across many student groups since previous assessments in 2002 and 1998.

Results are also reported for eighth-graders in 45 participating states, the Department of Defense schools, and 10 urban school districts.

Since the last assessment, 19 states, three districts, and the Department of Defense schools made gains.

For complete results and to download the report, visit
http://nationsreportcard.gov.

Join National Center for Education Statistics Associate Commissioner Peggy G. Carr for an online chat at 2 p.m. today. Submit your questions anytime in advance at
http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/statchat/index2.asp, and come back later to participate in the session.

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 08:00 AM

April 02, 2008

From IES Newsflash: NAEP 2007 Writing: Your Questions Answered Online

Have your questions about the 2007 writing assessment answered live, online. There will be a StatChat at 2 p.m. on the day of the release, April 3, to discuss the new results. Submit your questions at any time at
http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/statchat/index2.asp
but be sure to return to join in the live discussion.

NAEP 2007 writing results will be released for the nation and for volunteering states and urban districts at 10 a.m. on April 3. The release will be webcast live; see
http://nationsreportcard.gov/ for details.

What will the 2007 results show? In the previous NAEP writing assessment, the average scale scores of students in grade 8 increased between 1998 and 2002, but no significant change in the performance of twelfth-graders was detected. Will that trend prevail? Examine previous national, state, and urban district findings at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/writing/results2002/

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 05:55 PM

April 01, 2008

From IES Newsflash: New IES reports from the National Center for Education Statistics

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) has released two new reports:

"Characteristics of the 100 Largest Public Elementary and Secondary School Districts in the United States: 2004-05 (NCES 2008-335)."

This annual report provides basic information from the Common Core of Data about the nation's largest public school districts in the 2004-05 school year. The data include such characteristics as the numbers of students and teachers, number of high school completers and the averaged freshman graduation rate, and revenues and expenditures. Among the findings: These 100 largest districts enrolled 23 percent of all public school students, and employed 20 percent of all public school teachers in 2004-05. The 100 largest districts produced 20 percent of all high school completers (both diploma and other completion credential recipients) in 2003-04. Across these districts, the averaged freshman graduation rate was 70.2 percent. Four states -- California, Florida, Texas, and New York -- accounted for more than half of the 100 largest public school districts. Current per-pupil expenditures in fiscal year 2003 ranged from a low of $4,351 in the Puerto Rico School District to a high of
$17,337 in Boston, Massachusetts.

To view, download and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008335

Also released: "Characteristics of Private Schools in the United States: Results from the 2005-2006 Private School Universe Survey (NCES 2008-315)."

This report on the 2005-2006 Private School Universe Survey presents data on private schools in the United States with grades kindergarten through 12 by selected characteristics.

To view, download and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008315

Posted by ronbo at 02:30 PM

March 27, 2008

From IES Newsflash: State Education Reforms (SER) Website: Recent Updates

NCES has just expanded the State Education Reforms (SER) website. This website was based on the report Overview and Inventory of State Education Reforms: 1990 to 2000, and is updated periodically to incorporate new data on state education reform activities.

The SER website, which draws primarily on data collected by organizations other than NCES, compiles and disseminates data on state-level education reform efforts in four areas: (1) standards, assessment, and accountability, (2) school finance reforms, (3) resources for learning, and (4) state support for school choice options. Specific reform areas include student and teacher assessments, adequate yearly progress, statewide exit exams, highly qualified teachers, open enrollments laws, and charter schools.

In the Standards, Assessment, and Accountability area of the website, one table was updated. One table was updated in the Resources for Learning area of the website, and one table was added to the State Support for School Choice Options area. To locate these tables on the State Education Reforms website, please look for the "New!" and "Updated!" tags next to the table titles.

To view the site, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/programs/statereform/

Posted by ronbo at 08:07 PM

March 26, 2008

From IES Newsflash: StatChat on 2007 NAEP Writing Assessment Results

At 2 p.m. on April 3, join National Center for Education Statistics Associate Commissioner Peggy G. Carr for an online StatChat about the 2007 writing assessment results. You can submit questions for the chat anytime in advance at http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/statchat and come back later to participate in the session.

The writing results will be available on April 3 at 10 a.m. At that time, you can view the results and watch a webcast of the release event online at
http://nationsreportcard.gov

For more information on the writing assessment, visit
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/writing/

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 12:24 AM

March 25, 2008

From IES Newsflash: Using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K) Database for Research and Policy Discussion

Wednesday, June 4, through Friday, June 6, 2008, Washington, DC

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, is sponsoring a three-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K) database. The ECLS-K allows researchers to examine the relationships among a wide range of child, family, teacher, classroom, and school variables and children's development and performance in elementary and middle school.

Complete applications must be submitted by April 14, 2008.

For more details on this seminar and to register, please visit:
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=312

Explore the ECLS website at
http://nces.ed.gov/ecls/

Posted by ronbo at 11:14 AM

From IES Newsflash: New IES report from the National Center for Education Statistics

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) has released the report "Digest of Education Statistics, 2007 (NCES 2008-022)"

The 43rd in a series of publications initiated in 1962, the Digest's primary purpose is to provide a compilation of statistical information covering the broad field of American education from prekindergarten through graduate school. The Digest contains data on a variety of topics, including the number of schools and colleges, teachers, enrollments, and graduates, in addition to educational attainment, finances, and federal funds for education, libraries, and international comparisons.

To browse this report, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d07/

To view, download and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008022

Posted by ronbo at 11:11 AM

March 21, 2008

From IES Newsflash: Applications Being Accepted for PEELS and NLTS2 Database Training Seminars

Two three-day seminars on the use of longitudinal datasets for education research and policy analysis will be held June 24-26, 2008 in Washington D.C. The seminars will focus on the Pre-Elementary Education Longitudinal Study (PEELS) database and the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2 (NLTS2) database. PEELS and NLTS2 study children and youth with disabilities and are administered by the National Center for Special Education Research within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Both seminars are open to advanced graduate students and faculty members from colleges and universities nationwide and to researchers, education practitioners, and policy analysts from federal, state, and local education and human services agencies and professional associations. The application deadline is April 30.

PEELS

The PEELS includes a sample of over 3,000 children with disabilities and is designed to describe the characteristics of children receiving preschool special education, their educational programs and services, and their transitions from preschool programs to elementary schools. For more information about PEELS, see http://www.peels.org/

For more information about the PEELS database training seminar, see
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=334

NLTS2

The NLTS2 includes a sample of more than 11,000 students with disabilities and is designed to support research on a wide range of topics pertaining to youth with disabilities as they move from secondary school into adult roles. For more information about NLTS2, see http://www.nlts2.org

For more information about the NLTS2 database training seminar, see
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=335

Posted by ronbo at 02:56 PM

From IES Newsflash: The Nation's Report Card: Writing 2007 To Be Released

Results from the NAEP writing assessment are scheduled to be released on April 3, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. "The Nation's Report Card: Writing 2007" will provide a snapshot of the writing abilities of the nation's eighth- and 12th-graders. The 2007 results will be compared with earlier assessments in 2002 and 1998. Results will also be available for eighth-graders in 45 participating states, the Department of Defense schools, and 10 large urban districts.

For more information on the assessment, visit
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/writing/

At the time of the release view the results and watch a webcast of the release event online at
http://nationsreportcard.gov. Join National Center for Education Statistics Associate Commissioner Peggy G. Carr for an online chat about the results at 2 p.m. on the day of the release. You can submit questions for the chat in advance at
http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/statchat and come back later to participate in the session.

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 09:40 AM

March 20, 2008

From IES Newsflash: New IES report from the National Center for Education Statistics

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) has released the report "Trends in Undergraduate Borrowing II: Federal Student Loans in 1995-96, 1999-2000, and 2003-04 (NCES 2008-179)."

The report uses data from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Studies (NPSAS:96, NPSAS:2000 and NPSAS:04) to examine trends in Stafford loan borrowing among undergraduates. Since 1995-96, borrowing of subsidized Stafford loans increased among low-income dependent undergraduates and among independent students at all income levels. The rate of borrowing any Stafford loan (subsidized or unsubsidized) increased among all but those in the lowest income category, for both dependent and independent undergraduates alike. While the average amount of subsidized loans has leveled off over time, unsubsidized loans have continued to grow both in the amount of the average loan as well as in the percentage of borrowers. Unlike subsidized loans, interest on an unsubsidized loan accrues and is usually added to the principal of the loan while the student is enrolled in school and not yet in repayment. This study found that between 1995-96 and 2003-04, an increasing proportion of both dependent and independent student borrowers at all income levels took out unsubsidized loans either alone or in addition to their subsidized loans. This was true particularly among independent students whose higher loan limits allow more of them to take out both types of loans. The Stafford loan program permits dependent students to take out both subsidized and unsubsidized loans, but the combined amount cannot exceed the maximum amount of a single loan. In 2003-04, about three-fourths (73 percent) of all dependent student borrowers took out the annual maximum amount allowed in subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans combined. This was an increase from 57 percent in 1995-96.

To view, download and print the report as a pdf file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008179

Posted by ronbo at 05:18 PM

From IES Newsflash: New Quick Guides Introduce NAEP Tools

NAEP web tools are powerful and easy to use, and now they are even easier to use, thanks to new Quick Reference Guides that you can print; see
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/naeptools.asp#qrg

Read about all NAEP tools at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/naeptools.asp
If you have a particular interest in NAEP assessment questions, watch a quick introduction to the questions tool by clicking "See video preview" in the large Questions Tool button at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/itmrls/
For details, click the large Questions Tool button to go to
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/itmrls/startsearch.asp where you will see a button for the Tutorial.

If you want to customize how you look at NAEP data, learn how with the NAEP Data Explorer tutorial. Click the link "view the tutorial" on
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata/

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 03:28 PM

March 16, 2008

From IES Newsflash: Applications Being Accepted for NAEP Database Training Seminar July 30

A three-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the NAEP database for education research and policy analysis will begin July 30, 2008; application deadline is June 18. See http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=313&cid=2 for details. This seminar is aimed at faculty and advanced graduate students from colleges and universities. Education researchers and policy analysts with strong statistical skills from state and local education agencies and professional associations are also welcome.

The main NAEP database contains nationally representative achievement scores on fourth-, eighth-, and 12th-graders from public and non-public schools in a variety of academic subjects. The database also contains background information on the students who were assessed and their learning environment. To understand more about NAEP research, see
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/
Explore the data at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata/

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 02:17 AM

March 13, 2008

From IES Newsflash: New RFAs Represent Potential NAEP Research Funding

NAEP secondary analysts are encouraged to consider four new Institute of Education Sciences RFAs for 2009 research grant competitions; application deadlines are June 25 and October 2. See http://ies.ed.gov/funding/ for more details. NAEP data can provide excellent research opportunities for these IES competitions: Education Research program (84.305A), Special Education Research program (84.324A), Statistical and Research Methodology in Education (84.305D), and Evaluation of State and Local Education Programs and Policies (84.305E).

The NAEP website contains information for researchers, including descriptions of tools for analyzing data at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/datatools2.asp
and available restricted-use data files at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/variablesrudata.asp

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 12:45 PM

March 07, 2008

From IES Newsflash: Announcement of Upcoming ECLS/NHES Data Training Seminar

NCES will be conducting a 1-day training seminar on its early childhood studies on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at the 2008 annual meeting of the Population Association of America (PAA) in New Orleans, LA. This seminar provides researchers with tools for utilizing data from two programs at the Institute of Education Sciences' National Center for Education Statistics: the Early Childhood Longitudinal Studies (ECLS) and the National Household Education Surveys (NHES). The seminar provides overviews of the study designs and technical issues, highlights about data pertaining to children from birth through 8th grade, information on how the surveys compliment each other, and computer demonstrations of software that assists users in preparing data for analyses. The seminar is for graduate students, faculty, and researchers who have a solid understanding of statistics and limited familiarity with the ECLS and NHES data. Researchers who have previously attended an overview seminar on the
se studies, or who have attended an in-depth training on one of the studies and are not interested in the others, probably will not benefit from this seminar.

This seminar is free of charge; however, we ask that you register in advance because space is limited. For more information or to register, please contact us at ecls@air.org.

More information on the content of the seminar and the registration procedures is available on the ECLS and NHES websites.
http://nces.ed.gov/ecls
http://nces.ed.gov/nhes

Posted by ronbo at 12:25 PM

From IES Newsflash: NAEP Sessions at AERA/NCME Meeting March 24-28

You may be interested in attending NAEP-related presentations at the upcoming annual meetings of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME) in New York. See a preliminary list of NAEP sessions:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/aera.asp

Note the March 27 training session, "Advanced Hands-on Exploration of NAEP Data on the Web," and the March 26 NAEP Studies SIG meeting, a forum for NAEP researchers.

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 09:39 AM

March 06, 2008

From IES Newsflash: NAEP Researchers: 2006 Restricted-Use Data Files Available!

Data for all 2006 NAEP national assessments (Civics, Economics, and U.S. History) are available on CD-ROM to researchers in organizations holding licenses from NCES. See which NAEP variables are available in 2006 (and earlier datasets) at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/variablesrudata.asp

Learn about the NAEP Data Toolkit, a user-friendly tool developed for analyzing NAEP restricted-use data, at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/datatools2.asp#data_tool

For information on obtaining permission to analyze restricted-use data:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/license.asp

To get an idea of the complexity of NAEP data, look at the publicly available data. Use the NAEP Data Explorer:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata/

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 07:11 PM

March 04, 2008

From IES Newsflash: New IES report from the National Center for Education Statistics

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) has released the report "Ten Years After College: Comparing the Employment Experiences of 1992-93 Bachelor's Degree Recipients With Academic and Career-Oriented Majors (NCES 2008-155)."

The report uses longitudinal data from the 1992-93 Baccalaureate and Beyond Study, which represents about 1.2 million bachelor's degree recipients that year. The report examines college graduates' work experiences in 1994, 1997, and 2003, describing their labor force status, employment stability, occupations and industries, salaries and benefits, and perceptions about their jobs. It compares the experiences of graduates with academic and career-oriented undergraduate majors. About half of all the graduates (51 percent) were employed and not enrolled at all three follow-ups, but the other half moved into and out of the workforce, often to pursue further education. By 2003, some 46 percent of graduates had at some point been unemployed (not working, but looking for work) since graduation, but unemployment became less prevalent the longer graduates had been out of college. By 2003, most graduates were settled in a job they considered a career, and had used their education. The a
verage salary for a graduate employed full time at one job, adjusted for inflation, had roughly doubled since 1994. A majority was satisfied with their pay, fringe benefits, job security, and opportunity for promotion. Compared with graduates with academic undergraduate majors, those with career-oriented majors appeared to establish themselves in the labor force earlier and relatively fewer obtained additional education.

To view, download and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008155

Posted by ronbo at 07:43 AM

March 03, 2008

From IES Newsflash: NAEP Questions Tool: New Video Preview, Tutorial, and Data Feature

Do you want to see what NAEP questions are like and what you can do with them? A new video will introduce you to the NAEP Questions Tool in under two minutes. Go to

http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/itmrls/ and click "See video preview" at the bottom of the Questions Tool button.

Accompanying the new video are short but detailed lessons to help you use all the features of the NAEP Questions Tool, which are easily available from the new Tutorial button on the Questions Search page:

http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/itmrls/startsearch.asp

For each question, a selection feature has been added for educators and other researchers who want to examine response data for any jurisdiction in state NAEP. For your selected question in mathematics, reading, science, or writing, click on the "More Data" tab to examine data for any a single state or TUDA.

Don't forget about the way to get a quick look at representative questions from recent assessments: click on Test Yourself on

http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/itmrls/

NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences.

Posted by ronbo at 01:50 PM

February 21, 2008

From IES Newsflash: Using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K) Database for Research and Policy Discussion

Wednesday, June 4, through Friday, June 6, 2008, Washington, DC

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, is sponsoring a three-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K) database. The ECLS-K allows researchers to examine the relationships among a wide range of child, family, teacher, classroom, and school variables and children's development and performance in elementary and middle school.

For more details on this seminar and to register, please visit:
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=312

Explore the ECLS website at
http://nces.ed.gov/ecls/

Posted by ronbo at 10:55 PM

January 30, 2008

From IES Newsflash: Using the NCES International Databases for Research and Policy Discussion

Wednesday, May 21, through Friday, May 23, 2008
Washington, DC

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, will sponsor a 2½-day seminar on the use of NCES International Databases: the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), and the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS).

This seminar is open to advanced graduate students and faculty members from colleges and universities nationwide, and to researchers, education practitioners, and policy analysts from state and local education agencies and professional associations.

There is no fee to attend this seminar. NCES will provide training materials as well as computers for hands-on practice. NCES will also pay for transportation, hotel accommodations, and a fixed per diem for meals and incidental expenses during the training seminar. All applications should be received no later than April 4, 2008. Applications will be reviewed and selected candidates will be informed by April 14, 2008.

For more information or to complete an application, go to:
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=309&cid=2

Posted by ronbo at 07:02 PM

January 29, 2008

New NCES Report! - Recent Participation in Formal Learning Among Working-Age Adults with Different Levels of Education

This report, released by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), uses data from the 2001 and 2005 adult education surveys of the National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES) to examine the participation of adults in formal learning activities during the 12 months preceding the survey, focusing on the participation of adults who at the end of the survey had the lowest levels of education (no high school diploma, or a GED). These adults with low levels of education were found to have participated at relatively high rates in adult basic education, ESL, and GED classes. However, for the most common types of formal learning activities—work-related courses and personal interest courses—adults with low levels of education participated at lower rates and for shorter periods of time than did adults with higher levels of education. Among the adults who did participate in these activities, those with lower levels of education at the end of the survey were less likely
than those with higher levels of education to pay at least some course expenses themselves.

View, download, and print the full report as a PDF file:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008041

Posted by ronbo at 04:22 PM

January 28, 2008

From IES Newsflash: NAEP Music and Visual Arts Assessments Begin January 28!

Eighth-graders in selected schools across the nation will be participating in music or visual arts assessments this winter. For more information about these innovative surveys, download the Sample Questions Booklet for music and visual arts at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/booklets.asp

The arts were last assessed in 1997; view the results at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf/main1997/artseduc/98455.pdf
(748KB; requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).

Results will be reported in 2009. The next arts assessment is scheduled for 2016.

National field tests in mathematics, reading, and science at grades 4, 8, and 12 also will be administered beginning January 28.

Until May 23, NAEP continues administering the long-term trend assessment in reading and mathematics. The data collected can be linked back to NAEP assessments first conducted in the early 1970s to measure progress across time. For more information, see:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/ltt/

Posted by ronbo at 05:44 PM

January 24, 2008

2006 Academic Libraries Survey data now on Peer Tool

The suppressed, unimputed data from the 2006 Academic Libraries Survey are now available on the Compare Academic Libraries peer tool at:
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/libraries/compare/index.asp?LibraryType=Academic

If you have questions about using the peer tool, please contact Barbara Holton at (202) 219-7095 or barbara.holton@ed.gov

Posted by ronbo at 01:23 PM

January 09, 2008

From IES Newsflash: Data File and Documentation for the Academic Library Survey (ALS) Data File: 1996

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has just released the Data File and Documentation for the Academic Library Survey (ALS) Data File: 1996 (Public Use) (NCES 2008-318).

The documentation and data file are available for downloading at
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/libraries/aca_data.asp

For more information about this and other library surveys, please go to the Library Statistics Program home page at
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/libraries/

Posted by ronbo at 06:52 PM

January 08, 2008

From IES Newsflash: NEW REPORT! Mathematics Coursetaking and Achievement at the End of High School: Evidence from the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has just released the report "Mathematics Coursetaking and Achievement at the End of High School: Evidence from the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002)"

This report documents and examines the relationship between the number and types of math courses taken in the 11th and 12th grade and growth in mathematics proficiency over the same time period. Using data from the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002), the analysis identifies the coursetaking sequences most prevalent among contemporary high school students in their junior and senior years, sociodemographic characteristics of the students who follow these course sequences, and the association between specific courses and course sequences and mathematics gains over the last two years of high school. Because most students (94 percent) entered the second half of high school with a mastery of basic mathematics skills such as simple arithmetic and operations, most learning during this time was in intermediate-level mathematics skills and concepts. For example, the percentage of students with an understanding of simple problem solving skills grew from 53 to 65 percentage points over the two year period. In terms of learning in specific content areas, the largest gains in intermediate skills such as simple operations and problem solving were made by those who followed the geometry-algebra II sequence. The largest gains in advanced skills such as derivations and making inferences from algebraic expressions were made by students who took precalculus paired with another course. The smallest gains were made by students who took one mathematics course or no mathematics courses during their last 2 years.

To view, download and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008319

Posted by ronbo at 04:00 PM

January 07, 2008

From IES Newsflash: Dig Deeper Into NAEP Data!

Did you know that you can use the NAEP Data Explorer (NDE) to investigate various aspects of a topic in NAEP reports? For an example, take a look at the Inside NAEP section now on the home page at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/

Here, you can click a link to look at the NAEP variable concerning mathematics courses taken by students during the testing period. The linked graph shows the percentage of students taking each course. Below that graph, you will find a link to the NDE where you can create the other graphs described in the Inside NAEP series, and many more. To get an idea of the helpful perspectives to be gained by exploring the data in this way, please take a look at the examples created for you in Inside NAEP.

There is a tutorial to teach you how to use the NDE at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nde/tutorial/NDE_tutorial.asp?context=&slide=

Use other NAEP tools to look at the data:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/itmrls/
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/states/
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nde/statecomp/

Posted by ronbo at 07:17 PM

January 04, 2008

From IES Newsflash: New Year Brings 2008 NAEP Assessments

In 2008, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) will continue conducting the long-term trend assessment, which has measured students' progress in mathematics and reading since the early 1970s. For selected nine-year-old students, the assessment period runs from January 7 to March 14, 2008. From March 17 to May 23, 2008, students at age 17 will take the assessments. Students at age 13 took the assessments in October through December 14, 2007. Results from these assessments in public and private schools throughout the nation will be reported in 2009. Read about the long-term trend assessment:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/ltt/

Learn why the full participation of all the selected schools and students is crucial to the success of this important assessment:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/natimportant.asp
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/parents/importance.asp

From January 28 through March 7, 2008, selected eighth-graders across the nation will be assessed in the arts, specifically in music or visual arts. The previous NAEP arts assessment was conducted a decade ago; read about it at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/arts/

Field tests for upcoming national and state assessments will also be held during this period.

For online resources with more information about NAEP, see the new NAEP home page:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/

Parents of students participating in the assessment can find answers to frequently asked questions:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/parents/

Learn how to use the NAEP data tools that help you understand the results of NAEP assessments:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/naeptools.asp

Posted by ronbo at 04:19 PM

January 03, 2008

From IES Newsflash: The Nation's Report Card: Informe Técnico de la Evaluación NAEP de Matemáticas en Puerto Rico

In 2003, a trial NAEP mathematics assessment was administered in Spanish to public school students at grades 4 and 8 in Puerto Rico. Based on preliminary analyses of the 2003 data, changes were made in administration and translation procedures for the 2005 NAEP administration in Puerto Rico. This report describes the content and administration of the trial NAEP mathematics assessments in Puerto Rico in 2003 and 2005, problems with item misfit in the 2003 data, and results of a special validity analysis.

See the report summary at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/studies/2007462.asp
(la versión del informe en español está disponible aquí)

Find out more about the NAEP mathematics assessment in Puerto Rico at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/puertorico/
and
http://nationsreportcard.gov/puertorico_2005/

See summaries of related reports, Mathematics 2003 and 2005 Performance in Puerto Rico-Highlights, at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/studies/2007459.asp
and
Mathematics 2005 Performance in Puerto Rico-Focus on the Content, at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/studies/2007460.asp

Posted by ronbo at 07:30 PM

December 20, 2007

From IES Newsflash: NEW REPORT! Projections of Education Statistics to 2016

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has just released the report "Projections of Education Statistics to 2016."

This publication provides projections for key education statistics. It includes statistics on enrollment, graduates, teachers, and expenditures in elementary and secondary schools, and enrollment, earned degrees conferred, and current-fund expenditures of degree-granting institutions. For the Nation, the tables, figures, and text contain data on enrollment, teachers, graduates, and expenditures for the past 14 years and projections to the year 2016. For the 50 States and the District of Columbia, the tables, figures, and text contain data on projections of public elementary and secondary enrollment and public high school graduates to the year 2016. In addition, the report includes a methodology section describing models and assumptions used to develop national and state-level projections.

To browse the report or to download, view and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/projections/projections2016/

Posted by ronbo at 10:33 PM

December 13, 2007

From IES Newsflash: Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) Longitudinal 9-Month-Preschool Restricted-Use Data File and Electronic Codebook and Users Manual

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has just released two data products from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS).

Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) Longitudinal 9-Month-Preschool Restricted-Use Data File and Electronic Codebook

This CD-ROM contains an electronic codebook (ECB), a restricted-use data file, and survey and ECB documentation for the first, second and third waves of data collection for the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS–B). It also contains the Reading Aloud Profile--Together supplemental data file.

For information, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008034

User's Manual for the ECLS-B Longitudinal 9-Month--Preschool Restricted-Use Data File and Electronic Codebook

The User's Manual describes the design, collection, and data processing of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort of 2001 (ECLS-B), with a special focus on the preschool wave data collection. It contains information to help users access and use the data files and electronic codebook. It also documents the Reading Aloud Profile--Together supplemental data file. This manual is only available on the ECLS-B Longitudinal 9-month--Preschool CD ROM.

For information, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008024

Posted by ronbo at 06:13 PM

From IES Newsflash: 21st Annual Management Information Systems Conference

Dear Potential Conference Participant -

The 21st Annual Management Information Systems Conference will be held in San Francisco, California -- February 25-29, 2008. The session proposal deadline this Friday, December 14th. If you would like to submit a proposal to present at this Conference, you may do so by visiting http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/

Additionally, Conference pre-registration will end on Friday December 21, 2007. After this data, your name will not appear in the participant's list that is included in the full Conference agenda. Please register as soon as possible!

If you have questions or need more information, contact Mary McCrory -- mary.mccrory@ed.gov

Posted by ronbo at 05:30 PM

December 07, 2007

From IES Newsflash: NEW REPORT! NAEP Validity Study: Mathematics Assessment

As part of the continued pursuit of excellence, Mark Schneider, the Commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), asked the NAEP Validity Studies (NVS) Panel to undertake a study to examine the quality of the NAEP Mathematics Assessments at grades 4 and 8.

The NVS report has been published, and NCES has commented on the findings. These comments have added importance given the new frameworks in reading, mathematics and science for 2009 assessments. NCES is refining the item creation and expert review process, including additional review by language experts and accessibility specialists.

Read NCES Commissioner Mark Schneider's comments in full at
http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/commissioner/remarks2007/11_23_2007.asp

To find a link to the full NVS report and appendices, go to
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/nvspapers.asp#validitystudy

Posted by ronbo at 01:52 PM

December 06, 2007

From IES Newsflash: NEW REPORT! Numbers and Rates of Public High School Dropouts: School Year 2004-05

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has just released the report "Numbers and Rates of Public High School Dropouts: School Year 2004-05"

This report presents findings on the numbers and rates of public school students who dropped out of school in school years 2002-03, 2003-04, and 2004-05, using data from the CCD State-Level Public Use Data File on Public School Dropouts for these years. The report includes high school dropout rates by state, region, school district size, and several student characteristics.

To browse this report and to view, download and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2008/hsdropouts/

Posted by ronbo at 11:36 AM

December 05, 2007

From IES Newsflash: NEW REPORT! Educational Technology in Teacher Education Programs for Initial Licensure

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has just released the report "Educational Technology in Teacher Education Programs for Initial Licensure"

This report details findings from "Educational Technology in Teacher Education Programs for Initial Licensure," a survey that was designed to provide policy makers, researchers, educators, and administrators with timely baseline information on a range of topics involving educational technology and teacher education programs for initial licensure at 4-year postsecondary institutions.

Findings suggest that teacher education programs for initial licensure were oriented toward preparing teacher candidates to use educational technology. For example, while about half of all institutions with teacher education programs for initial licensure offered 3- or 4-credit stand-alone courses in educational technology in their programs, many also taught educational technology within methods courses (93 percent), within the field experiences of teacher candidates (79 percent), and within content courses (71 percent). Large majorities of institutions agreed (strongly or somewhat) that their program graduates possess the skills and experience to integrate technology into instruction, and can construct project-based learning lessons involving educational technology. However, institutions reported a variety of barriers that impeded efforts to prepare teacher candidates to use educational technology within both program coursework and field experiences. For example, a majority of institutions reported a variety of moderate or major barriers to the ability of teacher candidates to practice educational technology-related skills and knowledge during their field experiences, including competing priorities in the classroom (74 percent), available technology infrastructure in the schools (73 percent), and lack of training or skill (64 percent), time (62 percent), and willingness (53 percent) on the part of supervising teachers to integrate technology in their classrooms.

To download, view and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008040

Posted by ronbo at 06:48 PM

December 04, 2007

From IES Newsflash: NEW REPORT! Performance of U.S. 15-Year-Old Students on Science and Mathematics Literacy in an International Context

This report from the National Center for Education Statistics in the Institute of Education Sciences summarizes the performance of U.S. 15-year-old students on the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2006, comparing their scores with their peers internationally. The report contains findings on science literacy (the focal subject in 2006) and mathematics literacy.

PISA is sponsored by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental organization of 30 industrialized countries, and has been administered three times, in 2000, 2003, and 2006. The United States participated in all three administrations. In 2006, 57 education systems (called jurisdictions in the report) participated, including all 30 OECD countries and 27 non-OECD jurisdictions.

Results show that the average score for U.S. students in science literacy was lower than the average of other OECD countries (489 vs. 500). Compared to the 29 other OECD countries, the United States scored lower, on average, than 16 OECD countries, not significantly different from 8, and higher than 5.

Compared with all 56 other jurisdictions, the United States scored lower than 22 jurisdictions, not significantly different from 12, and higher than 22.

When comparing the highest-achieving students in science literacy (those at the 90th percentile), there was no significant difference between the United States and OECD average scores. Among the OECD countries, 9 had higher average scores for students at the 90th percentile than the United States. Among all jurisdictions, 12 jurisdictions had higher average scores at the 90th percentile than the United States.

In 2003, the U.S. average for science literacy was below the OECD average and the U.S. placement among OECD countries was about the same as in 2006. It is not possible to compare science literacy scores between 2006 and 2003 directly because of a change in the assessment framework.

Other findings include:

* On two of the three science subscales (explaining phenomena scientifically and using scientific evidence) U.S. 15-year-old students had an average score below the OECD average in 2006. There was no difference between the U.S. average score and the OECD average on the identifying scientific issues subscale.

* The U.S. average score in mathematics literacy (474) was lower than the OECD average (498). There was no significant change in the U.S. score when compared to 2003.

* In mathematics literacy, U.S. students scored lower than their peers in 23 OECD countries, not significantly different from their peers in 2, and higher than their peers in 4. When comparing the highest-achieving students (those at the 90th percentile), U.S. students scored lower than the OECD average in mathematics literacy (593 vs. 615).

* The international report contains results on reading literacy for other participating jurisdictions. U.S. data on reading literacy were judged invalid by OECD because of an error in the test administration.

For more information on PISA visit http://nces.ed.gov/Surveys/PISA/

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008016

Posted by ronbo at 12:25 PM

December 03, 2007

From IES Newsflash: State Education Reforms Website updated!

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has just expanded the State Education Reforms (SER) website. This website was first based on the report "Overview and Inventory of State Education Reforms: 1990 to 2000" and is updated periodically to incorporate new data on state education reform activities.

The SER website, which draws primarily on data collected by organizations other than NCES, compiles and disseminates data on state-level education reform efforts in four areas: 1) standards, assessment, and accountability, 2) school finance reforms, 3) resources for learning, and 4) state support for school choice options. Specific reform areas include student and teacher assessments, adequate yearly progress, statewide exit exams, highly qualified teachers, open enrollments laws, and charter schools.

In the Standards, Assessment, and Accountability area of the website, two tables were updated. Two tables were updated and two new tables were added to the Resources for Learning section. To locate these tables on the State Education Reforms website, please look for the "New!" and "Updated!" tags next to the table titles.

To view the site, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/programs/statereform/

Posted by ronbo at 08:00 PM

From IES Newsflash: NEW REPORT! Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2007

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has just released the report "Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2007"

A joint effort by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and National Center for Education Statistics, this annual report examines crime occurring in school as well as on the way to and from school. It provides the most current detailed statistical information to inform the Nation on the nature of crime in schools. This report presents data on crime at school from the perspectives of students, teachers, principals, and the general population from an array of sources--the National Crime Victimization Survey, the School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the School Survey on Crime and Safety and the School and Staffing Survey. Data on crime away from school are also presented to place school crime in the context of crime in the larger society.

To browse this report and to view, download and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/crimeindicators/crimeindicators2007/

Posted by ronbo at 07:59 PM

November 28, 2007

From NCES: The Reading Literacy of U.S. Fourth-Grade Students in an International Context Results From the 2001 and 2006 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)

This report summarizes the performance of U.S. students on the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) assessment, comparing the scores of U.S. fourth-graders to the scores of their peers internationally in 2006 and also examining the extent to which the reading literacy of U.S. students had changed from the first administration of PIRLS in 2001. The results show that the average reading comprehension score of U.S. fourth-grade students in 2006 was higher than the average score of students in 22 of the 44 other countries and educational jurisdictions that participated in the PIRLS assessment. Ten countries and educational jurisdictions had average scores higher than the scores of U.S. students; average scores of students in the remaining 12 countries and educational jurisdictions were not significantly different from the scores of U.S. students. The performance of U.S. students on PIRLS in 2006 did not measurably differ from their performance in 2001. In addition to framing the reading literacy of U.S. students within an international context, the report shows how the reading literacy of U.S. fourth-graders varies by student background characteristics and contextual factors that may be associated with reading proficiency. Following the presentation of results, a technical appendix describes the study design, data collection, and analysis procedures that guided the administration of PIRLS 2006 in the United States and in the other participating jurisdictions.

Posted by ronbo at 11:53 PM

November 15, 2007

From IES Newsflash: 2007 NAEP Trial Urban District Assessments: Results in Mathematics and Reading Released Today

Results from the NAEP Trial Urban District Assessment were released today. The Nation's Report Card: TUDA Reading 2007 and The Nation's Report Card: TUDA

Mathematics 2007 provide fourth- and eighth-grade results for eleven urban school districts. Depending on when each district began participating in TUDA,

results are available for comparison to 2002, 2003, and 2005. All eleven districts participating in the 2007 assessments also participated in 2005.

Findings include the following:

* In both subjects at both grades 4 and 8, students in most districts scored lower than public school students nationally and higher than or comparably to their peers in large central cities.

Reading

* At grade 4, four (of six) districts showed score increases compared with 2002, two districts had higher average scores compared with 2005, and one district had a lower average score in 2007 compared with 2005.

* At grade 8, two (of five) districts showed increases compared with 2002, and four districts had higher average scores compared with 2005.

Mathematics

* At grade 4, eight (of ten) districts showed increases compared with 2003, four districts had higher average scores compared with 2005, and one district had a lower average score in 2007 compared with 2005.

* At grade 8, eight districts (of ten) showed increases compared with 2003, and six districts had higher average scores than in 2005.

To explore the complete results and to download the reports, visit:
http://nationsreportcard.gov

To read the executive summary of The Nation's Report Card: TUDA Mathematics 2007 and to download the PDF file, see:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/dst2007/2008452.asp

For the The Nation's Report Card: TUDA Reading 2007, see:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/dst2007/2008455.asp

To have your questions about these releases answered by NCES Associate Commissioner Peggy Carr, please submit your questions now at:
http://nationsreportcard.gov
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/

Be sure to come back on November 20 at 3 p.m. to see Dr. Carr's responses.

Posted by ronbo at 01:48 PM

November 13, 2007

From IES Newsflash: Results of 2007 Trial Urban District Assessment Will Be Released November 15, 10 a.m. ET

Results from the NAEP Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA) are scheduled to be released on November 15, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. ET in Washington, DC. The Nation's Report Card: TUDA Reading 2007 and The Nation's Report Card: TUDA Mathematics 2007 will provide fourth- and eighth-grade results for eleven urban school districts. The districts included in these reports are Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, and Washington, DC.

Depending on when each district began participating in TUDA, results are available for comparison to 2002, 2003, and 2005. At the time of the release, you may view the results and watch a webcast of the report release event online at:
http://nationsreportcard.gov
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/

For more information on the assessments, visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/reading/
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/mathematics/

Results for TUDA 2005 are available at:
http://nationsreportcard.gov/tuda_reading_mathematics_2005/

To have your questions about the 2007 TUDA release findings answered by NCES Associate Commissioner Peggy Carr, be sure to submit your questions now at:
http://nationsreportcard.gov
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/

Come back on November 20 at 3 p.m. to see the Associate Commissioner's responses.

Posted by ronbo at 06:23 PM

November 07, 2007

NEW NCES REPORT! - Public Libraries in the United States: Fiscal Year 2005

This report, released by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), includes national and state summary data on public libraries in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, with an introduction, selected findings, and several tables. The report, based on data from the Public Libraries Survey for fiscal year 2005, includes information on population of legal service area, service outlets, library collections and services, full-time equivalent staff, and operating revenue and expenditures. The report includes several key findings: Nationwide, visits to public libraries totaled 1.4 billion, or 4.7 library visits per capita. The average number of Internet terminals available for public use per stationary outlet was 11.2.

View, download, and print the full report as a PDF file:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008301

Posted by ronbo at 10:54 AM

November 03, 2007

From IES Newsflash: New NCES Report Highlights Preschoolers' Knowledge and Skills

The first report produced using data from the third wave of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B), a study of a nationally representative sample of children born in the year 2001, provides a range of information about these children when they were about 4 years old.

Preschool: First Findings From the Third Follow-up of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort, released by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), shows that children at an early age demonstrated a wide range of skills and abilities. For example, 64 percent of children could identify the colors blue, yellow, orange, black, and brown without assistance at about 4 years of age, while 65 percent were proficient in naming numbers and shapes.

ECLS-B is designed to provide detailed information on children’s development, health, and early learning experiences in the years leading up to entry into school. The longitudinal study is following the progress of about 10,000 children, which is representative of the approximately 4 million children born in the United States in 2001. The study is the first national effort to directly assess children's early mental and physical development, their relationships with parents, the quality of their early care and education, and the contributions of both mothers and fathers in their lives.

Other findings from the report include:

* Three-quarters (77 percent) of the children in the study were living in two-parent households; and about two-thirds of the children’s mothers were either working full- or part-time (60 percent) or looking for work (6 percent).

* Children with two-parent families scored higher than children with single-parent families in several aspects of early literacy: letter recognition, or children’s ability to identify letters of the alphabet; phonological awareness, or understanding of the sounds and structure of spoken language; and conventions of print, or understanding such aspects as the reading of English text from left to right.

* The percentage of children demonstrating proficiency in numbers and shapes ranged from 40 percent among lower socioeconomic status (SES) families to 87 percent in higher SES families.

* About 80 percent received care from someone other than a parent on a regular basis. Specifically, 45 percent were in a center-based (non-Head Start) setting; 13 percent were in a Head Start setting; 13 percent were in a home-based relative care setting; and 8 percent were in a home-based nonrelative care setting.

Browse this document:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2008/preschool3/

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008025

The data upon which this report is based are available in the ECLS-B Longitudinal 9-Month-Preschool Restricted-Use Data File and Electronic Codebook (NCES 2008-034). For information about ordering these data, which are only available in restricted-use format, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/statprog/instruct.asp

For more information about the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Program, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/ecls/index.asp

Posted by ronbo at 08:22 AM

October 31, 2007

Release of the 2003-04 Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) and 2004-05 Teacher Follow-up Survey (TFS) (CD ROM) Restricted-Use Data with Electronic Codebook

NCES' 2003-04 Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) and 2004-05 Teacher Follow-up Survey (TFS) (CD ROM) Restricted-Use Data with Electronic Codebook has been released.

http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008309

This ECB released by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), features multiple search functions allowing the user to search by sector or respondent, keyword, variable name, source code, or type of variable. The ECB provides weighted and unweighted frequencies with search results, saves extraction code for future sessions, and creates a syntax file for exporting to SPSS, SAS and Stata. The CD also contains data files in ACSII format and documentation files on PDF.

If you need more information about applying for a restricted-use license, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/statprog/instruct_apply.asp?type=rl

Follow the links for amending an existing license or requesting a license for the Restricted-Use 2003-04 Schools and Staffing Survey and Teacher Follow-up Survey dataset.

If you have any questions about a license that you have already applied for, email Cynthia Barton at:
Cynthia.Barton@ed.gov

Posted by ronbo at 05:32 PM

October 18, 2007

From IES Newsflash: Overview and Inventory of State Education Reforms: 1990 to 2000

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has just expanded the State Education Reforms (SER) website. This website is based on the report "Overview and Inventory of State Education Reforms: 1990 to 2000".

To view the report, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2003020

This report is updated periodically to incorporate new data on state education reform activities.

The SER website, which draws primarily on data collected by organizations other than NCES, compiles and disseminates data on state-level education reform efforts in four areas: 1) standards, assessment, and accountability, 2) school finance reforms, 3) resources for learning, and 4) state support for school choice options. Specific reform areas include student and teacher assessments, adequate yearly progress, statewide exit exams, highly qualified teachers, open enrollments laws, and charter schools.

Three tables have been updated and one new table has been added to the Standards, Assessment, and Accountability area of the website. One updated table and one new table were postedto the School Finance Reforms area, and one new table was uploaded to the Resources for Learning section. To locate these tables on the website, please look for the "New!" and "Updated!" tags next to the table titles.

To view the site, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/statereform/

Posted by ronbo at 03:13 PM

October 16, 2007

NEW NCES REPORT! - Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002): A First Look at the Initial Postsecondary Experiences of the High School Sophomore Class of 2002

This report, released by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), provides selected, nationally representative information about the about the transition of 2002 high school sophomores to college, the selectivity and other characteristics of the institutions in which they enrolled, their choice of major, and other characteristics of their enrollment to illustrate the wealth of data that is available from the from the Second Follow-up of the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002. When the Second Follow-up data were collected, most of the sample members were sophomores in college. By 2006, approximately 2 years after their expected graduation date, 88 percent of spring 2002 sophomores had graduated from high school with a diploma and 4 percent had earned a General Education Development certificate. Sixty percent enrolled "immediately" in college after receiving their diploma (by October if they left high school between January and July, or by the following February if they left high school after July). High school students whose parents' income exceeded $100,000 per year had the highest rates of attendance at 4-year public and private institutions (44 and 26 percent, respectively), compared to students whose families earned $20,000 per year or less (14 and 7 percent, respectively). Thirteen percent of the spring 2002 high school sophomore class enrolled first in a highly selective 4-year institutions and 19 percent enrolled in a moderately selective 4-year institutions. Spring 2002 sophomores who took calculus in high school had the highest rates of enrollment (52 percent) in highly selective 4-year institutions. Among spring 2002 high school sophomores who had attended a postsecondary institution, 15 percent entered college intending to study business, 17 percent entered college intending to study health, and 15 percent entered college intending to study engineering/computer science/natural sciences/mathematics. An appendix to the report briefly summarizes the statistical design of the Second Follow-up.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008308

Posted by ronbo at 03:05 PM

October 15, 2007

From NCES Newsflash: NCES Winter Forum and 21th Annual Management Information Systems Conference, 2008 (MIS 2008)

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), in the U.S Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES), will sponsor a 2-day meeting of the membership of the National Forum on Education Statistics. This will be immediately followed by the 21st Annual Management Information Systems (MIS) Conference.

The MIS Conference is a concentrated 3 days of information about best practices, innovative ideas, current issues, and practical how-to-advice about management information systems for K-12 education. The MIS Conference brings together people who work with information collection, management, transmittal, and reporting in school districts and state education agencies.

This year, the MIS Conference will offer more than 80 presentations, demonstrations, and workshops conducted by practitioners from K-12 information systems.

You are invited to attend the 21st Annual MIS Conference in San Francisco, California, and to submit a proposal for presenting a session that will add to the conference's interest and usefulness. Topics are invited from all sources, but the major focus will be on data use, data standards, statewide data systems, and data quality.

The web site for registration and proposal submission for the 21st Annual MIS Conference in San Francisco, CA is now open. A link to the meeting site which includes a PDF of the flyer and online registration and proposal submission can be found at:
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=290&cid=2

A PDF of the conference brochure includes all information regarding dates, locations, and schedule of events.

Key dates:
Proposal Cut-off: December 14, 2007
Registration: Online and paper registrations open through February 1, 2008
Hotel Room Block: Closes February 1, 2008 or earlier if room block becomes filled.

For other conference and training information please visit:
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?cid=2

Posted by ronbo at 01:07 PM

September 27, 2007

From IES Newsflash: Public and State Library Surveys Transferred to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) on October 1, 2007

The Public Libraries Survey (PLS) and the State Library Agencies Survey (StLA), formerly part of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), are being transferred to another federal agency, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), effective October 1, 2007. NCES and IMLS have worked cooperatively to implement this transfer.

Beginning October 1, 2007, information about the state and public library surveys will be available on the IMLS website:
http://www.imls.gov/statistics/statistics.shtm

For Academic and School Library information, please continue to visit the Library Statistics Program located on the NCES website:
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/libraries/

Posted by ronbo at 02:52 PM

September 26, 2007

From IES Newsflash: New College Navigator Now Online!

Since its creation in 2001, the Department of Education College Opportunities Online (COOL) website has helped hundreds of thousands of students and families learn about colleges and universities. Now, COOL's successor, called College Navigator and located at http://collegenavigator.ed.gov offers consumers even more information in an easy-to-use format.

Launched today, College Navigator is a free consumer information tool designed to help students, parents, high school counselors, and others get information about nearly 7,000 postsecondary institutions in the United States. It offers a wide range of information previously found on COOL -- such as programs offered, retention and graduation rates, prices, aid available, degrees awarded, campus safety, and accreditation. However, College Navigator offers users valuable new information about colleges and universities, and it does so in a way that is vastly more user-friendly. Users can now:

Search

* Search by programs offered, degrees offered, institution type, price, selectivity, distance from home, school size, institutional mission (historically black colleges and universities, single-sex), extended learning opportunities for adults (weekend and evening degree programs), and intercollegiate athletics programs offered.
* Modify or change their search from anywhere within the website.
* Use a simple and intuitive way of selecting keywords to search among programs at a general level (communications, journalism, and related programs), drill down through a menu to a moderate level of detail, and identify highly specific courses of study (health communication).

Compare

* Make comparisons of up to four institutions in one view, and maintain a list of favorite institutions from different searches

Save

* Save their sessions and receive an email with a link taking them back to where they left off.

Export

* Export search results to easily-used formats, such as Excel.

The College Navigator was developed by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the Institute of Education Sciences. NCES plans continuing improvements in the content and function of the site, and there are plans for a Spanish version in the coming months.

Visit College Navigator:
http://collegenavigator.ed.gov

Posted by ronbo at 03:33 PM

September 25, 2007

From IES Newsflash: Results of the NAEP 2007 Mathematics and Reading Results Just Released!

Results from the NAEP assessments in reading and mathematics part of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) were released today. The Nation’s Report Card: Reading 2007 and The Nation’s Report Card: Mathematics 2007 report national and state-level performance of fourth- and eighth-graders. National data are compared to previous assessments in 2005 in both subjects and 1992 in reading and 1990 in mathematics.

Findings include:

In MATHEMATICS in 2007

* Fourth- and eighth-graders scored higher than in all previous assessment years.
* White, Black, and Hispanic students at both grades demonstrated a better understanding of mathematics compared to all previous assessment years.
* The White-Black score gap narrowed at grade four when compared to 1990 and at grade 8 when compared to 2005.
* Fifteen states (14 states and DC) improved at both grades, with fourth-graders in an additional eight states, and eighth-graders in 11 states scoring higher.

In READING in 2007

* Fourth-graders scored higher than in all previous assessment years.
* Eighth-graders scored higher than in 2005 and 1992.
* At both grades, White, Black, and Hispanic students all scored higher than in 1992. However, only the White-Black gap at fourth-grade was smaller compared to 2005 and 1992.
* Four states had higher scores at both grades, with 14 additional states (13 states and DODEA) improving in just fourth grade and two states scoring higher in just eighth grade. Two states had lower scores at grade 8 than in 2005.

For complete results and to download the report, visit:
http://nationsreportcard.gov

The Nation's Report Card: Reading 2007
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/main2007/2007496.asp

The Nation's Report Card: Mathematics 2007:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/main2007/2007494.asp

Join NCES Associate Commissioner Dr. Peggy G. Carr for an online chat at 2 p.m. today. Submit your questions ahead of time at:
http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/statchat/index2.asp
Come back later to participate in the chat.

Posted by ronbo at 08:41 PM

From IES Newsflash: NEW REPORT! Crime, Violence, Discipline, and Safety in U.S. Public Schools, Findings from the School Survey on Crime and Safety: 2005-06

This report, released by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), uses data from the 2005–06 School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS) to examine a range of issues dealing with school crime and safety, such as the frequency of school crime and violence, disciplinary actions, and school practices related to the prevention and reduction of crime and safety. SSOCS is the primary source of school-level data on crime and safety for NCES. Since 1999, it has been administered three times to the principals of a nationally representative sample of public primary, middle, high, and combined schools.

To download, view and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007361

Posted by ronbo at 08:40 PM

Recent ICPSR updates and additions - September 25, 2007

Below is a list of new data collection additions to the ICPSR data archive along with a list of released data collections that have been updated:

NEW ADDITIONS:

4433 National Survey of Local Government Economic Development, 1998
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/04433.xml

4434 National Survey of Economic Development Organizations, 1999
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/04434.xml

4683 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1979
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/04683.xml

20241 Dimensions and Use of the Scholarly Information Environment, 2001
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/20241.xml

20541 National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP)
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/20541.xml

20962 Experiments in Financial Liberalization: The Mexican Banking Sector
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/20962.xml

20963 How Well Does Employment Predict Output?
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/20963.xml

UPDATES:

2491 ABC News Timothy McVeigh Verdict Poll, June 1997
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/02491.xml

2939 Monitoring the Future: A Continuing Study of American Youth (12th-Grade Survey), 1999
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/02939.xml

3835 ABC News State of the Union Poll, January 1995
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/03835.xml

3848 ABC News O.J. Simpson Domestic Violence Poll, June 1994
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/03848.xml

4701 Welfare, Children, and Families: A Three-City Study, Wave 3, 2005-2006
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/04701.xml

6023 ABC News Vice-Presidential Debate Poll, October 1992
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/06023.xml

6025 ABC News Daily Tracking Poll, November 1992
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/06025.xml

6184 ABC News Waco/Koresh Poll, April 1993
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/06184.xml

6686 ABC News United States in Bosnia Poll, November 1995
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/06686.xml

6832 ABC News State of the Union Poll, January 1996
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/06832.xml

8556 ABC News START Talks Poll, January 1985
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/08556.xml

8572 ABC News State of the Union Poll, January 1986
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/08572.xml

8575 ABC News Tylenol Poisoning Poll, February 1986
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/08575.xml

8674 Slave Trials in Anderson and Spartanburg Counties, South Carolina, 1818-1861
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/08674.xml

8857 ABC News Tower Commission Poll, February 1987
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/08857.xml

8858 ABC News Stockbroker Poll, February 1987
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/08858.xml

9244 ABC News Business World Poll, March 1989
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/09244.xml

9430 Southern Agricultural Households in the United States, 1880
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/09430.xml

9612 ABC News Supreme Court Nomination Poll, July 1991
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/09612.xml

9757 ABC News Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) Coup Poll, August 1991
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/09757.xml

9933 ABC News Democratic Convention Poll #2, July 1992
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/09933.xml

20741 National Corrections Reporting Program, 2003 [United States]
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR/STUDY/20741.xml

You can also view a list of all studies added and updated in the last ninety days by visiting the ICPSR Web site at http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/.

Posted by ronbo at 08:38 PM

September 19, 2007

From IES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Public School Practices for Violence Prevention and Reduction: 2003-04

This report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), (1) examines principals' reports of the prevalence of formal practices in public schools designed to prevent or reduce school violence and (2) describes the distribution of these practices by selected school characteristics. This analysis is based on school-level data reported by principals participating in the school year 2003-04 School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS) administered by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Findings from the analysis indicate that schools implemented a variety of school violence prevention and reduction practices and that some practices were more commonly used than others. For example, 59 percent of schools formally obtained parental input on policies related to school crime and 50 percent provided parental training to deal with students' problem behaviors. In addition, practices differed by school level and other selected school characteristics. For example, high schools were more likely than primary schools to implement safety and security procedures, while primary schools were more likely than high schools to promote training for parents to deal with students' problem behavior.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007010

Posted by ronbo at 11:57 AM

September 18, 2007

From IES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Interpreting 12th-Graders' NAEP-Scaled Mathematics Performance Using High School Predictors and Postsecondary Outcomes from the National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88)

This report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) utilizes four sources of NELS:88 data: questionnaire responses, tests, high school transcripts, and postsecondary education transcripts. The NELS:88 1992 12th grade mathematics assessment scores were transformed to the NAEP scale. The report relates mathematics results expressed in the NAEP metric (specifically, the NAEP achievement levels) to cross-sectional (12th grade) correlates of math achievement. It also relates 12th grade NAEP-scaled NELS:88 mathematics results (again expressed in terms of the NAEP achievement levels) to postsecondary educational outcomes. The report is divided into three chapters. Chapter 1 provides background information and an introduction. Chapter 2 examines the correlates of math achievement- student, family, and high school predictors (e.g., sex, race, socioeconomic status [SES], school sector, highest math course taken, grades, etc.) of 12th graders' NAEP-Scaled performance. Chapter 3 relates high school seniors' NAEP-scaled mathematics performance to later outcomes such as entry into postsecondary education, and baccalaureate attainment. These senior-year correlates (chapter 2) and future outcomes (chapter 3) are explored through bivariate tables; senior-year achievement correlates are also examined in a logistic regression. Two appendixes provide technical notes, a glossary of variables used, and tables of standard errors for all estimates contained in the report.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007328

Posted by ronbo at 10:28 PM

From IES Newsflash: Results of NAEP 2007 Mathematics and Reading Assessments Available September 25 at 10 a.m. ET

Results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assessments in reading and mathematics part of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) are scheduled to be released on September 25, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. The Nation's Report Card: Reading 2007 and The Nation's Report Card: Mathematics 2007 will provide national results and state level data on student performance at fourth and eighth grades for all 50 states, the District of Colombia, and the Department of Defense Schools.

For more information on the assessments, visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/reading/
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/mathematics/

At the time of the release view the results and watch a web cast of the report release event online at:
http://nationsreportcard.gov

Join NCES Associate Commissioner Dr. Peggy G. Carr for an online chat about the results at 2 p.m. on the day of the release. You can submit questions for the chat ahead of time at:
http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/statchat/index2.asp

Posted by ronbo at 03:02 PM

September 13, 2007

From IES Newsflash: For NAEP Researchers: 2005 National Indian Education Study, Parts I and II Restricted-Use Data Files

This CD-ROM from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), part of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), contains data and documentation files for the 2005 National Indian Education Study (NIES) for use in the analysis of data by secondary researchers. NIES Part I data files include the performance data from the samples of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) students at grades 4 and 8 who participated in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2005 mathematics or reading assessments. The NIES Part II data files include the survey responses of sampled AI/AN students in grades 4 and 8, their teachers, and their school principals. These data are available on CD-ROM to researchers in organizations holding licenses from NCES. The NAEP Tool Kit, a user-friendly assistant for analyzing NAEP restricted-use data, is also available.

For more information on the NIES, see:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nies/

See which NAEP variables are available for analysis for 2005 (and earlier) datasets at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/variablesrudata.asp

For information on obtaining permission to analyze restricted-use data, read:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/license.asp

To get an idea of the complexity of NAEP data, look at the publicly-available data using the NAEP Data Explorer:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata/

Posted by ronbo at 02:06 PM

September 12, 2007

From IES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Status and Trends in the Education of Racial and Ethnic Minorities

This report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) profiles current conditions and recent trends in the education of minority students. It presents a selection of indicators that illustrate the educational achievement and attainment of Hispanic, Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander students compared with each other and with White students. In addition, it uses data from the 2005 American Community Survey to detail specific educational differences among Hispanic ancestry subgroups (such as Mexican, Puerto Rican, or Cuban) and Asian ancestry subgroups (such as Asian Indian, Chinese, or Filipino). This report presents 28 indicators that provide demographic information and examine (1) patterns of preprimary, elementary, and secondary school enrollment; (2) student achievement and persistence; (3) student behaviors that can affect their education; (4) participation in postsecondary education; and (5) outcomes of education.

* The report finds that over the past quarter century, minority students have made gains in key education areas, such as completing high school and earning a college degree. However, gaps in academic performance persist between students of most minority groups and White students.

* In 2004, minorities represented 42 percent of the public prekindergarten through secondary school enrollment; however, this percentage ranged widely by state, from 80 percent in Hawaii to 4 percent in Vermont.

* On the 2005 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) mathematics assessment, higher percentages of Asian/Pacific Islander 4th-graders and 8th-graders scored at or above Proficient than did American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic, and White students at the same grade levels.

* In 2005, the percentage of 16- to 24-year-olds who were high school status dropouts (the percentage who had not completed high school and were not currently enrolled) was higher among Hispanics than among Blacks, Whites, and Asian/Pacific Islanders.

* Among Hispanic 16- to 24-year-olds, the percentage of status dropouts among those who were foreign born (38 percent) was more than twice that of their native counterparts (13 percent).

* Between 1976 and 2004, the percentage of total undergraduate enrollment who were minority students increased from 17 to 32 percent. In 2004, more postsecondary degrees were awarded to Blacks than Hispanics, despite the fact that Hispanics represented a larger percentage of the total population.

* From 1990 to 2005, all racial/ethnic groups experienced an increase in the percentage of adults age 25 and over who had completed high school, and the percentages of White, Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native adults with bachelor’s degrees also increased.

To browse this report, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2007/minoritytrends/

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007039

Posted by ronbo at 05:59 PM

September 11, 2007

From IES Newsflash: Perceptions and Expectations of Youth With Disabilities. A Special Topic Report of Findings From the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2)

This report from NCSER provides a picture of the self-representations and expectations of youth with disabilities, how they differ across disability categories and demographic groups, and how they compare with youth in the general population. The National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2), funded by IES, was initiated in 2001 and has a nationally representative sample of more than 11,000 students with disabilities. This report presents findings drawn primarily from telephone interviews or self-administered mail surveys collected from youth when they were ages 15 through 19. The report addresses questions such as how youth with disabilities describe their feelings about themselves and their lives, their secondary school experiences, their personal relationships, and their expectations for the future.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://ies.ed.gov/ncser/pubs/index.asp#NLTS2perceptions

Posted by ronbo at 02:31 PM

From IES Newsflash: NEW REPORT! - Postsecondary Institutions in the United States: Fall 2006 and Degrees and Other Awards Conferred: 2005-06

This report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) presents findings from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) fall 2006 data collection, which included two survey components: Institutional Characteristics for the 2006-07 academic year, and Completions covering the period July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2006. These data were collected through the IPEDS web-based data collection system.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007166

Posted by ronbo at 02:29 PM

September 07, 2007

From IES Newsflash: New! Technical Report of the NAEP Mathematics Assessment in Puerto Rico: Focus on Statistical Issues

In 2003, a trial NAEP mathematics assessment was administered in Spanish to public school students at grades 4 and 8 in Puerto Rico. Based on preliminary analyses of the 2003 data, changes were made in administration and translation procedures for the 2005 NAEP administration in Puerto Rico. This report describes the content and administration of the trial NAEP mathematics assessments in Puerto Rico in 2003 and 2005, problems with item misfit in the 2003 data, results of a special validity analysis, and plans to integrate Puerto Rico into the national sample in future administrations.

See the report summary at: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/studies/2007462.asp

Find out more about the NAEP mathematics assessment in Puerto Rico at: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/puertorico/
and http://nationsreportcard.gov/puertorico_2005/

See summaries of related reports, Mathematics 2003 and 2005 Performance in Puerto Rico-Highlights, at: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/studies/2007459.asp
and
Mathematics 2005 Performance in Puerto Rico-Focus on the Content, at: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/studies/2007460.asp

Posted by ronbo at 08:21 AM

September 06, 2007

From IES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Mini-Digest of Education Statistics 2006

This publication is a pocket-sized compilation of statistical information covering the broad field of American education from kindergarten through graduate school. The statistical highlights are excerpts from the Digest of Education of Statistics, 2006.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007067

Posted by ronbo at 12:53 PM

September 04, 2007

From IES Newsflash: BPS:2006 Beginning Postsecondary Students DAS Online application now available!

The DAS contains data from the 2004/06 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/06). This study is the first follow-up of a national sample of students who first entered postsecondary education in academic year 2003-04 and were first surveyed as part of the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study. They were followed-up three years later in 2006. This DAS allows users to conduct analyses on data gathered in this study while on-line via the web.

Visit and use DAS on-line:
http://nces.ed.gov/das/

Posted by ronbo at 10:53 AM

From IES Newsflash: NEW!! On-Line Application Procedures for Restricted Use Data Licenses for IES/NCES

This Restricted-Use Data Licensing Application Tool for IES/NCES data sets was created to facilitate the restricted-use data application process, as well as to explain the laws and regulations governing these data. Our goal is to maximize the use of statistical information, while protecting individually identifiable information from disclosure. This Restricted-Use Data Licensing Application Tool may also be used to facilitate licensed users requests for license amendments. We hope that this Tool answers any questions or concerns you may have regarding obtaining access to restricted-use data, and speeds the application process.

IES/NCES will only accept restricted-use data License applications through this new Electronic Application System. Any License application that does not come through this new system will be returned to the applicant.

This on-line application tool can be found at:
http://nces.ed.gov/statprog/instruct.asp

Posted by ronbo at 10:38 AM

August 29, 2007

From IES Newsflash: Explore NAEP Questions Interactively With New Tools!

Explore NAEP Questions is a new feature that brings together several tools, providing for a comprehensive, synergistic examination of questions from NAEP assessments. The NAEP Questions Tool, Item Maps, Test Yourself, and scoring information have been expanded and are available through one interface:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/itmrls/

For the enhanced QUESTIONS TOOL
* the tool displays released questions, with their content classification, scoring criteria, student sample responses for the constructed-response questions, and detailed data on student responses;
* the Questions Search page has been redesigned and streamlined to make it easier to find specific types of questions;
* information tags provide definitions of search criteria (e.g., mathematical complexity and ability, item difficulty); and
* a new sort function with a percent correct column make it possible for users to sort results according to their interests; and

For the augmented ITEM MAPS
* each item is now marked with a symbol to indicate its content classification;
* users can explore student performance by jurisdiction and student group by selecting Compare Student Groups; and
* users with scaleable vector graphics (SVG is a free download) can see mappings of percentiles in box-and-whisker format in this new Compare Student Groups tool.

For the new TEST YOURSELF,
questions that were actually administered in recent NAEP assessments are brought together. Choose a subject and grade, and try out a few test items yourself. You will find that
* as in the actual assessment, some questions are multiple choice, and others are constructed response;
* users can type answers in the space provided, similar to the way students handwrite responses to constructed-response questions; and
* users will get feedback on their answers and comparison with answers by the nation's students.

Through this new interface, you can also find details of the NAEP scoring process to complement understanding the scoring criteria described in the Questions Tool.

Please return to Explore NAEP Questions each time that new results are released!

Posted by ronbo at 07:40 AM

August 28, 2007

From IES Newsflash: NAEP 2008 Assessments Begin in October Across the Nation

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) will be conducting several assessments that are important to the nation in the 2007-2008 school year. One of these assessments is the NAEP long-term trend assessment, which has measured students' progress in various subjects over a long period of time. Beginning on October 8 and extending through December 14, 2007, selected students at age 13 in public and private schools will take this assessment in mathematics or reading. For selected nine-year-old students, the assessment period runs from January 7 to March 14, 2008. From March 17 to May 23, 2008, students at age 17 will take the assessments. The results from these assessments will be reported in 2009 and will illustrate changes in performance since the early 1970s.

From January 28 through March 7, 2008, selected eighth-graders across the nation will be assessed in the arts, specifically in music or visual arts. The previous NAEP arts assessment was conducted a decade ago.

Field tests for upcoming national and state assessments will also be held during this period. Also this fall there will be a small study involving interactive computer and hands-on science tasks.

There are several resources online with information about NAEP. See the new home page at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/

The full participation of all the selected schools and students is crucial to the success of this important assessment. Read about why NAEP is important at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/natimportant.asp
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/parents/importance.asp

Parents of students participating in the assessment can find answers to frequently asked questions at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/parents/

Learn how to use the NAEP data tools that help you understand the results of this assessment at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/naeptools.asp

Posted by ronbo at 11:19 AM

August 22, 2007

From IES Newsflash: NEW! - Back to School Statistics

Nearly 50 million students are heading off to approximately 97,000 public elementary and secondary schools for the fall term, and before the school year is out, an estimated $489 billion will be spent related to their education. These are just a few of the statistics contained in Back to School Stats, compiled by the Institute of Education Sciences' research and statistical centers. Follow the link below for more statistical information about American elementary, secondary and postsecondary schools, students, and the educational process.

http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=372

Posted by ronbo at 10:28 AM

August 21, 2007

From IES Newsflash: Digest of Education Statistics, 2006 (NCES 2007-017) released on July 26, is now available in HTML format

The new Digest has been fully integrated into the NCES web site system that permits convenient access to all the Digests since the 1995 edition.

Visit: http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/

The 42nd in a series of publications initiated in 1962, the Digest's primary purpose is to provide a compilation of statistical information covering the broad field of American education from prekindergarten through graduate school. The Digest contains data on a variety of topics, including the number of schools and colleges, teachers, enrollments, and graduates, in addition to educational attainment, finances, and federal funds for education, libraries, and international comparisons. Some examples of highlights from the report include the following items.

* Between fall 2006 and fall 2015, public elementary enrollment is expected to increase. Public secondary enrollment is projected to rise through 2007, then decline until 2014. Overall, school enrollment is projected to set new records every year from 2006 until at least 2015.

* Enrollment in degree-granting colleges increased by 16 percent between 1985 and 1995. Between 1995 and 2005, enrollment increased at a faster rate (23 percent), from 14.3 million to 17.5 million. During the 1995 to 2005 period, enrollment of women increased by 27 percent, while enrollment of men increased by 18 percent.

* The percentages of adults 25 years old and over completing high school and college have been rising. In 2006, 85 percent of the population 25 years old and over had completed high school and 28 percent had completed a bachelor's or higher degree. This is higher than in 1996, when 82 percent had completed at least high school and 24 percent had completed a bachelor's or higher degree.

* After adjustment for inflation, current expenditures per student in fall enrollment in public schools rose 37 percent during the 1980s, remained stable during the first part of the 1990s, and rose 21 percent between 1995-96 and 2003-04. In 2003-04, current expenditures per student in fall enrollment were $8,310 in unadjusted dollars.

* College faculty generally suffered losses in the purchasing power of their salaries from 1972-73 to 1980-81, when average salaries declined 17 percent after adjustment for inflation. During the 1980s, average salaries rose and recouped most of the losses. Between 1995-96 and 2005-06, there was a further increase in average faculty salaries, resulting in an average of about 3 percent higher than in 1972-73, after adjustment for inflation.

Contact Tom Snyder (202) 502-7452.

Posted by ronbo at 05:42 PM

August 16, 2007

From IES Newsflash: New NAEP Study Released: Problem Solving in Technology-Rich Environments (TRE)

The TRE study was designed to demonstrate and explore innovative computer use in NAEP by developing two problem-solving scenarios. The design aimed to capture the multidimensionality that is characteristic of problem solving with technology by requiring students to demonstrate both science skills and basic facility with the computer.

This study focused on the physical science associated with helium gas balloons used for space exploration, and allowed students to explore that domain in a dynamic environment. All student actions were captured in computer files for scoring, allowing for evaluation of the processes used in problem solving. A nationally representative sample of over 2,000 grade 8 students participated.

Learn more at the Technology-Rich Environments overview page at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/studies/tba/tre/

Read the summary of the report, Problem Solving in Technology-Rich Environments, at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/studies/2007466.asp

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007466

Posted by ronbo at 11:48 AM

August 15, 2007

From IES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Persistence and Attainment of 2003-04 Beginning Postsecondary Students: After Three Years

This report provides a brief description of the persistence and degree attainment of a nationally representative sample of students who began postsecondary education for the first time in the 2003-04 academic year. The report provides a first look at the experience of these students over three academic years, from July 2003 to June 2006, and provides information about rates of program completion, transfer, and attrition for students who first enrolled at various types of postsecondary institutions using data from the 2004/06 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/06). Findings showed that among the beginning students who were recent (2003) high school graduates, enrolled full time in the fall of 2003, and had bachelor’s degree plans, 70 percent were still enrolled at their first institution without a degree, 4 percent had attained a degree or certificate at their first institution, and 20 percent had transferred elsewhere without a degree by June 2006.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007169

Posted by ronbo at 09:59 AM

August 14, 2007

From IES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Comparative Indicators of Education in the United States and Other G-8 Countries: 2006

This report describes how the education system in the United States compares with education systems in the other G-8 countries--Canada, France. Germany. Italy, Japan, the Russian Federation, and the United Kingdom. Twenty indicators are organized in five sections: (1) population and school enrollment; (2) academic performance; (3) context for learning; (4) expenditure for education; and (5) education returns: educational attainment and income.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007006

Posted by ronbo at 08:38 AM

August 13, 2007

From IES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Differential Characteristics of 2-Year Postsecondary Institutions

Two-year institutions, including community colleges and career schools, have become increasingly important in American higher education. Many classification systems for 2-year institutions use a wide array of characteristics and perspectives to differentiate between 2-year institutions. This report uses a classification system for 2-year institutions that uses number of variables available on the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) to identify seven groups of 2-year institutions: small publics; medium-sized publics; large publics; allied health not-for-profits; other not-for-profits; degree-granting for-profits; and other for-profits. The report presents brief profiles for each classification type, then focuses on four broad topic areas (institutional resources, student characteristics, institutional affordability, and measures of student success) to highlight the key differences that set a particular institutional type apart. The analysis found that among public institutions, small and large institutions differed in key areas; for example, large public schools tended to offer lower tuition and more services and to be located in urban areas. Private for-profit schools appear quite similar to one another with the exception of the types of credentials offered and completed, which reflect the classification itself. In most other aspects—such as tuition, location, finances, student characteristics, and student financial aid—these institutions exhibited few differences. Other not-for-profits appeared to be similar to for-profits, but slightly more traditional. Allied health institutions differed from other not-for-profit institutions—and the other institutions in the classification system—in terms of the programs offered, funding streams, student characteristics, student costs and the types of awards granted. These schools appeared to be between public institutions and other private schools in terms of affordability and financial aid. Students at allied health institutions were more likely to be older, independent with dependents, and female than their counterparts at other 2-year schools.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007164

Posted by ronbo at 04:20 PM

August 09, 2007

From IES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Advanced Mathematics and Science Coursetaking in the Spring High School Senior Classes of 1982, 1992, and 2004

This report presents new time series data on the coursetaking patterns in mathematics and science for the spring high school graduating classes of 1982, 1992, and 2004. Coursetaking information was derived from high school transcripts collected by NCES in the following three studies: (1) High School and Beyond Longitudinal Study of 1980 Sophomores; (2) the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988; and (3) the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002. The analysis addresses overall trends, as well as trends within various subgroups defined by sex, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), expectations for future educational attainment, and school sector. The report examines trends in academic coursetaking in both mean credits earned in math and science and in the highest course level that high school graduates completed in the two subjects. Some key findings are as follows. First, in mathematics, academic coursework increased from, on average, 2.7 total credits in 1982 to 3.6 total credits in 2004. In addition, graduates shifted from taking lower level mathematics courses to taking more advanced courses. For example, the percentage of graduates who persisted through the mathematics curriculum into the two most advanced levels—precalculus and calculus—tripled between 1982 and 2004. At the subgroup level, while students in each of the four SES quartiles increased their participation in advanced mathematics over time, some disparities increased—for example, the difference between the highest and lowest SES quartiles in precalculus and calculus coursetaking went from 18 percentage points in 1982 to 35 percentage points in 2004. Second, in science, the average number of credits increased from 2.2 total credits in 1982 to 3.3 total credits in 2004. Further, graduates shifted in significant proportions from taking lower level science courses to taking upper level ones. At the subgroup level, despite increased completion of advanced-level science courses by graduates from all school sectors, Catholic and other private school students remained more likely than their public school counterparts to complete advanced-level courses in science.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007312

Posted by ronbo at 09:01 PM

August 08, 2007

From IES Newsflash: NAEP 2006 Economics Assessment Results Now Available

Results from the first-ever NAEP assessment in economics were released today. The Nation’s Report Card: Economics 2006 reports on the economic literacy of America’s twelfth-graders. Student knowledge was measured in three areas: market economy, national economy, and international economy.

Findings include:
* The average score was set at 150, with 79 percent of students performing at or above the Basic level.
* Male students, on average, scored higher than female students.
* White and Asian/Pacific Islander students scored higher, on average, than other racial/ethnic groups.
* 87 percent of students reported studying some economics in high school.

For complete results and to download the report, visit: http://nationsreportcard.gov

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007475

Join NCES Associate Commissioner Peggy Carr for an online chat at 2:00 p.m. today. Submit your questions now until 3 p.m. at: http://nces.ed.gov/WhatsNew/statchat/index2.asp

Posted by ronbo at 01:22 PM

August 06, 2007

From IES Newsflash: New Advanced Item Maps: Learn About Student Performance NAEP Questions!

Item maps illustrate what students know and can do in NAEP subject areas by positioning descriptions of individual assessment items along the NAEP scale. An item is placed at the point on the scale where students are more likely to give successful responses to it. The descriptions used in NAEP item maps focus on the knowledge and skills needed to respond successfully to the assessment item.

The NAEP item maps have just been augmented; explore the new features below!

--Each item is now marked with a symbol to indicate its content classification.

--Advanced maps allow the user to explore performance by jurisdiction and student group by selecting "compare student groups."

--Select "compare student groups" to see performance of select groups by state or the nation. Using scaleable vector graphics (SVG), see mappings of percentiles in box-and-whisker format.

Maps for the following subjects are available: civics, mathematics, reading, science, and U.S. history. Economics will be available soon.

Access the Advanced Item Maps at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/itemmaps/

Be sure to check back as new results are released.

Posted by ronbo at 02:18 PM

August 02, 2007

From IES Newsflash: Secondary Analysis Data for NAEP 2005 Available!

Data for all 2005 NAEP state and national mathematics and reading assessments are available on CD-ROM to researchers in organizations holding licenses from NCES. The NAEP Tool Kit, a user-friendly assistant for analyzing NAEP restricted-use data, is also available.

See which NAEP variables are available in 2005 (and earlier datasets) at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/variablesrudata.asp

For information on obtaining permission to analyze restricted-use data, read:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/license.asp

To get an idea of the complexity of NAEP data, you may want to look at the publicly-available data. Use the NAEP Data Explorer:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata/

Also, see a related tool, State Comparisons, at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nde/statecomp/

Watch for new data tools on the NAEP website soon!

Posted by ronbo at 08:06 PM

August 01, 2007

From IES Newsflash: Status of Education in Rural America

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has just released the report "Status of Education in Rural America."

This report presents a series of indicators on the status of education in rural America, using the new NCES locale classification system. The new system classifies the locale of school districts and schools based on their actual geographic coordinates into one of 12 locale categories and distinguishes between rural areas that are on the fringe of an urban area, rural areas that are at some distance, and rural areas that are remote. The findings of this report indicate that in 2003-04 over half of all operating school districts and one-third of all public schools in the United States were in rural areas; yet only one-fifth of all public school students were enrolled in rural areas. A larger percentage of public school students in rural areas than those in any other locale attended very small schools. A larger percentage of rural public school students in the 4th- and 8th-grades scored at or above the Proficient level on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading, mathematics, and science assessments in 2005 than did public school students in cities at these grade levels. However, smaller percentages of rural public school students than suburban public school students scored at or above the Proficient level in reading and mathematics.

In 2004, the high school status dropout rate (i.e., the percentage of persons not enrolled in school and not having completed high school) among 16- to 24-year-olds in rural areas was higher than in suburban areas, but lower than in cities. Current public school expenditures per student were higher in rural areas in 2003-04 than in any other locale after adjusting for geographic cost differences. Racial/ethnic minorities account for a smaller percentage of public school teachers in rural schools than in schools in all other locales in 2003-04. In general, smaller percentages of public school teachers in rural areas than across the nation as a whole reported problems as “serious” and behavioral problems as frequent in their schools in 2003-04. Likewise, a larger percentage of public school teachers in rural areas than in other locales reported being satisfied with the teaching conditions in their school in 2003-04, though a smaller percentage of rural public school teachers than suburban public school teachers reported being satisfied with their salary. Public school teachers in rural areas earned less, on average, in 2003-04 than their peers in other locales, even after adjusting for geographic cost differences.

To browse this report and to view, download and print the report as a pdf file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2007/ruraled/

Posted by ronbo at 09:06 PM

From IES Newsflash: Digest of Education Statistics, 2006

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has just released the report "Digest of Education Statistics, 2006."

The 42nd in a series of publications initiated in 1962, the Digest's primary purpose is to provide a compilation of statistical information covering the broad field of American education from prekindergarten through graduate school. The Digest contains data on a variety of topics, including the number of schools and colleges, teachers, enrollments, and graduates, in addition to educational attainment, finances, and federal funds for education, libraries, and international comparisons. Some examples of highlights from the report include the following items.

- Between fall 2006 and fall 2015, public elementary enrollment is expected to increase. Public secondary enrollment is projected to rise through 2007, then decline until 2014. Overall, school enrollment is projected to set new records every year from 2006 until at least 2015.

- Enrollment in degree-granting colleges increased by 16 percent between 1985 and 1995. Between 1995 and 2005, enrollment increased at a faster rate (23 percent), from 14.3 million to 17.5 million. During the 1995 to 2005 period, enrollment of women increased by 27 percent, while enrollment of men increased by 18 percent.

- The percentages of adults 25 years old and over completing high school and college have been rising. In 2006, 85 percent of the population 25 years old and over had completed high school and 28 percent had completed a bachelor's or higher degree. This is higher than in 1996, when 82 percent had completed at least high school and 24 percent had completed a bachelor's or higher degree.

- After adjustment for inflation, current expenditures per student in fall enrollment in public schools rose 37 percent during the 1980s, remained stable during the first part of the 1990s, and rose 21 percent between 1995-96 and 2003-04. In 2003-04, current expenditures per student in fall enrollment were $8,310 in unadjusted dollars.

- College faculty generally suffered losses in the purchasing power of their salaries from 1972-73 to 1980-81, when average salaries declined 17 percent after adjustment for inflation. During the 1980s, average salaries rose and recouped most of the losses. Between 1995-96 and 2005-06, there was a further increase in average faculty salaries, resulting in an average of about 3 percent higher than in 1972-73, after adjustment for inflation.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007017

Posted by ronbo at 09:04 PM

From IES Newsflash: Demographic and School Characteristics of Students Receiving Special Education in the Elementary Grades

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has just released the Issue Brief "Demographic and School Characteristics of Students Receiving Special Education in the Elementary Grades."

This Issue Brief provides a detailed description of the proportion of elementary school students receiving special education in kindergarten, first grade, third grade, and fifth grade; the primary disabilities of these students; and the variation in these measures across a range of demographic and school characteristics. Data for this analysis are drawn from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K). Findings from the analysis indicate that for the cohort of students beginning kindergarten in 1998, specific learning disabilities and speech or language impairments were the most prevalent primary disabilities over the grades studied. The percentage of the student cohort receiving special education grew from 4.1 percent in kindergarten to 11.9 percent of students in fifth grade. The results also indicate that higher percentages of boys than girls and of poor students than nonpoor students received special education.

To download, view and print the Issue Brief as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007005

Posted by ronbo at 08:58 PM

IES Newsflash: NAEP 2006 Economics Results to Be Released Soon

Results from the first-ever NAEP assessment in economics are scheduled to be released on Wednesday, August 8, 2007. The Nation’s Report Card: Economics 2006 reports on the economic literacy of America’s twelfth-graders. Student knowledge was measured in three areas: market economy, national economy, and international economy.

For more information on the assessment, visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/economics/

On Wednesday the 8th of August, at 10 a.m. ET, view the results online at:
http://nationsreportcard.gov

and view a webcast of the report release event. Join NCES Associate Commissioner Peggy Carr for an online StatChat about the results on the day of the release at 2 p.m. Submit your questions now, and at any time until the end of the chat at 3 p.m., at:
http://nces.ed.gov/statchat/index2.asp

Posted by ronbo at 04:16 PM

July 31, 2007

NEW NCES REPORT! - To Teach or Not to Teach? Teaching Experience and Preparation Among 1992-1993 Bachelor's Degree Recipients 10 Years After College

Using data from the 2003 Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study (B&B:93/03), this report profiles 1992-93 bachelor’s degree recipients’ experience with K-12 teaching in the subsequent 10 years, as well as their preparation for teaching. The analysis first compares current and former teachers in this cohort on several demographic and educational measures, and contrasts these groups with 1992-93 graduates who never taught. The report provides an overview of teachers’ job satisfaction and, for those not teaching in 2002-03, the main reason for not teaching. The second section looks at graduates’ preparation for teaching, including the key steps of completing a teacher education program, serving as a student teacher, and earning certification. Finally, the report examines the main reasons graduates who never taught gave for deciding against teaching.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007163

Posted by ronbo at 07:56 PM

July 23, 2007

From IES Newsflash: Information on Courses, Credits, GPA, and NAEP Performance for High School Graduates

NCES' National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has information about the types of courses that high school graduates have taken, credits earned, grade point averages, and the relationship between coursetaking patterns and NAEP achievement. This information is collected every four years via the NAEP High School Transcript Study (HSTS). Analysis of over 20,000 transcripts from schools across the nation provide a wealth of information--to see what's available, start with http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/hsts/

Explore the recently published tables from the 2000 HSTS at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/hsts/tabulations/

The results from the 2005 HSTS are at
http://nationsreportcard.gov/hsts_2005

Data from the 2005 HSTS are available in the NAEP Data Explorer, so you can perform your own analyses. See http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/hstsnde/

Posted by ronbo at 01:02 PM

From IES Newsflash: Revenues and Expenditures by Public School Districts: School Year 2004-05

This brief publication contains data on revenues and expenditures per pupil made by school districts for school year 2004-05. Median per pupil revenue and expenditure data are reported by state, as well as values at the 5th and 95th percentiles. Data for charter schools are reported separately. There are also discussions on the different types of school districts, and other resources that may be helpful in analyzing school district level data. Revenues and expenditures for the 100 largest school districts are included, as well as federal revenues by program. For total revenues and expenditures for public education made by states and the nation, readers should refer to the state-level "Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education: School Year 2004-05" (NCES 2007-356)

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007355

Posted by ronbo at 12:57 PM

July 09, 2007

IES Newsflash: 13 States Win $62.2 Million in Grants for Longitudinal Data Systems

The U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences (IES) has awarded a total of $62.2 million in grants to 13 state education departments for the design and implementation of statewide longitudinal data systems. These grants are intended to help the states generate and use accurate and timely data to meet reporting requirements, support decision-making, and aid education research. The grants range from $3.2 million to $6 million and extend for three years.

For more information, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/Programs/SLDS/

Posted by ronbo at 04:32 PM

June 28, 2007

NEW NCES REPORT! - Dropout Rates in the United States: 2005

This report builds upon a series of National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports on high school dropout and completion rates that began in 1988. It presents estimates of rates for 2005, and provides data about trends in dropout and completion rates over the last three decades (1972-2005), including characteristics of dropouts and completers in these years. Among other findings, the report shows that in students living in low-income families were approximately six times more likely to drop out of high school between 2004 and 2005 than of their peers from high-income families.

To browse this report, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2007/dropout05/

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007059

Posted by ronbo at 07:31 PM

June 27, 2007

From IES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT - Part-Time Undergraduates in Postsecondary Education: 2003–04

This report uses data from the 2003–04 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:2004) to profile part-time undergraduates enrolled in U.S. postsecondary institutions in 2003–04. About 49 percent of undergraduates were enrolled exclusively full time in the 2003–04 academic year, 35 percent were enrolled exclusively part time, and 16 percent had mixed enrollment intensity. Part-time undergraduates, especially exclusively part-time students, were at a distinct disadvantage relative to those who were enrolled full time: they came from minority and low-income family backgrounds; they were not as well-prepared for college as their full-time peers; they were highly concentrated in 2-year colleges and nondegree/certificate programs; and many of them worked full time while enrolled and were not enrolled continuously. Using longitudinal data from the 1996/01 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:96/01), the report also found that part-time enrollment was negatively associated with persistence and degree completion six years after beginning postsecondary education even after controlling for a wide range of factors related to these outcomes. This was the case even for the group of students with characteristics that fit the typical profile of a full-time student (i.e., age 23 or younger, financially dependent on parents, graduated from high school with a regular diploma, and received financial help from parents to pay for postsecondary education). Regardless of whether they resembled full-time students, part-time students (especially exclusively part-time students) lagged behind their full-time peers in terms of their postsecondary outcomes even after controlling for a variety of related factors.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007165

Posted by ronbo at 04:02 PM

June 26, 2007

From IES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Description and Employment Criteria of Instructional Paraprofessionals

This Issue Brief (1) offers a descriptive portrait of the distribution of instructional paraprofessionals in all public elementary and secondary schools by instructional responsibility and selected school characteristics and (2) examines the educational attainment criteria used by school districts in hiring these paraprofessionals. Data for this analysis were drawn from the 2003–04 Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS). The findings from this analysis indicate that 91 percent of public elementary and secondary schools in the United States had at least one instructional paraprofessional on staff in 2003–04. A greater percentage of traditional public schools than charter schools had instructional paraprofessionals and a greater percentage of elementary schools than secondary schools report having instructional paraprofessionals. Overall, 93 percent of schools were in districts that required paraprofessionals to have a high school diploma or the equivalent. The results also indicate that a greater percentage of Title I schools than non-Title I schools were in districts that required instructional paraprofessionals to have a high school diploma or the equivalent.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007008

Posted by ronbo at 02:12 PM

June 21, 2007

From IES Newsflash: Release of Supplementary Twin Data, Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort

Observations of Mother-Twin Interactions at 9 Months: User's Manual for the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) 9-month Twin Triad Restricted-Use Data File (NCES 2007-047)

This User's Manual for the Twin Triad Data File describes the design, instrumentation, coding methodology, and special issues pertaining to the twin triad data file from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort base year (9-month) data collection. Also included is information to help users access and use the twin triad data file in conjunction with the main ECLS-B restricted-use data files.

For more information, see:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007047

Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) 9-Month Twin Triad Restricted-Use Data File (NCES 2007-032)

This CD-ROM contains restricted-use base year (9-month data collection) twin triad data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B). The twin triad data file contains data from a subsample of twins videotaped with their mothers during a teaching interaction. Triadic interactions are coded using the Parent Infant Coding Scheme (PICS) coding system. The data file is accompanied by a record layout, SAS, SPSS, and Stata syntax files. The twin triad data file, when merged with the larger ECLS-B dataset, can be used to investigate numerous research topics regarding twinship, child development, and maternal behaviors.

For more information, see:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007032

Posted by ronbo at 05:37 PM

June 20, 2007

NEW NCES REPORT! - Numbers and Types of Public Elementary and Secondary Schools From the Common Core of Data: School Year 2005-06

This report presents national and state-level data about the number of regular, special education, vocational, alternative, and charter schools; average school size; and the numbers of schools in city, suburban, town, and rural locations.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007354

Posted by ronbo at 05:29 PM

June 19, 2007

NEW NCES REPORT! - Numbers and Types of Public Elementary and Secondary Education Agencies From the Common Core of Data: School Year 2005-06

This report presents national and state-level data about the number of regular school districts and other local education agencies, school district size, grades served, and the number of school districts in city, suburban, town, and rural locales.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007353

Posted by ronbo at 03:18 PM

June 16, 2007

From IES Newsflash: Restricted-use Data Applicants for NCES Data Files

As of July 1, 2007, IES/NCES will only accept restricted-use data License applications through its new electronic application system (see: http://nces.ed.gov/statprog/instruct.asp ). Any License application that does not come through this new system will be returned to the applicant. More information about applying for restricted-use data Licenses is available at http://nces.ed.gov/statprog/instruct.asp and in the "Restricted-Use Data Procedures Manual" at http://nces.ed.gov/statprog/rudman/toc.asp

Posted by ronbo at 03:44 PM

June 08, 2007

From IES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Public Elementary and Secondary School Student Enrollment, High School Completions, and Staff From the Common Core of Data: School Year 2005-06

This short descriptive report summarizes the numbers of students enrolled in public elementary/secondary education by grade; the number of diplomas and other completion credentials awarded for the 2004-05 school year; the averaged freshman graduation rate (AFGR) for the 2004-05 school year; pupil/teacher ratios; and the number of teaching, administrative, and support staff employed in public education. The information is presented by state and for the United States as a whole.

The data were reported to the Common Core of Data by state education agencies from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several other jurisdictions.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007352

Posted by ronbo at 03:49 PM

June 07, 2007

From IES Newsflash: New! Mapping 2005 State Proficiency Standards onto NAEP Scales

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) today released a new research and development report, Mapping 2005 State Proficiency Standards Onto the NAEP Scales.

The new report uses the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) as a common yardstick for comparing among the proficiency standards each state sets on its own tests for fourth- and eighth-grade reading and mathematics, and for comparing these state standards with national performance benchmarks.

Key findings:

* States vary widely in the NAEP-equivalents of their proficiency standards. There is up to an 81-point difference in proficiency standards between the states, about twice the range seen in overall student performance on NAEP.

* Most state proficiency standards fall within the NAEP Basic range-except in 4th-grade reading, where most fall below Basic.

* A state's proficiency standard is not necessarily tied to student performance on NAEP. For example, a state may have a less rigorous AYP standard, but consistently score high on NAEP.

For more information on the methodology and results, or to download a copy of the report Comparing State Proficiency Standards, or the technical report visit
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/statemapping.asp

Posted by ronbo at 12:23 PM

June 06, 2007

From IES Newsflash: Four Data Sets Released Through NCES' Fast Response Survey System (FRSS)

NCES has released the following four Fast Response Survey System (FRSS) data sets:

Public-Use Data Files and Documentation: Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools, Fall 2002

This file contains data from a fall 2002 fast-response survey titled "Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools, Fall 2002." This study was included in a series of fast-response surveys that have tracked access to information technology in schools and classrooms since 1994. NCES released the results of the 2002 survey in the publication "Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools and Classrooms: 1994-2002."

For more information, or to download the data set, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007035

Public-Use Data Files and Documentation: Distance Education Courses for Public Elementary and Secondary School Students: 2002-03

This file contains data from a fast-response survey conducted in winter-spring 2003-04 titled "Distance Education Courses for Public Elementary and Secondary School Students: 2002-03." This public school district survey was the first nationally representative study to examine technology-based distance education availability, course offerings, and enrollments in the nation's public elementary and secondary schools. For this study, distance education courses were defined as credit-granting courses offered to elementary and secondary school students enrolled in the district in which the teacher and students were in different locations. NCES released the results of the survey in the publication "Distance Education Courses for Public Elementary and Secondary School Students: 2002-03."

For more information, or to download the data set, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007028

Public-Use Data Files and Documentation: Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools, Fall 2003

This file contains data from a fall 2003 fast-response survey titled "Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools, Fall 2003." This study was included in a series of fast-response surveys that have tracked access to information technology in schools and classrooms since 1994. These surveys provide trend analysis on the percent of public schools and instructional rooms with Internet access and on the ratio of students to instructional computers with Internet access. NCES released the results of the 2003 survey in the publication "Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools and Classrooms: 1994-2003".

For more information, or to download the data set, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007034

Public-Use Data Files and Documentation: Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools, Fall 2005

This file contains data from a fall 2005 fast-response survey titled "Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools, Fall 2005." This study was the most recent in a series of fast-response surveys that have tracked access to information technology in schools and classrooms since 1994. NCES released the results of the 2005 survey in the publication "Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools and Classrooms: 1994-2005."

For more information, or to download the data set, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007062

Posted by ronbo at 02:21 PM

June 05, 2007

From IES Newsflash: NAEP Website: Recent Additions

Researchers and educators will be interested in these recent additions to NCES' NAEP website:

The National Conference on Large-Scale Assessment begins June 17. There are many NAEP-related sessions, posted at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/ccsso.asp

The NAEP Data Explorer now has three large databases:
* Main NAEP assessments from 1990 to 2006
* High School Transcript Study for 2005
* Long-term trend assessments in mathematics and reading since the 1970s
Access any of these from
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nde

Researchers will find listings of the variables in each NAEP assessment helpful when planning secondary analysis strategies. More years will be added soon. See listings of variables at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/variablesrudata.asp

Have you used the item maps? They illustrate the knowledge and skills demonstrated by students performing at different NAEP scale scores on assessments in civics, mathematics, reading, science, and U.S. history. The released questions in the maps are linked to the NAEP Questions Tool, providing more information about the question and results from students across the nation:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/itemmaps/

Several releases are planned for this summer-—please check the NAEP website often!
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/

Posted by ronbo at 08:02 PM

From IES Newsflash: Changes in Instructional Hours in Four Subjects by Public School Teachers of Grades 1 Through 4

NCES has just released, 'Changes in Instructional Hours in Four Subjects by Public School Teachers of Grades 1 Through 4.' This publication uses data from five administrations of the Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) to examine the distribution of weekly instructional hours by regular, full-time first- through fourth-grade teachers of self-contained classrooms in four subjects: English/reading/language arts; arithmetic/mathematics; social studies/history; and, science. Results show that combined teacher instructional time in the four subjects has increased between 1987-88 and 2003-04. However, examining each subject shows that this increase is largely due to an overall increase in the amount of instruction in English and mathematics. In the two most recent administrations, 1999-2000 and 2003-04, weekly teacher instructional hours in English increased while instructional time in mathematics, social studies, and science decreased. Despite the fluctuations in hours of instruction, total instructional time in the four subjects as a percentage of the student school week did not change significantly between 1987-88 and 2003-04; it was about 67 percent of the school week in each year.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007305

Posted by ronbo at 12:04 AM

May 31, 2007

From IES Newsflash: Just Released! - The Condition of Education 2007

Report on the State of American Education Shows High School Students Taking More Advanced Coursework

High school students in the United States are taking more courses in mathematics and science, as well as social studies, the arts, and foreign languages, according to The Condition of Education 2007 report released today by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The general increases in credits earned since the early 1980s are, in large part, a product of more graduates taking more advanced courses.

"The recent emphasis on mathematics and science in the high school curriculum has raised some concerns that growth in these and other high priority subject areas has squeezed out courses in other areas, such as the arts and history," said Mark Schneider, NCES Commissioner. "We have not found this to be the case. In fact, credits earned in other subjects have increased at the same time."

The Condition of Education is a congressionally mandated report that provides an annual statistical portrait of education in the United States. The 48 indicators included in the report cover all aspects of education, from student achievement to school environment and from early childhood through postsecondary education.

The report shows that enrollment in U.S. public schools is becoming increasingly diverse. In addition, more individuals are enrolling in postsecondary education, and more bachelor’s degrees have been awarded than in the past. Among the report’s other findings:

High School Coursetaking

* The average number of credits earned by high school graduates increased from 21.7 credits in 1982 to 25.8 credits in 2004.

* Comparing 1982 and 2004, graduates earned an average of 4.0 versus 4.3 credits in English, 2.7 versus 3.6 credits in mathematics, and 2.2 versus 3.2 credits in science.

* These increases in credits earned in English, mathematics, and science have not coincided with a decline in other coursework. Comparing 1982 and 2004, graduates earned an average of 3.2 versus 3.9 credits in history/social studies, 1.1 versus 2.0 credits in foreign languages, and 1.4 versus 2.1 in arts.

* Between 1997 and 2005, the number of students taking AP exams more than doubled to about 1.2 million, with the numbers of Blacks and Hispanics growing faster than those for other racial/ethnic groups.

* The percentage of exams resulting in a qualifying score of 3.0 or better decreased from 65 percent in 1997 to 59 percent in 2005.

* In 2004, Asian/Pacific Islander graduates were more likely than graduates of any other race/ethnicity to have completed advanced coursework in science, mathematics, English, and foreign language.

* Students who eventually dropped out of high school were behind their peers who graduated on time in the total number of credits they earned in their freshman and sophomore years, as well as the amount they earned in English, mathematics, and science courses. Year-to-year change shows that credit accrual declined for dropouts, putting them further behind.

America’s Students Today

* Minority students make up 42 percent of public school enrollment.

* Twenty percent of school-age children speak a language other than English at home.

* The rate of college enrollment immediately after high school increased from 49 percent in 1972 to 69 percent in 2005.

* Female college enrollment passed male enrollment in 1978. The gender gap has since widened and is expected to continue to grow.

Learner Outcomes

* About three-quarters of the freshman class graduated from public high schools on time in 2003–04.

* The number of bachelor’s degrees awarded increased by 33 percent between 1989-90 and 2003-04, while the number of associate’s degrees increased by 46 percent. Minority students have accounted for about half of the growth in associate’s and bachelor’s degrees.

* Adults ages 25–34 with a bachelor’s degree or higher have higher median earnings than their peers with less education, and these earnings differences increased from 1980 to 2005.

* The average total price for 1 year of full-time graduate education ranged from $21,900 for a master’s degree program to $41,900 for a first-professional degree program.

NCES is the statistical center of the Institute of Education Sciences in the U.S. Department of Education. The full text of The Condition of Education 2007 (in HTML format), along with related data tables and indicators from previous years, can be viewed at:
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007064

Posted by ronbo at 01:52 PM

May 30, 2007

From IES Newsflash: Upcoming Release! - The Condition of Education 2007

The Condition of Education 2007, the annual statistical portrait of education in the United States, will be released Thursday, May 31st, 2007. The 2007 report summarizes important developments and trends in education using the latest available data. The report presents 48 indicators on the status and condition of education and a special analysis on high school coursetaking.

The report will be made available Thursday morning at 10:00 am at: http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/

Posted by ronbo at 01:55 PM

May 10, 2007

NEW NCES REPORT! - Literacy Behind Bars: Results From the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy Prison Survey

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has just released Literacy Behind Bars: Results From the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy Prison Survey. This report presents findings on the literacy skills of incarcerated adults and analyzes the changes in these skills since the 1992 National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS).

Major findings include the following:

* The average Prose, Document, and Quantitative literacy scores of the prison population were higher in 2003 than in 1992.

* Prison inmates had lower average prose, document, and quantitative literacy than adults living in households. On average, inmates also had lower levels of educational attainment than adults living in households.

* In general, either prison inmates had lower average Prose, Document, and Quantitative literacy than adults living in households with the same level of educational attainment or there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The exception was that among adults without any high school education, prison inmates had higher average literacy on all three scales than adults living in households.

* In 2003, 37 percent of the prison population did not have a high school diploma or a GED, compared with 49 percent in 1992.

* Incarcerated White adults had lower average prose literacy than White adults living in households. Incarcerated Black and Hispanic adults had higher average prose literacy than Black and Hispanic adults living in households.

* Between 1992 and 2003, average prose and quantitative literacy levels increased for prison inmates who were Black, male, or in the 25- to 39-year-old age group.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007473

Posted by ronbo at 03:01 PM

May 09, 2007

NEW NCES REPORT! - Enrollment in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2005; Graduation Rates, 1999 and 2002 Cohorts; and Financial Statistics, Fiscal Year 2005

This report presents findings from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) spring 2006 data collection, which included four components: Student Financial Aid for full-time, first-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students for the 2004-05 academic year; Enrollment for fall 2005 and 12-month counts for 2004-05; Graduation Rates for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students beginning college in 1999 at 4-year institutions or in 2002 at less-than-4-year institutions; and Finance for fiscal year 2005. These data were collected through the IPEDS web-based data collection system. Major findings: * Title IV institutions in the United States enrolled 18 million students in fall 2005; 61 percent were enrolled in 4-year institutions, 37 percent were enrolled in 2-year institutions, and 2 percent were enrolled in less-than-2-year institutions. * Overall graduation rates at 4-year institutions were higher than at 2-year institutions (56 percent and 33 percent, respectively). * During 2004-05, nearly 75 percent of the 2.6 million full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates attending Title IV institutions located in the United States received financial aid. Among full-time, first time undergraduates, the proportion of students receiving financial aid varied by sector of institution: 76 percent of those attending public 4-year institutions; 80 percent of those attending private for-profit 4-year institutions; and 85 percent of those attending private not-for-profit 4-year institutions.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007154

Posted by ronbo at 04:45 PM

NEW NCES REPORT! - Event Dropout Rates for Public School Students in Grades 9-12: 2002–03 and 2003–04

The report summarizes and compares event dropout rates for public high school students, by state, for 2002-03 and 2003-04. Event dropout rates included in the report measure the percent of 9th- through 12th-grade students who drop out over the course of a school year. A dropout, as defined for this report, is as an individual who was enrolled in school at some time during the previous school year, was not enrolled on October 1 of the current school year, and did not graduate from high school or complete some other district- or state-approved educational program. Among reporting states in 2003-04, the rates ranged from a low of 1.8 percent in Connecticut and New Jersey to a high of 7.9 percent in Louisiana.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007026

Posted by ronbo at 02:40 PM

April 24, 2007

NEW NCES REPORT! - Course Credit Accrual and Dropping Out of High School

In this report, differences in the average number of course credits earned between high school graduates and dropouts, both within and accumulated across academic years, are examined in order to describe enrollment and completion behavior of high school graduates and dropouts. Differences in course credit accrual by selected subjects (English, mathematics, and science) are also reported. Data for this study are drawn from high school transcripts collected in 2005 as part of the first follow-up to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002). These high school transcripts provide enrollment histories, graduation dates, and coursetaking patterns. The findings from the analysis indicate that high school dropouts earn fewer credits than do on-time graduates within each academic year, and the gap in course credits accrued between dropouts and on-time graduates increased across academic years. Differences were also observed in the course credit accrual of dropouts and on-time graduates by selected subjects (e.g., mathematics, science, and English). In addition, the gap in the cumulative number of course credits accrued between on-time graduates and dropouts grew more pronounced over time, and the disparity in cumulative course credits was most evident in the final academic year in which they earned any course credits.

To download, view and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007018

Posted by ronbo at 10:21 PM

April 21, 2007

2003-04 SASS and 2004-05 TFS Summer Data Training session

A SASS and TFS data 2 ½ day training session will be held in Washington, D.C. June 6-8, 2007. Only a limited number of applicants will be accepted, with all costs being paid by NCES.

Please visit the NCES Conference / Training Connection for more details: http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?cid=2

Posted by ronbo at 03:40 AM

April 17, 2007

NEW NCES REPORT! - Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education: School Year 2004-05 (Fiscal Year 2005)

This brief publication contains basic revenue and expenditure data, by state, for public elementary and secondary education for school year 2004-05. It contains state-level data on revenues by source and expenditures by function, including expenditures per pupil.

To view and print the publication, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2007/expenditures/

Posted by ronbo at 02:20 PM

IES Newsflash: NAEP Database Training: Register by May 15 for June 19-21 Seminar

The annual advanced studies seminar, Using the NAEP Database for Research and Policy Discussion (NAEP Database Training), is scheduled for June 19-21, 2007 in Washington, DC. This seminar is aimed at faculty and advanced graduate students from colleges and universities. Education researchers and policy analysts with strong statistical skills from state and local education agencies and professional associations are also welcome.

By May 15, 2007 register at:
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=225&cid=2

To discover the richness of the NAEP database, try these online tools

NAEP Data Explorer:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata/

NAEP State Comparisons Tool:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nde/statecomp/

NAEP Questions Tool:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/itmrls/

See more information for NAEP researchers at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/

Posted by ronbo at 12:19 AM

April 12, 2007

IES Newsflash: NCES Summer Data Conference Registration and Call for Proposals

NCES is pleased to announce that preregistration is now open for the NCES Data Conference scheduled for July 25-27, 2007. Preregistered participants will receive periodic updates on conference sessions. Preregistration closes Friday, July 6, 2007.

NCES is also soliciting concurrent session proposals through Friday, May 18.

To preregister or submit a concurrent session proposal, please visit:
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=235

Scroll down the page and select the registration link titled:
"Register for STATS-DC 2007 (and optionally submit a proposal)"

The Data Conference is an opportunity for professional networking, updates on federal and national activities affecting data collection and reporting, and information about the best new approaches in collecting, reporting, and using education statistics. The Conference will provide information about changes in how the U.S. Department of Education collects and uses data, and developments in electronic data standards for schools, school districts, and states. There will be half-day training sessions for CCD Fiscal and Nonfiscal Data Coordinators, presentations on NCES's survey and assessment programs, and overviews of developing statewide longitudinal data systems.

Posted by ronbo at 02:12 PM

April 10, 2007

IES Newsflash: DAS Online 2.0 Beta Released!

The Data Analysis System (DAS) Online has been updated. The new version, DAS Online 2.0 Beta, includes many new features and functions. DAS Online users may now estimate covariance analyses--both Weighted Least Squares and Logistic regressions. A Winsor filter has been added to filter out cases with extreme values by deleting a certain percentage of cases from the top and bottom of the range. For some newer datasets, users are offered more than one missing value code, called "reserve" codes--e.g., legitimate skip, unknown, refused, etc. Finally, several specification screens have been updated to be more user-friendly. DAS Users can find help with these features and others in the User Help Center as well as from the convenient help link from within the application.

DAS Online 2.0 Beta can be accessed at:
http://nces.ed.gov/das/

Posted by ronbo at 01:35 PM

April 04, 2007

From IES Newsflash: NEW REPORT! Effectiveness of Reading and Mathematics Software Products: Findings from the First Student Cohort

The National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, in the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, has released a major study of the effectiveness of education technology. The report, ‘Effectiveness of Reading and Mathematics Software Products: Findings from the First Student Cohort’ which was mandated by Congress, uses scientifically based research methods and control groups to focus on the impact of technology on student academic achievement. The main findings of the study are:

• Test scores were not significantly higher in classrooms using the reading and mathematics software products than those in control classrooms. In each of the four groups of products—reading in first grade and in fourth grade, mathematics in sixth grade, and high school algebra—the evaluation found no significant differences in student achievement between the classrooms that used the technology products and classrooms that did not.

• There was substantial variation between schools regarding the effects on student achievement. Although the study collected data on many school and classroom characteristics, only two characteristics were related to the variation in reading achievement. For first grade, effects were larger in schools that had smaller student-teacher ratios (a measure of class size). For fourth grade, effects were larger when treatment teachers reported higher levels of use of the study product.
Thirty-three districts, 132 schools, and 439 teachers participated in the study. Sixteen products were selected for the study based on public submissions and ratings by a study team and expert review panels.

The report is available at: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/pubs/20074005

Posted by ronbo at 03:17 PM

March 30, 2007

From IES Newsflash: For NAEP Researchers: 2007 AERA-NCME Presentations, and Training in D.C.

See the list of NAEP and NAEP-related topics to be presented at the upcoming annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME) on April 8-12:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/aera.asp

The list includes two NAEP training sessions.

The annual advanced studies seminar on the use of the NAEP database for education research and policy analysis is scheduled for June 19-21, 2007. Register before May 15, at:
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=225

See additional training opportunities listed at:
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/

See more information for NAEP researchers at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/

Posted by ronbo at 03:26 PM

March 29, 2007

NEW NCES REPORT! - Students Entering and Leaving Postsecondary Occupational Education: 1995-2001

This report uses data from the 1995–96 to 2001 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study to examine three questions concerning students pursuing postsecondary certificates or associate’s degrees in career related fields (referred to here as occupational students): (1) who enters postsecondary occupational education, (2) to what extent do occupational students persist in postsecondary education and attain their credential goals, and (3) what are the labor market outcomes for occupational students who earn credentials? Occupational students were found to be more likely than academic subbaccalaureate students to be female, Black, older, have lower educational backgrounds, and self-identify as “enrolled employees” rather than “working students.” Most of these differences were due to differences between occupational certificate students and the two groups of occupational and academic associate’s degree-seeking students. No differences were found in the rates at which occupational and academic subbaccalaureate students persist in postsecondary education and attain a credential, although occupational students were more likely to “downgrade” to a postsecondary certificate. Finally, no differences were found in the rates at which occupational completers (those who earned a credential) and noncompleters were employed or in their average salary; however, among students who entered a job related to their field of study, average salary increased with the years of education completed.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007041

Posted by ronbo at 05:01 PM

From IES Newsflash: Reports on Puerto Rico Performance on NAEP Released Today!

Two reports presenting results on the performance of fourth- and eighth-grade students in Puerto Rico on the 2003 and 2005 NAEP mathematics assessments were released today. The "Highlights" report gives an overview of mathematics performance in Puerto Rico, with comparisons to the performance of students nationally. The other, "Focus on the Content Areas," gives detailed information on Puerto Rico student performance in the five NAEP individual mathematics content areas. Both are also available in Spanish.

In 2003, students in Puerto Rico participated in the NAEP mathematics assessment. This was the first time an entire NAEP administration was given in a language other than English. The NAEP mathematics assessment was administered again in Puerto Rico in 2005. Because modifications were made for the 2005 administration in Puerto Rico, scores should not be compared between the two years.

The Highlights report shows the following:

* In both years and in both grades, average scores for students in Puerto Rico were lower than average scores for low-income students and for all students nationally.
* A smaller percentage of students in Puerto Rico performed at or above Basic than students did nationally.

View the results and download the reports "The Nation’s Report Card: Mathematics 2003 and 2005 Performance in Puerto Rico: Highlights" and "The Nation’s Report Card: Mathematics 2005 Performance in Puerto Rico—Focus on the Content Areas" at:
http://nationsreportcard.gov

To download, view and print the publications as PDF files, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007460
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007459

Posted by ronbo at 04:59 PM

March 27, 2007

NEW NCES REPORT! - Employees in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2005, and Salaries of Full-Time Instructional Faculty, 2005-06

This report presents information from the Winter 2005-06 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) web-based data collection. Tabulations represent data requested from all postsecondary institutions participating in Title IV federal student financial aid programs. The tables in this publication include data on the number of staff employed in Title IV postsecondary institutions in fall 2005 by primary occupational activity, length of contract/teaching period, employment status, salary class interval, faculty and tenure status, academic rank, race/ethnicity, and gender. Also included are tables on the number of full-time instructional faculty employed in Title IV postsecondary institutions in 2005-06 by length of contract/teaching period, academic rank, gender, and average salaries.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007150

Posted by ronbo at 09:58 AM

March 26, 2007

Nonresponse Bias in the 2005 National Household Education Surveys Program

This report includes assessments of the potential for both unit and item nonresponse bias in the surveys fielded as part of the 2005 National Household Education Surveys Program. The analysis of unit nonresponse bias showed no evidence of bias in the estimates considered from the Early Childhood Program Participation and After-School Programs and Activities Surveys. For the Adult Education Survey, the only evidence of unit nonresponse bias is in estimates of sex: females were more likely to respond than males. The weighting class adjustment for nonresponse should reduce or correct this bias.

Posted by ronbo at 11:32 PM

From IES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Timing and Duration of Student Participation in Special Education in the Primary Grades

This Issue Brief reports the timing of entry into special education and the number of grades in which students receive special education across the primary grades. About 12 percent of students receive special education in at least one of the grades: kindergarten, first, and third grade, including 16 percent of boys, 8 percent of girls, 18 percent of poor children, and 10 percent of nonpoor children. One in three students who receive special education in early grades, first receive special education in kindergarten. Half of those who begin special education in kindergarten are no longer receiving special education by third grade. In addition to students’ gender and poverty status, results are presented separately for other student and school characteristics, including race/ethnicity and school control, urbanicity, region, and poverty concentration. Data for this brief come from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Studies, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K).

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007043

Posted by ronbo at 04:58 PM

March 23, 2007

From IES Newsflash: Reports on Puerto Rico Performance on NAEP to Be Released March 29

Two reports presenting results on the performance of fourth- and eighth-grade students in Puerto Rico on the 2003 and 2005 NAEP mathematics assessments are scheduled to be released on March 29, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. EDT.

The "Highlights" report will give an overview of student mathematics performance in Puerto Rico, with comparisons to the performance of students nationally. The "Focus on the Content Areas" report will provide more detailed information on Puerto Rico student performance in the five individual mathematics content areas. Both will also be available in Spanish.

Learn more about assessment in Puerto Rico at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/puertorico/

After 10:00 a.m. EDT on March 29, view the results and download the reports "The Nation’s Report Card: Mathematics 2003 and 2005 Performance in Puerto Rico: Highlights" and "The Nation’s Report Card: Mathematics 2005 Performance in Puerto Rico-Focus on the Content Areas" at: http://nationsreportcard.gov

Posted by ronbo at 04:30 PM

March 19, 2007

Just Released - Documentation for the 2004-05 Teacher Follow-up Survey

Technical documentation for the 2004-05 Teacher Follow-Up Survey, done one year after the 2003-04 Schools and Staffing Survey. The documentation covers the entire survey cycle--from sample design, questionnaire revisions, and field data collection through all stages of processing. There are descriptions and explanations of the survey cycle in the main text, supplemented by more detailed information in appendices.

Posted by ronbo at 07:36 PM

Information on seven NCES-sponsored workshop and training has been posted to the NCES website.

Information on seven NCES-sponsored workshop and training has been posted to the NCES website. Please visit http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/ to view dates, locations, agendas, and registration information for each. Below is a brief description of the sessions.

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Using Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002) and National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) for Research and Policy Discussion

Monday, May 14, through Wednesday, May 16, 2007, Washington, DC

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, will sponsor two 2½-day advanced studies seminars on the use of longitudinal education databases for research and policy studies in 2006. Both seminars—this one in May and the other in July—will cover the same material, focusing specifically on the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002) and the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) databases. The design of NELS:88 and ELS:2002 permits the examination of education, work, and the socialization of youth in the United States and the influences of schools, teachers, community, and family in promoting growth and positive outcomes.

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Using the NCES International Databases for Research and Policy Discussion

Monday, June 4, through Wednesday, June 6, 2007, Washington, DC

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, will sponsor a 2½-day seminar on the use of NCES International Databases: the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), and the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS).

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Using the Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) and Teacher Follow-up Survey (TFS) for Research and Policy Discussion

Wednesday, June 6, through Friday, June 8, 2007, Washington, DC

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), U.S. Department of Education, will sponsor a 2½-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) and Teacher Follow-up Survey (TFS) for research and policy discussion.

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Using the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Database for Research and Policy Discussion.

Tuesday, June 19, through Thursday, June 21, 2007, Washington, DC

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, will sponsor a 3½-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) database for education research and policy analysis. The main NAEP database contains nationally representative achievement scores on 4th, 8th, and 12th graders from public and non-public schools in a variety of academic subjects. The database also contains background information on the students who were assessed and their learning environment.

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Using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998–99 (ECLS-K) Database for Research and Policy Discussion

Wednesday, June 27, through Friday, June 29, 2007, Washington, DC

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, is sponsoring a 3-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998–99 (ECLS-K) database. The ECLS-K allows researchers to examine the relationships among a wide range of child, family, teacher, classroom, and school variables and children’s development and performance in elementary and middle school.

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Using Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002) and National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) for Research and Policy Discussion

Monday, July 9, through Wednesday, July 11, 2007, Washington, DC

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, will sponsor two 2½-day advanced studies seminars on the use of longitudinal education databases for research and policy studies in 2007. Both seminars—this one in May and the other in July—will cover the same material, focusing specifically on the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002) and the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) databases. The design of NELS:88 and ELS:2002 permits the examination of education, work, and the socialization of youth in the United States and the influences of schools, teachers, community, and family in promoting growth and positive outcomes.

-----------------------
Using the National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES) Database for Research and Policy Analyses

Wednesday, July 11 through Friday, July 13, 2007, Washington, DC

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), in the U.S Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, will sponsor a 3-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES) databases for research and policy analyses. NHES is a series of surveys designed to address a wide range of education-related issues. It provides descriptive data on the educational activities of the U.S. population, from early childhood to adult education, and offers policymakers, researchers, and educators a variety of statistics on the condition of education in the United States. Data are collected through telephone interviews with parents and adults.

Posted by ronbo at 03:35 PM

March 13, 2007

From IES Newsflash: New website on Career/Technical Education

NCES has just expanded and renamed its Data on Vocational Education (DOVE) website. The website is now called Career/Technical Education Statistics (CTES), and includes a new section of "CTES Tables on the Web." Based on analyses of NCES datasets, this section provides summary data tables that describe career/technical education (CTE) at the secondary level, CTE at the postsecondary level, and adult education for work. The site currently includes tables describing the secondary CTE delivery system and offerings, labor market and further education outcomes of secondary CTE, the postsecondary CTE delivery system and offerings, and adult participation in work-related coursetaking.

As other NCES datasets are analyzed over the next two years, these web tables will be expanded to other areas (e.g., secondary students' and postsecondary students' participation in CTE). Tables will updated in future years as new NCES datasets become available.

To view the site, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/ctes/

Posted by ronbo at 07:00 PM

March 12, 2007

From IES Newsflash: NCES has just expanded the State Education Reforms (SER) website.

This website was first based on the report Overview and Inventory of State Education Reforms: 1990 to 2000, and is updated periodically to incorporate new data on state education reform activities. The SER website, which draws primarily on data collected by organizations other than NCES, compiles and disseminates data on state-level education reform efforts in four areas:

1) standards, assessment, and accountability,
2) school finance reforms,
3) resources for learning, and
4) state support for school choice options.

Specific reform areas include student and teacher assessments, adequate yearly progress, statewide exit exams, highly qualified teachers, open enrollments laws, and charter schools.

Two new tables on exit exams have been added to the Standards Assessment, and Accountability area and three new tables on longitudinal data systems, school exit exams, and kindergarten policies have been added to Resources for Learning area.

To view the site, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/statereform/

Posted by ronbo at 05:19 PM

March 09, 2007

From IES Newsflash: 2003-04 SASS Restricted-Use Data with Electronic Codebook (ECB) now available.

The 2003-04 SASS data is now available on CD-ROM with electronic codebook (ECB) and full survey documentation. This version of the ECB allows users to: search the SASS data file by keyword, variable name, question number, or data file; limit searches by sector (public vs. private) and/or survey respondent; and review the full text and frequencies of all SASS items. The data files can be imported to the statistical analysis program of your choice from SAS, SPSS, Stata or ASCII formats.

More more information please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007313

Restricted-use licensees can contact Cynthia.Barton@ed.gov to request a copy of the restricted-use data files with the electronic codebook. Please include your license number with the request.

Posted by ronbo at 09:20 PM

March 08, 2007

From IES Newsflash: 2004 Academic Libraries Survey data and documentation released

The Documentation for the Academic Library Survey (ALS) Data File: Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Use) (NCES 2007-343) and the public-use data file have been released:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007343

The documentation and data file are available for downloading at: http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/libraries/aca_data.asp

Data from the 2004 ALS are also available on the Compare Academic Libraries web tool at: http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/libraries/compare/index.asp?LibraryType=Academic

For more information about this and other library surveys, please go to the Library Statistics Program home page at:
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/libraries/

Posted by ronbo at 08:16 PM

From IES Newsflash: Newest Addition to NAEP Data Explorer: Long-Term Trend Data 1970-2004

Now all the data from the NAEP long-term trend (LTT) assessments in reading (beginning with the 1970-1971 school year) and in mathematics (beginning 1977-1978), formerly available only in part and only in static tables, can be explored in many ways! The NAEP Data Explorer now offers you the ability to produce customized results from this rich database.

Three NAEP datasets are now covered by the Explorer: main NAEP (comprised of results from national, state, and selected urban district assessments, available in Quick Start or Advanced interfaces), NAEP High School Transcript Study, and LTT. Choose among these datasets at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata

With the NAEP Data Explorer, you can work with LTT data using performance measures such as average scale scores, performance levels, percentiles, percentages, and standard deviations in table or graph form. Also, you can cross-tabulate results by two or more variables, format tables by moving or deleting columns, perform significance tests and regression analyses, and copy results to other applications.

LTT most recently assessed mathematics and reading performance for approximately 75,000 students at ages 9, 13, and 17 in schools throughout the nation during the 2003-2004 school year. The next LTT is scheduled for 2007-2008. You can learn about all facets of the assessment itself at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/ltt/

Posted by ronbo at 08:04 PM

February 28, 2007

NEW NCES REPORT! - An Historical Overview of Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education, by State: Fiscal Years 1990-2002

This large publication contains data from the Common Core of Data, National Public Education Financial Survey, Fiscal Years 1990 through 2002. Data have been adjusted to 2002 dollars using the Consumer Price Index. Full dollar amounts and per pupil amounts are presented for each data item. Appendix C contains unadjusted data. This publication contains state-level data on revenues by source and expenditures by function, including expenditures per pupil. All data were reported to NCES by state education agencies.

To browse the report, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2007/npefs13years/

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007317

Posted by ronbo at 02:26 PM

February 22, 2007

IES Newsflash: Two Reports on the Performance of the Nation’s Twelfth-Graders Released by NAEP

Results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2005 twelfth-grade reading and mathematics assessments and the 2005 NAEP High School Transcript Study (HSTS) were just released.

The twelfth-grade reading and mathematics report provides national results on the performance of America’s high school seniors on NAEP.

The Nation’s Report Card: America’s High School Graduates presents information about the types of courses 2005 high school graduates completed, how many credits they earned, and the grades they received. Information on the relationships between high school academic records and performance on the NAEP mathematics and science assessments is also included.

Both reports examine results for student groups including race/ethnicity and gender.

Reading findings include:
* Decline in scores and the percentages of students at or above Proficient and at or above Basic compared with 1992. There have been no significant changes at these levels since 2002.
* No significant change in the White-Black or White-Hispanic gap compared with previous years.

Mathematics findings include:
* Sixty-one percent performed at or above Basic, and 23 percent were at or above Proficient.
* NOTE: Due to changes to the framework for 2005, results can’t be compared to previous years.

High School Transcript Study findings include:
* Graduates in 2005 completed more rigorous curricula than previous graduates.
* The overall grade point average (GPA) has been climbing since 1990 and was 2.98 in 2005.
* Graduates with stronger academic records obtain higher NAEP scores.

Full results are available at:
http://nationsreportcard.gov

Including 2005 twelfth-grade science results released earlier, at:
http://nationsreportcard.gov/science_2005/

To download, view and print the publications as PDF files, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007467
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007468

Posted by ronbo at 06:47 PM

February 20, 2007

From IES Newsflash: The 2007 NICHD-NCES Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) Conference (May 8-10, 2007)

The 2007 NICHD-NCES Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) Conference: Development from Birth Through Age Two

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research are sponsoring an ECLS-B Child Development Conference, organized jointly by National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the United States Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The conference will be held on May 8 - 10, 2007 at the Natcher Conference Center, Bethesda, MD.

The conference provides an opportunity for investigators to share research findings relating to early childhood development using data from the 9-month and 2-year ECLS-B data collections. NIH and NCES staff, as well as researchers with expertise in early childhood health and development, will serve as moderators to the speakers and paper discussants for the conference.

Researchers and policymakers with an interest in early childhood health and development are invited to attend the conference. There is no charge to attend the conference; however, space is limited so early registration is recommended. The deadline for registration is April 20, 2007. Registration is available on-line through the NCES website at: http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=209&cid=2 The conference agenda will be posted on the registration website in the near future.

Posted by ronbo at 05:27 PM

February 15, 2007

From IES Newsflash: Results from the 2005 NAEP Twelfth-Grade Reading and Mathematics Assessments and the 2005 High School Transcript Study

Results from the 2005 NAEP Twelfth-Grade Reading and Mathematics Assessments and the 2005 High School Transcript Study Are Scheduled for Release on February 22, 2007 at 9:30 a.m.

The 2005 12th grade reading and mathematics assessments were given to a sample of high school seniors nationally. Results will be available for the seniors nationally and for various student groups. The reading results will include trend data to 1992. There will be no trend data available for mathematics, as the 2005 assessment was based on a new test framework at grade 12. Learn more about the reading assessment at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/reading and the mathematics assessment at http://nces.ed.gov/nationreportcard/mathematics

The 2005 High School Transcript Study Report will present information about the types of courses 2005 high school graduates completed during high school, how many credits they earned, and the grades they received. Information on the relationships between high school academic records and performance on the NAEP mathematics and science assessments is included. Transcripts were collected from schools across the country and constituted a nationally representative sample of high school graduates. Learn more about the High School Transcript Study at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/hsts

View the results on February 22 after 9:30 a.m. at
http://nationsreportcard.gov

Posted by ronbo at 03:31 PM

February 12, 2007

From NCES: NAEP [National Assessment of Educational Progress] Economics Assessment: New Information Available

The first ever NAEP economics assessment was administered throughout the nation last year to students in grade 12. Results from approximately 11,000 students in about 600 schools will be released in the fall of 2007. Questions in the assessment were based on the following content areas: Market Economy, National Economy, and International Economy.

To learn more about the assessment, see the new information at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/economics/

Read about the framework for the assessment at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/economics/whatmeasure.asp

Also, see examples of the types of questions asked, contained in the Sample Questions booklets given to participating schools:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf/demo_booklet/05SQ-grade12-part1.pdf (539 K PDF).

Posted by ronbo at 02:12 PM

February 08, 2007

NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) 2007 began January 22 in the states and across the nation

The 2007 NAEP assessment has begun, and will continue until early March. See the new home page at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/
for information about the assessment and related topics.

The full participation of all the selected schools and students is crucial to the success of this important assessment—read about its importance at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/natimportant.asp
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/parents/importance.asp

Parents of students in the assessment will find answers to their questions at: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/parents/

Schools that are participating may want to check:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/schools.asp

Learn how to use the NAEP data tools that help you understand the value of this assessment at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/naeptools.asp

Posted by ronbo at 03:46 PM

February 06, 2007

NEW NCES REPORT! - Teacher Attrition and Mobility: Results from the 2004-05 Teacher Follow-up Survey

This First Look report provides some selected findings from the 2004-05 Teacher Follow-up Survey (TFS) along with data tables and methodological information. The TFS is a follow-up of a sample of the elementary and secondary school teachers who participated in the previous year’s Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS). The TFS sample includes teachers who leave teaching in the year after the SASS data collection and those who continue to teach either in the same school as last year or in a different school. The purpose of the Teacher Follow-up Survey is to determine how many teachers remained at the same school, moved to another school or left the profession in the year following the SASS administration.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007307

Posted by ronbo at 01:47 PM

January 29, 2007

From NCES: Documentation for the 2003-04 Schools and Staffing Survey

This report serves as the survey documentation for the design and implementation of the 2003-04 Schools and Staffing Survey. Topics covered include the sample design, survey methodology, data collection procedures, data processing, response rates, imputation procedures, weighting and variance estimation, review of the quality of data, the types of SASS data files, and user notes and cautions. More detail is contained in appendices.

Report available as pdf files.

Posted by ronbo at 09:42 PM

January 17, 2007

From NCES Newsflash: New NCES Report! - Households' Use of Public and Other Types of Libraries: 2002

Households' Use of Public and Other Types of Libraries: 2002 has been released on the NCES web site. This report presents a series of tabulations that highlight households' use of public libraries. Patterns of library use by household demographic, social, economic, and geographic characteristics are presented. The data for this report were collected as part of the October 2002 Current Population Survey (CPS) Library Supplement. The Current Population Survey (CPS) is a monthly survey of households conducted by the Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data are collected from a sample of 50,000 to 60,000 households through personal and telephone interviews.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007327

Posted by ronbo at 02:58 PM

January 13, 2007

From NCES Newsflash: Problem Solving in the PISA and TIMSS 2003 Assessments

In 2003, the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) included a special focus on problem-solving. This report reviews the problem-solving aspects of each study in order to compare and contrast the nature of problem solving in each assessment. The report’s authors develop and use a definition for problem solving to identify items in the two assessments that address students’ problem-solving capabilities. Items that were identified as problem-solving items in the TIMSS and PISA mathematics, science, and Cross-Disciplinary problem-solving assessments were analyzed in terms of six types of item characteristics: (1) content coverage; (2) cognitive processes; (3) problem-solving attributes; (4) item formats; (5) computational aspects; and (6) translation of representations.

For more info

Posted by ronbo at 03:29 PM

From NCES Newsflash: Public-Use Data Files and Documentation: Foods and Physical Activity in Public Elementary Schools, 2005

This file contains data from a 2005 fast-response survey titled �Foods and Physical Activity in Public Elementary Schools: 2005.” The study was prompted by concern over the rate of obesity among school-age children and was designed to obtain current national information on availability of foods and opportunities for exercise in public elementary schools. NCES released the results of the survey in the publication Calories In, Calories Out: Food and Exercise in Public Elementary Schools, 2005. Questionnaires and cover letters for the study were mailed to the principal of each sampled school in early March 2005, requesting that the questionnaire be completed by the person most knowledgeable about the availability of foods and opportunities for physical activity at the school. Respondents were encouraged to consult with the school’s food service personnel and physical education staff to complete relevant sections of the questionnaire. Respondents were also offered the option of completing the survey via the Web. Telephone follow-up for survey nonresponse and data clarification was initiated in late March 2005 and completed in late June 2005. The final response rate was 91 percent. Respondents were asked about the types of food sold at one or more locations in their schools and in their cafeterias or lunchrooms; the types of food sold at vending machines and school stores or snack bars, and times when foods were available at those locations; food service operations and contracts with companies to sell foods at schools; scheduled recess, including the days per week, times per day, and minutes per day of recess; scheduled physical education, including the days per week, class length, and average minutes per week of physical education; activities to encourage physical activity among elementary students; and the physical assessment of students.

For more info

Posted by ronbo at 03:27 PM

January 10, 2007

From NCES Newsflash: Supplemental data tables from the Academic Libraries Survey (ALS): 2002 and 2004

Supplemental data tables from the Academic Libraries Survey (ALS): 2002 and 2004 have been released. The ALS: 2002 tables include state and institutional characteristic data. The ALS: 2004 supplemental tables present state data; the institutional data tables appeared in the First Look report (2007-301) released on November 14, 2006. Links to the 2004 report and 2002 and 2004 supplemental tables can be found online at: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007301

The report and supplemental tables provide a statistical profile of libraries serving postsecondary, degree-granting institutions in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The ALS was conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

For more information about this and other library surveys, please go to the Library Statistics Program home page at: http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/libraries/

Posted by ronbo at 08:44 PM

December 28, 2006

NEW NCES REPORT! - Postsecondary Institutions in the United States: Fall 2005 and Degrees and Other Awards Conferred: 2004-05 (NCES 2007-167)

This First Look presents findings from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) fall 2005 data collection, which included two survey components: Institutional Characteristics for the 2005-06 academic year, and Completions covering the period July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005. These data were collected through the IPEDS web-based data collection system.

1. Among the 6,600 Title IV postsecondary institutions in the United States and other jurisdictions, 40 percent were classified as 4-year institutions, 34 percent were 2-year institutions, and the remaining 26 percent were less-than-2-year institutions.

2. During 2005-06, undergraduates attending private not-for-profit 4-year institutions paid $16,888 on average for tuition and required fees. Undergraduates attending private for-profit 4-year institutions paid $13,894 on average, and out-of-state undergraduates attending public 4-year institutions paid $12,652 on average for tuition and required fees. Public in-state undergraduates paid an average of $5,206 in tuition and required fees during 2005-06.

3. For the 2004-05 academic year, about 2.3 million degrees were awarded by 4-year Title IV institutions and about 557,000 were awarded by 2-year institutions.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007167

Posted by ronbo at 02:20 PM

December 15, 2006

From NCES Newsflash: IES Reseach Training Institute: Cluster Randomized Trials

IES' National Center for Education Research will sponsor a Research Training Institute, June 17-29 in Nashville Tennessee, on the implementation of cluster (or group) randomized trials in education settings. The Training Institute is designed to increase the national capacity to develop and conduct education research using randomized trials. The application deadline is Thursday, February 15, 2007 by 8:00 p.m. EST. For more information and complete application procedures please visit:
http://ies.ed.gov/ncer/whatsnew/conferences/rct_traininginstitute.asp

Posted by ronbo at 02:23 PM

December 13, 2006

From NCES Newsflash: Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) 9-Month Data Now Publicly Available in Data Analysis System (DAS)

The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) 9-month data are now available for analysis to the general public in the Data Analysis System (DAS). The DAS, which can be accessed at http://nces.ed.gov/das/, is a software application that allows users to build tables of weighted estimates from the ECLS-B variables included in the DAS. An on-line tool allows users to calculate t-tests from estimates produced in the DAS. Users can also produce correlation matrices for use in linear regression analyses. The DAS webpage has links to an on-line tutorial and user guide to help users navigate through the application and produce desired tables.

The ECLS-B follows children who were born in 2001 through kindergarten entry. The DAS includes data on sampled children's development and sociodemographic characteristics, as well as the characteristics of their families and home and child care environments. For more information on the ECLS-B, see http://nces.ed.gov/ecls/Birth.asp.

Posted by ronbo at 03:27 PM

December 12, 2006

NEW NCES REPORT! - Crime, Violence, Discipline and Safety in U.S. Public Schools: Findings from the School Survey on Crime and Safety: 2003-04

This report provides a first look at select findings from the 2003–04 SSOCS data. Focusing on the three themes emphasized in the survey, descriptive statistics are provided on: the frequency of criminal incidents at school, the use of disciplinary actions, and the efforts to prevent and reduce crime at school.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007302

Posted by ronbo at 02:45 PM

December 11, 2006

From NCES Newsflash: The New NCES KidsZone

The NCES Students’ Classroom has been redesigned and even renamed. It is now called the KidsZone. It has an entirely new look and feel to help you find things easier and added features to make your visit more fun. You'll still have the same great tools to help you find schools, libraries, or colleges and don't worry, the Create a Graph is still just a click away. Check out the very popular Chances where probability is only a roll of the dice away, or visit old favorites like the Word Search. You can find updated information on education or compare where you stack up to students from across the globe. The new home page is also not to be missed with its new Student Poll and Mindbenders to test your cleverness. We hope you like what we've done. It's knowledge and fun rolled up in one!
The NCES KidsZone can be found at: http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/

Posted by ronbo at 01:39 PM

December 08, 2006

From IES Newsflash: IES (Institute of Education Sciences) Research e-News Quarterly Newsletter

In this issue of the IES Research e-News, the quarterly electronic newsletter of the Institute of Education Sciences, we feature new reports from the What Works Clearinghouse, an update on the Special Education Research Center’s inaugural year, a StatChat transcript on the results of the 2005 Trial Urban District Assessment in science, and more.

To view the newsletter please visit:
http://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/newsletters/dec_06.asp

Posted by ronbo at 02:00 PM

December 07, 2006

From NCES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Dropout Rates in the United States: 2004

This report builds upon a series of National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports on high school dropout and completion rates that began in 1988. It presents estimates of rates for 2004, and provides data about trends in dropout and completion rates over the last three decades (1972–2004), including characteristics of dropouts and completers in these years. Among other findings, the report shows that in students living in low-income families were approximately four times more likely to drop out of high school between 2003 and 2004 than were their peers from high-income families. Focusing on indicators of on-time graduation from public high schools, the averaged freshman graduation rate for the 3 most recent years for which data are available shows an increase from 72.6 percent for 2001–02 to 73.9 percent for 2002–03 to 74.3 percent for 2003–04.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007024

Posted by ronbo at 05:31 PM

December 06, 2006

NEW NCES REPORT! - State Library Agencies: Fiscal Year 2005

This report provides a statistical profile of state library agencies in the 50 states and the District of Columbia for fiscal year 2005. The report includes information on governance, collections and services, service outlets and staff, revenue, and expenditures. The data were collected through the State Library Agencies Survey conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007300

Posted by ronbo at 06:32 PM

December 04, 2006

NEW NCES REPORT! - Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 2006 (NCES 2007-003)

On December 3, 2006, the National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice Statistics released Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 2006 (NCES 2007-003). This annual report examines crime occurring in school as well as on the way to and from school. It provides the most current detailed statistical information on the nature of crime in schools. This report presents data on crime at school from the perspectives of students, teachers, and principals from an array of sources--the National Crime Victimization Survey, the School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the School Survey on Crime and Safety and the School and Staffing Survey.

Several of the indicators in the report document the decline in school crime. For example, the victimization rate of students ages 12-18 at school declined from 73 victimizations per 1,000 students in 2003 to 55 victimizations per 1,000 students in 2004. Between 2003 and 2005, the percent of students reporting victimization declined from 5 to 4 percent, as did the percentage reporting theft from 4 to 3 percent; however, there was no measurable decline in the percentages reporting violent and serious violent crime during the same period. The number of homicides of school-age youth 5-18 at school was higher in 2004-05 than in 2000-01 (21 vs. 11 homicides), but remained below most years in the 1990s. (Contact: Tom Snyder, 202-502-7452 or Mike Planty, 202-502-7312)

To view the report, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/crimeindicators/

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007003

Posted by ronbo at 06:19 PM

November 29, 2006

NEW NCES REPORT! - Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools and Classrooms: 1994-2005

This report presents 11 years of data from 1994 to 2005 (no survey was conducted in 2004) on Internet access in U.S. public schools by school characteristics. It provides trend analysis on the percent of public schools and instructional rooms with Internet access and on the ratio of students to instructional computers with Internet access. The report contains data on the types of Internet connections, technologies and procedures used to prevent student access to inappropriate material on the Internet, and the availability of hand-held and laptop computers to students and teachers. It also provides information on teacher professional development on how to integrate the use of the Internet into the curriculum, and the use of the Internet to provide opportunities and information for teaching and learning.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007020

Posted by ronbo at 02:09 PM

November 28, 2006

NEW REPORT! - Overview of Public Elementary and Secondary Students, Staff, Schools, School Districts, Revenues, and Expenditures: School Year 2004-05 and Fiscal Year 2004

This report contains information from the 5 Common Core of Data (CCD) surveys: the 2004-05 state, local education agency, and school nonfiscal surveys for 2004-05 and the state and local education agency school finance surveys for fiscal year 2004. The report presents data about the students enrolled in public education, including the number of students by grade and the number receiving special education, migrant, or English language learner services. Some tables disaggregate the student data by racial/ethnic group or community characteristics such as rural - urban. The numbers and types of teachers, other education staff, schools, and local education agencies are also reported. Finance data include revenues by source (local, state, and federal) and total and per-pupil expenditures by function.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007309

Posted by ronbo at 07:44 PM

NEW REPORT! - Academic Pathways, Preparation, and Performance: A Descriptive Overview of the Transcripts from the High School Graduating Class of 2003-04

This report uses transcript data from the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002) to provide nationally representative information about the level of academic preparation the high school graduating class of 2003-04 had when leaving high school. The report supplies a brief examination of the coursetaking patterns of 2003-04 graduates, with a focus on their participation in mathematics, science, and Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate courses. Additionally, the report links these coursetaking patterns with test achievement in mathematics, grade point average, and expectations for future educational attainment. Major findings in the report are that: the high school graduating class of 2003-04 earned an average of 25.8 course credits (measured in Carnegie units), 19.0 in academic subjects. Overall, about 30 percent of the class earned at least a credit in Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses. Among the graduates, 5 percent got no further than basic math or pre-algebra courses, 45 percent completed at least algebra I or II, 36 percent completed at least one trigonometry, statistics, or precalculus course, and 14 percent calculus, as their highest level mathematics in high school. Ninety one percent of graduates who completed an academic curriculum and 46 percent of students who completed an occupational curriculum demonstrated mastery at proficiency level 3 on the ELS:2002 12th grade mathematics assessment, which is simple problem-solving, requiring low-level mathematical concepts.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007316

Posted by ronbo at 07:42 PM

NEW NCES REPORT! - Trends in the Use of School Choice: 1993 to 2003 (NCES NCES 2007-045)

Opportunities for school choice in the United States have expanded since the 1990s. This report uses data from the National Household Surveys Program (NHES) to present trends that focus on the use of and users of public schools (assigned and chosen), private schools (church- and non church-related), and homeschoolers between 1993 and 2003. The percentage of students enrolled in their assigned public school decreased from 80 percent to 74 percent between 1993 and 2003, while this decrease was nearly offset by an increase in chosen public school enrollment from 11 to 15 percent between 1993 and 2003. During this same time period, enrollment in church-related private schools remained stable at 8 percent and enrollment in non church-related private schools increased from 1.6 to 2.4 percent. This report also presents data on parental perceptions of public school choice availability and associations between the public and private school types children were enrolled in and parental satisfaction with and involvement in the schools. About one-half of all students have parents who reported that public school choice was available in their community, with one-quarter of students attending assigned public schools having parents who considered enrolling them in a school other than the one they were currently attending, while 17 percent of all students and 27 percent of Black students attended a school other than their parent’s first-choice school. Generally, there were no parental involvement differences detected between students enrolled in assigned and chosen public schools. Parents of students in private schools reported more direct involvement in their children’s schools than parents of students enrolled in other types of schools.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007045

Posted by ronbo at 01:00 PM

November 16, 2006

IES/NCES Newsflash: Placing College Graduation Rates in Context

NCES has just released 'Placing College Graduation Rates in Context: How 4-Year College Graduation Rates Vary With Selectivity and the Size of Low-Income Enrollment.' This report uses data primarily from the 2004 Graduation Rate Survey (GRS), a component of the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), to provide a systemwide overview of how graduation rates of comparable 4-year institutions vary with institution selectivity and the size of the low-income population enrolled. The report clearly shows that graduation rates dropped systematically as the proportion of low-income students increased, even within the same Carnegie classification and selectivity levels. Variations by gender and race/ethnicity also were evident. Women graduated at higher rates than men, and in general, as the proportion of low-income students increased, so did the gap between female and male graduation rates. The gap in graduation rates between White and Black students and between White and Hispanic students, on the other hand, typically narrowed as the as the proportion of low-income students increased.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007161

Posted by ronbo at 03:30 PM

November 15, 2006

NCES Newsflash: The Nation’s Report Card: Science 2005 TUDA Released

Results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2005 science Trial Urban District Assessment were just released, comparing the performance of 4th and 8th graders in 10 large urban school districts. Performance of students in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, and San Diego are compared with students nationally and in large central cities. Performance of racial/ethnic groups in the districts is examined, as is the performance of low-income students.

At both grades

· Overall, student performance in the TUDA districts was comparable to that of students in large central cities, but below student performance in the nation.

· In many of the districts, average scores for White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander students were either higher or not significantly different from the national average for their peers.

· Comparisons between only low-income students show less variation in performance between the districts, and smaller gaps with the nation.
Full results for the nation and states are available at http://nationsreportcard.gov

Join NCES Associate Commissioner Peggy Carr in a live chat today at 3:00 p.m. ET. You may submit your questions now at http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/statchat/index2.asp or come back at 3:00 p.m. to participate in this live event.

Posted by ronbo at 06:21 PM

November 14, 2006

NCES Newsflash: Academic Libraries: 2004

NCES has just released, 'Academic Libraries: 2004.' The selected findings and tables in this report, based on the 2004 Academic Libraries Survey, summarize services, staff, collections, and expenditures of academic libraries in degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The report includes a number of key findings: During fiscal year (FY) 2004, there were 155.1 million circulation transactions from academic libraries’ general collection. During a typical week in the fall of 2004, 1.4 million academic library reference transactions were conducted, including computer searches. The nation’s 3,700 academic libraries held 982.6 million books; serial backfiles; and other paper materials, including government documents at the end of FY 2004. Academic libraries spent $2.2 billion on information resources during FY 2004.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007301

Posted by ronbo at 02:58 PM

November 08, 2006

Institutional Policies and Practices Regarding Postsecondary Faculty: Fall 2003

This report describes recent hiring and retirement patterns as well as tenure-related changes and actions taken by public and private not-for-profit postsecondary institutions that offered an associate’s or higher degree in fall 2003 and participated in federal Title IV student aid programs. The 2004 National Study of Postsecondary Faculty (NSOPF:04) sampled such institutions in the 50 states and the District of Columbia both to obtain lists of faculty and instructional staff to be surveyed and also to collect data on the institution’s policies and environment for such staff. About 920 institutions completed the survey, resulting in a weighted response rate of 84 percent. In fall 2003, some 8 percent of all full-time faculty were hired the previous year from outside the institution, while 7 percent had left their institutions during the previous year. Of those who left, 36 percent retired. At least 90 percent of all doctoral or master’s institutions had tenure systems, but even among public associate’s institutions, the majority (64 percent) had a tenure system. About 64 percent of institutions with a tenure system limit time on tenure track to 6 or 7 years. One-half (52 percent) of institutions with a tenure system offered early or phased retirement to tenured faculty members between 1998 and 2003.

[For more information or to download the pdf file, click here.]

Posted by ronbo at 07:47 PM

November 06, 2006

NEW NCES REPORT! - Where Are They Now? A Description of 1992-93 Bachelor's Degree Recipients 10 Years Later

Using data from the 2003 Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study (B&B:93/03), this report provides an overview of the status of 1992–93 college graduates 10 years after graduation. The report presents highlights of these college graduates’ lives in 2003 in five areas—education after the bachelor’s degree, labor force participation, opinions about their undergraduate education, family status, and civic participation. In addition to presenting a basic profile of graduates’ lives in 2003, the report is also intended as a broad introduction to the kinds of data available in B&B:93/03. A table compendium with five sections corresponding to the five areas above provides additional detail about how graduate characteristics are associated with the highlighted outcomes as well as related experiences in each area. The estimates in this report represent about 1.2 million bachelor’s degree completers from 1992–93.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007159

Posted by ronbo at 06:36 PM

October 27, 2006

From NCES Newsflash: New for NAEP Researchers: Variables Listed for Restricted-Use Data

Researchers often need to know which variables are available across several years of datasets. For each of the restricted-use datasets from main and long-term trend NAEP 1990 through 2003, the variables are now available in comprehensive lists that can be downloaded to facilitate locating variables of interest. These lists of variables will be most useful to researchers whose institutions are licensed for secondary analysis of NAEP data. However, users of the NAEP Data Explorer also may find these lists useful.

Note that secondary data analysts using NAEP data from 2002 or later should be sure that they have NAEP Data Toolkit version 1.7 or higher. This version handles the larger sample sizes from combined national and state samples. Restricted-use data for 2004 and 2005 long-term trend and main NAEP will be added to this list soon.

To learn more about the restricted use variables files, visti: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/variablesrudata.asp

To use the NAEP Data Explorer, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nde/

Posted by ronbo at 07:02 PM

From NCES Newsflash: The PISA (Program for International Student Assesment) 2003 U.S. datafile has been posted to the NCES website.

The PISA 2003 U.S. datafile is now available for downloading. The datafile includes variables unique to the U.S. context, such as race/ethnicity, that are not available in the international dataset. Data for the performance of 15-year-olds on an internationally created assessment in mathematics, science, and reading literacies for 49 countries is also included along with background information on the students and schools. As with other NCES datafiles, a user's guide and an electronic codebook with macros and control files for SPSS and SAS are posted on the website.

To view and download the PISA 2003 U.S. datafile and related information go to: http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pisa/datafiles.asp

Posted by ronbo at 06:54 PM

October 24, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - 2003–04 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:04): Undergraduate Financial Aid Estimates for 12 States: 2003–04

This report presents selected findings about the price of attendance and the types and amounts of financial aid received by in-state undergraduates enrolled in public 2-year, public 4-year, and private not-for-profit 4-year institutions during the 2003–04 academic year in 12 selected states. It is based on the undergraduate data in the 2003–04 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:04), a nationally representative survey of postsecondary students. In addition to providing national estimates, the NPSAS:04 survey was designed to provide representative samples of undergraduates in public 2-year, public 4-year, and private not-for-profit 4-year institutions in 12 states: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Tennessee. Prior NPSAS studies have not been representative at the state level. For the in-state undergraduates in each of these 12 selected states, the tables in this E.D. TAB show the average tuition and fees and total price of attendance, the percentages of undergraduates receiving various types of financial aid and the average amounts received, the average net price of attendance after financial aid, average financial need and remaining need after financial aid, cumulative student loan amounts, earnings from work while enrolled, and other aspects of financing an undergraduate education. Tables of comparable national totals limited to in-state undergraduates in public 2-year, public 4-year, and private not-for-profit 4-year institutions in the 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico are also provided to allow for comparisons of undergraduate financing patterns in each of the 12 selected states and the entire nation.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006158

Posted by ronbo at 09:28 PM

October 20, 2006

NCES Newsflash: New Customized NAEP State and National Comparisons Feature on the Web

Now you can create tables that compare states based on their average NAEP scale scores for selected groups of public school students (gender, race/ethnicity for three groups, eligibility for free or reduced-price school lunches, or high and low percentiles).

You set the scope for the state comparisons of interest. You must first select grade, subject, and student group of interest, then choose either single-year or cross-year mode, and then select the state of interest.

You can compare the scores in one year, or examine the change in performance between two assessment years. For example:
* See how the average reading score for male students in a particular state compares to the average reading score for male students in other states in 2005, or
* See how the change (from 2002 to the focal year) in reading scores for male students in a particular state compares to the change in reading scores for male students in other states.

This new feature also shows whether the selected comparisons are statistically different from one another. However, note that the sort order is based on numeric precision to several decimal places--so a state appearing higher in the sort order may not be significantly different from a state appearing lower in the order.

Try this new feature now, at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nde/statecomp/

Posted by ronbo at 12:58 PM

October 18, 2006

From NCES Newsflash: Full Version of the Digest of Education Statistics, 2005

The 2005 edition of the Digest of Education Statistics is the 41st in a series of publications initiated in 1962. The Digest has been issued annually except for combined editions for the years 1977–78, 1983–84, and 1985–86. Its primary purpose is to provide a compilation of statistical information covering the broad field of American education from prekindergarten through graduate school. The Digest includes a selection of data from many sources, both government and private, and draws especially on the results of surveys and activities carried out by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). To qualify for inclusion in the Digest, material must be nationwide in scope and of current interest and value. The publication contains information on a variety of subjects in the field of education statistics, including the number of schools and colleges, teachers, enrollments, and graduates, in addition to educational attainment, finances, federal funds for education, libraries, and international comparisons. Supplemental information on population trends, attitudes on education, education characteristics of the labor force, government finances, and economic trends provides background for evaluating education data. Although the Digest contains important information on federal education funding, more detailed information on federal activities is available from federal education program offices.

Posted by ronbo at 09:22 PM

October 17, 2006

From NCES Newsflash: ECLS-B Database Training Seminar - Using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) Database for Research and Policy Discussion

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, will sponsor a 3-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) database. ECLS-B is designed to support research on a wide range of topics pertaining to young children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development across multiple contexts (e.g., home, nonparental care, and school entry). This seminar is open to advanced graduate students and faculty members from colleges and universities nationwide and to researchers, education practitioners, and policy analysts from federal, state, and local education and human services agencies and professional associations.

The ECLS-B training seminar will be conducted from January 10-12, 2007 in Washington, DC. Support for travel and lodging will be provided to accepted applicants. The application deadline for the seminar is November 27, 2006.

For more information, please visit the NCES website at: http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/confinfo.asp?confid=71

Posted by ronbo at 02:57 PM

October 13, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Economic Impact of the Nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities

The purpose of this study was to document the economic role of the nation’ s historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) by estimating the short-term economic impact that each of these institutions has on their local communities. In this study, short-term economic impact was defined as the change in overall economic activity in the institutions’s community that is associated with four important categories of college/university-related expenditures, salaries, other institutional expenditures, and the expenditures of undergraduate and separately, graduate and professional students attending the institution. The IMPLAN (Impact Analysis for Planning) Professional Version 2.0 modeling system was used to build regional models for each of the 101 HBCUs in the 50 states and the District of Columbia and to calculate multipliers for estimating the HBCUs’ impact in terms of output, value-added, labor income, and employment. These multipliers were applied to each institution ’s salary, staff, enrollment and expenditure data from the 2001 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. In 2001, the combined initial spending associated with the nation’s 101 HBCUs totaled $6.6 billion. Public HBCUs accounted for 62 percent of the total amount. The total economic impact of the nation’s HBCUs was $10.2 billion with 35 percent due to the multiplier effect. This amount would rank the collective economic impact of the nation’s HBCUs 232nd on the Forbes Fortune 500 list of the United States’ largest companies (Fortune Magazine, 2006). Additionally, the total employment impact of the 101 HBCUs included 180,142 total (initial and induced) full- and part-time jobs in 2001. The report includes templates that can easily be used to update impact estimates for subsequent years as new IPEDS data become available.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007178

Posted by ronbo at 05:34 PM

October 12, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Economic Outcomes of High School Completers and Noncompleters 8 Years Later

This report uses data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) to compare the economic outcomes of high school completers at three different points in time with the outcomes of individuals who did not complete high school. Differences by sex and the type of credential earned are also examined. The findings suggest that individuals who completed high school within 6 years generally had more favorable economic outcomes than their counterparts who completed high school later or not at all. However, differences in economic outcomes were most prominent between males and females even after controlling for the timing and type of high school credential earned.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007019

Posted by ronbo at 12:09 PM

October 10, 2006

NCES Newsflash: New on the NAEP Website: National Indian Education Study, Part II

This report, National Indian Education Study, Part II: The Educational Experiences of Fourth- and Eighth-Grade American Indian and Alaska Native Students (NCES 2007-454), presents results from a national survey conducted in 2005 by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) with support from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Indian Education (OIE).

Part I of the NIES, released in May 2006, describes the performance of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) students on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2005 mathematics and reading and assessments. Performance results from Part I are not linked to the survey findings from Part II, but such links will be possible in the NIES data collection scheduled for 2007.

Part II describes the educational experiences of AI/AN students in grades 4 and 8, with particular emphasis on the native language and culture. Findings are presented in four broad areas: characteristics of the American Indian/Alaska Native students, their schools, their teachers, and their curriculum. Among the many findings are these:

* Fifty percent of AI/AN students at grade 4 and 45 percent in grade 8 attended schools with 25 percent or more AI/AN enrollment.
* More than 60 percent of AI/AN students at each grade level qualified for free or reduced-price school lunch under the National School Lunch Program.
* About one-quarter of the AI/AN students at each grade level reported attending tribal or village ceremonies and gatherings several times a year. About one-quarter also reported that members of their family spoke to each other in their traditional tribal or village languages about one-half the time or more often.
* Twenty-eight percent of grade 4 AI/AN students had teachers who spoke and understood, at least to some extent, tribal or village languages spoken by AI/AN students in their schools. At grade 8, the corresponding percentages were 25 percent for mathematics teachers and 23 percent for reading teachers.

Find the Executive Summary for Part II: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/studies/2007454.asp

Download the full NIES Part II report: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007454

Read about the NIES on the NAEP website: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nies/

Posted by ronbo at 11:54 AM

October 09, 2006

Recent ICPSR updates and additions - October 09, 2006

Below is a list of new data collection additions to the ICPSR data archive along with a list of released data collections that have been updated:

NEW ADDITIONS:

4495 CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll, June 1978
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/04495.xml

4496 New York Times National Health Care Poll, March 1982
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/04496.xml

UPDATES:

3799 Natality Detail File, 2000: [United States]
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/03799.xml

4314 Hispanic Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly, Wave IV, 2000-2001 [Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas]
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/04314.xml

You can also view a list of all studies added and updated in the last ninety days by visiting the ICPSR Web site at http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/.

Posted by ronbo at 12:59 PM

October 04, 2006

NEW NCES REPORT! - United States High School Sophomores: A Twenty-Two Year Comparison, 1980-2002 (NCES 2006-327)

Using questionnaire and test data collected in 1980, 1992, and 2002, this report presents time series data on three cohorts of high school sophomores. The report presents information on the changing context of cohort demographics, family characteristics, school characteristics, and school experiences, after school activities, and future plans and expectations. Tested achievement is also presented with results in math from 1980 to 1990 and 2002, and results in reading from 1990 to 2002.

Several findings were:

* Between 1980 and 2002, the percentage of students who identified English as their native language declined from 95 percent to 86 percent.
* The percentage of sophomores living with a biological or adoptive mother and father declined from 70 percent in 1980 to 57 percent in 2002.
* Between 1980 and 2002 the percentage of Black Sophomores in the middle two quartiles of the SES distribution increased from 44 percent in 1980 to 52 percent in 2002 and the percentage in the lowest quarter declined from 46 percent to 35 percent.
* The percentage of high school sophomores who reported that they were in a college preparatory or academic program increased from 33 percent to 51 percent between 1980 and 2002.
* Overall, ELS:2002 sophomores scored about 0.40 of a standard deviation higher than sophomores in 1980 on the mathematics assessment.
* Between 1980 and 2002, the proportion of sophomores who reported participation in academic clubs, vocational clubs, music-related activities, and hobby clubs dropped between 6 and 18 percentage points.
* The percentage of sophomores expecting a 4-year college or postgraduate degree increased from 41 percent in 1980 to 80 percent in 2002.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006327

Posted by ronbo at 05:43 PM

October 02, 2006

Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2003 U.S. datafile and User's Guide

This datafile contains the U.S. TIMSS 2003 data, including data that was collected only in the United States and not included on the international database available from the IEA, and a Data User's Guide. The additional data relate to the race and ethnicity of students and teachers, and the percentage of students in a school eligible for the Federal free and reduced lunch program. This datafile is intended to be used in conjunction with the international datafile available from the IEA.

Posted by ronbo at 04:14 PM

September 27, 2006

From NCES - What's New: School and Parent Interaction by Household Language and Poverty Status: 2002-03

Language minority parents may face a number of challenges when trying to communicate or become involved with their child’s school. This Issue Brief describes school-to-home communication practices and opportunities for parent involvement at school as reported by parents of U.S. school-age students from primarily English- and primarily Spanish-speaking households during the 2002–03 school year. Data are drawn from the Parent and Family Involvement in Education Survey of the 2003 National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES), which included English and Spanish language surveys of parents’ perceptions of school communication practices and opportunities for parent involvement. Among the findings: A greater percentage of students in English-speaking households than in Spanish-speaking households had parents who reported receiving personal notes or e-mails about the student; receiving newsletters, memos, or notices addressed to all parents; opportunities to attend general meetings; opportunities to attend school events; and chances to volunteer. Differences were still apparent after taking poverty status into account.

Posted by ronbo at 06:21 PM

September 26, 2006

From NCES "What's New": International Activities Programs at NCES

NCES has recently updated all of its international websites including International Comparisons (IC), Adult Literacy and Lifeskills (ALL), Civic Education Study (CivEd), Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). The updated website is part of a series of new developments underway to increase access and make the data more consistent and useful to the international education research community. The revised website provides insights into the educational practices and outcomes of the United States. This is achieved through the International Activities Program at NCES, which provides statistical information comparing the educational experiences and trends in other countries to those of the United States. International assessment studies provide answers to questions of how other countries educate their children and with what success. The work that NCES conducts within the International Activities Program is designed to provide comparable indicator data about the activities and outcomes of educational systems and institutions in other nations.

Posted by ronbo at 09:52 PM

NEW NCES REPORT! - Characteristics of the 100 Largest Public Elementary and Secondary School Districts in the United States: 2003-04

This annual report provides basic information from the Common Core of Data about the nation’s largest public school districts in the 2003-04 school year. The data include such characteristics as the numbers of students and teachers, number of high school completers and the averaged freshman graduation rate, and revenues and expenditures.

Several findings were:

* These 100 largest districts enrolled 23 percent of all public school students, and employed 22 percent of all public school teachers, in 2003-04.
* The 100 largest districts produced 20 percent of all high school completers (both diploma and other completion credential recipients) in 2002-03. Across these districts, the averaged freshman graduation rate was 68.8 percent. In 19 of the 100 largest districts the rate was 80 percent or higher. The rate was less than 50 percent in 8 of the 100 largest districts.
* Three states – California, Florida, and Texas – accounted for 41 of the 100 largest public school districts.
* Current per-pupil expenditures in fiscal year 2003 ranged from a low of $4,413 in Alpine School District, Utah to a high of $17,652 in Newark City, New Jersey.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006329

Posted by ronbo at 09:30 PM

September 25, 2006

NEW NCES REPORT! - Projections of Education Statistics to 2015

Projections of Education Statistics to 2015 is the 34th in a series of publications initiated in 1964. This publication provides projections for enrollment, graduates, teachers, and expenditures in elementary and secondary schools, and enrollment and degrees for college and universities. For the Nation, the tables, figures, and text contain data on enrollment, teachers, graduates, and expenditures for the past 14 years and projections to the year 2015. For the 50 States and the District of Columbia, the tables, figures, and text contain data on projections of public elementary and secondary enrollment and public high school graduates to the year 2015. In addition, the report includes a methodology section describing models and assumptions used to develop national and state-level projections.

Some highlights from the report: enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools rose 18 percent between 1990 and 2003 and is projected to increase an additional 6 percent between 2003 and 2015; between 2003 and 2015, private school enrollment is expected to increase by 7 percent; college enrollment rose by 25 percent between 1990 and 2004 and is projected to increase a further 15 percent by 2015; the number of high school graduates increased by 21 percent between 1990-91 and 2002-03 and a further increase of 6 percent is projected by 2015-16.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006084

Posted by ronbo at 05:54 PM

September 07, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Certification and Private School Teachers' Transfers to Public Schools

This report uses data from the Teacher Follow-Up Survey (TFS) to report teachers' transitions between public and private schools for teachers with and without certifications in the subjects they teach. In this exploratory study of the association between state certification and private school teachers’ movement to other private schools and public schools between 1987-88 and 2000-01, private school teachers who either obtained a state certification in their main assignment between one year and the next or who switched main assignments into one in which they were state-certified were more likely to change schools than were those without a regular state certification in the subject area of their main assignment. In three out of four time periods, higher percentages of movers who held state certification in year two of the time period only switched to public schools than did those without regular state certifications in their main assignment in either year of the time period. In all four time periods for which data were collected, higher percentages of movers with regular state certifications in both years of the time period moved to public schools than did their peers without the certification. However, regardless of certification status, 11 percent or fewer of private school teachers changed schools during any 2-year period.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006081

Posted by ronbo at 11:43 AM

September 06, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - The Health Literacy of America's Adults: Results from the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy

Results from the Health Literacy component of the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) were just released. The health literacy findings are based on the first large-scale national assessment designed specifically to measure the health literacy of adults living in America. This report measures health literacy among American adults including their ability to read, understand, and apply health-related information in English.

Findings include:
* The majority of American adults (53 percent) had Intermediate health literacy. Fewer than 15 percent of adults had either Below Basic or Proficient health literacy.
* Women had higher average health literacy than men.
* Adults who were ages 65 and older had lower average health literacy than younger adults.
* Hispanic adults had lower average health literacy than adults in any other racial/ethnic group.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006483

Posted by ronbo at 04:01 PM

September 05, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Computer and Internet Use by Students in 2003

This report examines the use of computers and the Internet by American children enrolled in nursery school and students in kindergarten through grade 12. The report examines the overall rate of use (that is, the percentage of individuals in the population who are users), the ways in which students use the technologies, where the use occurs (home, school, and other locations), and the relationships of these aspects of computer and Internet use to demographic and socioeconomic characteristics such as students' age and race/ethnicity and their parents' education and family income. This report confirms that patterns of computer and Internet use seen in previous research are observed in more recent data. One of the more important findings presented in the report is that schools appear to help narrow the disparities between different types of students in terms of computer use. Differences in the rates of computer use are smaller at school than they are at home when considering such characteristics as race/ethnicity, family income, and parental education.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006065

Posted by ronbo at 02:13 PM

August 31, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NCES has released the searchable and downloadable database of The Postsecondary Education Facilities Inventory and Classification Manual (FICM), 2006 Edition.

The manual describes standard practices for initiating, conducting, reporting, and maintaining a postsecondary institutional facilities inventory. It is designed to be useful to both specialized staff and generalists and to be applicable to institutions with sophisticated information needs as well as to those with more basic facilities information needs. It reflects the perspective that along with human resources and financial assets, space is one of the primary resources of a postsecondary educational institution. It provides updated definitions for building area measurements, space and room use codes, and other data elements that are useful for including in a facilities inventory. It describes the basic principles for developing a facilities database, provides guidance on required and optional data elements for inclusion in a facilities inventory suggests analytic, administrative and comparative uses for facilities data and presents issues that are emerging in the collection, maintenance and reporting of facilities data.

To access The Postsecondary Education Facilities Inventory and Classification Manual, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2006/ficm

Posted by ronbo at 11:39 AM

August 29, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Age 2: Findings From the 2-Year-Old Follow-up of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B)

The new NCES report, Age 2: Findings From the 2-year-old Follow-up of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (NCES 2006-043) shows the wide range of skills and abilities demonstrated by children at an early age. For example, 84 percent of children recognize and understand certain spoken words at about 2 years of age, while 4 percent show beginning counting skills.

The findings in the report are based on the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort, which is following the progress of about 10,000 children, representative of the approximately 4 million children born in the United States in 2001. It is the first national effort to assess directly children’s early mental and physical development, their relationships with parents, the quality of their early care and education, and the contributions of both mothers and fathers in their lives.

Other findings from the report include:

* Thirty-two percent of the toddlers could match or differentiate objects, for example, by color.

* Twenty-one percent lived in poverty, and 14 percent of children born in 2001 lived in poverty both when they were about 9 months old and when they were about 2 years old.

* About half, 49 percent, received care from someone other than a parent on a regular basis.

* Of those in center-based care, 9 percent were in what was considered low-quality care, 66 percent were in medium-quality care, and 24 percent were in high-quality care, according to assessments conducted by trained observers. Among 2-year-olds who were cared for in a private home, 36 percent were considered to have low-quality care, 57 percent were in medium-quality care, and 7 percent had high-quality care.

* Just over three-quarters of the children (76 percent) lived with their biological fathers when they were about 2 years old.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006043

The data upon which this report is based are available in the ECLS-B Longitudinal 9-Month–2-Year Restricted-Use Data File and Electronic Codebook (NCES 2006-044). For information about ordering these data, which are only available in restricted-use format, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006044

Posted by ronbo at 03:18 PM

August 25, 2006

NCES Newsflash: State Education Reform Website

NCES has just updated the State Education Reforms (SER) website. This website was first based on the report Overview and Inventory of State Education Reforms: 1990 to 2000, and is updated periodically to incorporate new data on state education reform activities.

The SER website, which draws primarily on data collected by organizations other than NCES, compiles and disseminates data on state-level education reform efforts in four areas: 1) standards, assessment, and accountability, 2) school finance reforms, 3) resources for learning, and 4) state support for school choice options. Specific reform areas include student and teacher assessments, adequate yearly progress, state-wide exit exams, highly qualified teachers, open enrollments laws, and charter schools.

To view the State Education Reforms website, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/programs/statereform/

Posted by ronbo at 01:39 PM

August 24, 2006

NCES Newsflash: UserXs Guide to Computing High School Graduation Rates

NCES has just released the 'User’s Guide to Computing High School Graduation Rates, Volume 1: Review of Current and Proposed Graduation Indicators' and the 'User’s Guide to Computing High School Graduation Rates, Volume 2: Technical Evaluation of Proxy Graduation Indicators.'

The first volume of this report examines the existing measures of high school completion and the newly proposed proxy measures. This includes a description of the computational formulas, the data required for each indicator, the assumptions underlying each formula, the strengths and weaknesses of each indicator relative to a true cohort on-time graduation rate, and a consideration of the conditions under which each indicator does or does not work. The second volume of this report provides documentation of the technical work that the Department leadership used to select an interim graduation rate. The analysis in volume 2 draws upon the student record data from two states to compute the true cohort on-time graduation rate for each of those states, to compute the proxy graduation measures for each of these states, and to compare the performance of each proxy indicator to that of the true cohort rate. The Averaged Freshman Graduation Rate (AFGR) indicator is the only measure that is consistently among the best performing indicators in each analysis.

To download, view and print Volume 1 as a pdf file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006604
To download, view and print Volume 2 as a pdf file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006605

Posted by ronbo at 10:37 AM

August 23, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - E.D. TAB: Public Libraries in the United States: Fiscal Year 2004

This report includes national and state summary data on public libraries in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, with an introduction, findings, and numerous tables. The report is based on data from the Public Libraries Survey for fiscal year 2004, and includes information on population of legal service area, service outlets, public service hours, library materials, total circulation, circulation of children’s materials, reference transactions, library visits, children’s program attendance, interlibrary loans, electronic services and information, full-time-equivalent staff, operating revenue and expenditures, and capital expenditures. The report includes several key findings: Nationwide, library visits to public libraries totaled 1.3 billion, or 4.7 library visits per capita. The average number of Internet terminals available for public use per stationary outlet was 10.3.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006349

Posted by ronbo at 07:33 PM

NCES Newsflash: Student Financing of Undergraduate Education: 2003-04

NCES has just released, 'Student Financing of Undergraduate Education: 2003-04 With a Special Analysis of the Net Price of Attendance and Federal Education Tax Benefits.' This report, based on data from the 2003-04 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:04), provides detailed information about undergraduate tuition and total price of attendance at various types of institutions, the percentage of students receiving various types of financial aid, and the average amounts that they received. In 2003-04, three-quarters of all full-time undergraduates received some type of financial aid ($9,900 average). One-half took out student loans ($6,200 average), and 62 percent received grants ($5,600 average). Forty percent received both grants and loans (combined average $13,600). The average tuition and fees for full-time undergraduates in 2003-04 were $2,000 at public 2-year, $5,400 at public 4-year, and $18,400 at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions. About one-fourth of full-time undergraduates did not pay any tuition, because the entire tuition amount was covered by grants. Nearly one-half of full-time low-income dependent undergraduates had their entire tuition amount covered by grant aid. The total price of attendance (tuition plus room and board and other expenses) for full-time undergraduates in 2003-04 was $10,500 at public 2-year, $15,200 at public 4-year, and $28,300 at private not-for-profit 4-year institutions. After subtracting all financial aid (including loans), the average out-of-pocket net price of attendance for full-time low-income dependent undergraduates was $6,000 at public 2-year, $5,600 at public 4-year and $9,200 at private nonprofit 4-year institutions. In addition, this report presents estimates of the federal education tax benefits for students (Hope and Lifetime Learning tax credits, and tuition deductions): nearly one-half (49 percent) of all undergraduates or their parents had their taxes reduced by an average of $600 by claiming these benefits. Middle-income students were the most likely to receive these tax benefits. Among the families of upper-middle-income students, more than two-thirds (69 percent) received an average reduction in federal taxes of $1,100.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006186

Posted by ronbo at 04:15 PM

August 22, 2006

NCES Newsflash: New NAEP Report: A Closer Look at Charter Schools Using Hierarchical Linear Modeling

A Closer Look at Charter Schools Using Hierarchical Linear Modeling (NCES 2006-460) was released today. A special oversample of charter schools, conducted as part of the 2003 fourth-grade NAEP assessments, permitted a comparison of academic achievement for students enrolled in charter schools to that for students enrolled in traditional public schools. The school sample comprised 150 charter schools and 6,764 traditional public schools.

The report uses hierarchical linear models (HLMs) to examine differences between the two types of schools when multiple student and/or school characteristics are taken into account. After adjusting for student demographic characteristics, charter school mean scores in reading and mathematics were lower, on average, than those for traditional public schools. The size of these differences was smaller in reading than in mathematics. Results from the second analysis showed that in reading and mathematics, average performance differences between traditional public schools and charter schools affiliated with a public school district were not statistically significant, while charter schools not affiliated with a public school district scored significantly lower on average than traditional public schools.

The executive summary for this report is: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/studies/2006460.asp

The report may be downloaded at: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006460

The NAEP pilot study on charter schools is described at: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/studies/charter/

Posted by ronbo at 04:27 PM

August 21, 2006

NCES Newsflash: National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Research Opportunity!

The American Educational Research Association (AERA) Research Grants Program is accepting applications with deadlines of September 1, 2006, January 5, 2007, and March 1, 2007.

The program's goals are:
(1) to stimulate research on issues related to U.S. education policy and practice using National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and National Science Foundation (NSF) data sets; (2) to improve the educational research community's firsthand knowledge of the range of data available at the two agencies and how to use them; and (3) to increase the number of educational researchers using the data sets.

Underrepresented minority researchers are strongly encouraged to apply. More information about this program is available at: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/funding.asp

Researchers have used NAEP data in combination with other NCES data sets such as those from the Common Core of Data, High School Transcript Studies, and Schools and Staffing Survey. Other NCES databases such as Early Childhood Longitudinal Study and National Public Education Financial Survey may also be used with this program; see descriptions at: http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/

Posted by ronbo at 02:03 PM

August 18, 2006

NCES Newsflash: Applications are now being accepted for the NCES Cooperative System Fellows Program

The Cooperative System Fellows Program consists of a yearly 1-week training and technical assistance program delivered on-site at NCES for approximately 30 local/state/higher education/library participants. The next session will take place November 13-17, 2006.

Attendees may expect to -
Increase their knowledge of the organization, operation, and programs at NCES; increase understanding and use of national education statistics; increase NCES's understanding of and responsiveness to the issues and challenges facing LEAs, states, institutions of higher education, and library agencies in collecting and reporting education data; and build a local/state/higher education/federal network of data professionals working together to improve the process and results of data collections.

The online application will be accepted through September 8, 2006 and is available at:
http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/confinfo.asp?confid=10

For more information please contact Mary McCrory -- mary.mccrory@ed.gov

Posted by ronbo at 02:31 PM

August 10, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Digest of Education Statistics, 2005

The 41st in a series of publications initiated in 1962, the Digest’s primary purpose is to provide a compilation of statistical information covering the broad field of American education from prekindergarten through graduate school. The Digest contains data on a variety of topics, including the number of schools and colleges, teachers, enrollments, and graduates, in addition to educational attainment, finances, and federal funds for education, libraries, and international comparisons. Some examples of highlights from the report include the following items. Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools rose 22 percent between 1985 and 2005. The fastest public school growth occurred in the elementary grades (prekindergarten through grade 8), where enrollment rose 24 percent over this period, from 27.0 million to 33.5 million. Public secondary school enrollment declined 8 percent from 1985 to 1990, but then rose 31 percent from 1990 to 2005, for a net increase of 20 percent. The number of public school teachers has risen faster than the number of students over the past 10 years, resulting in declines in the pupil/teacher ratio. Between 1994 and 2004, the number of full-time college students increased by 30 percent compared to an 8 percent increase in part-time students. During the same time period, the number of men enrolled rose 16 percent, while the number of women enrolled increased by 25 percent.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006030

Posted by ronbo at 03:04 PM

August 08, 2006

NCES Newsflash: Qualifications of Public Secondary School History Teachers

NCES has just released the report 'Qualifications of Public Secondary School History Teachers, 1999–2000.' Previous studies of the qualifications of elementary and secondary school teachers have focused on whether teachers have educational backgrounds (a postsecondary major/minor or equivalent) and state certification that match the subjects they teach. If not, they are commonly considered “out-of-field.” This Issue Brief reports the combination of certifications and majors and minors to which secondary-level history students are exposed and how these qualifications vary across schools with differing levels of student poverty. Data from the NCES 1999-2000 Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) teacher and school questionnaires indicate that students in the lowest poverty schools were the least likely to have a teacher with both an out-of-field certification and an out-of-field major or minor.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006004

Posted by ronbo at 12:07 AM

August 02, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Changes in Staff Distribution and Salaries of Full-Time Employees in Postsecondary Institutions: Fall 1993X2003

Using data from the 1993 and 2003 Fall Staff Surveys, a component of the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), this report examines the change in the number and composition of staff in U.S. postsecondary institutions and the change in average salaries of full-time staff between fall 1993 and fall 2003. Over the decade, the growth of the workforce at colleges and universities outpaced the growth of both the civilian labor force and student enrollment, continuing a pattern that began in the 1970s. The growth rate was higher for part-time employees than full-time employees, for female staff than male staff, for racial/ethnic minorities than Whites, and for professionals than
nonprofessionals. Although the average salaries of full-time employees increased for each of the seven primary occupation categories, only the rate of increase for executive, administrative, and managerial positions (17 percent) exceeded the median for the overall U.S. family income (14 percent).

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006152

Posted by ronbo at 03:53 PM

August 01, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Current Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education: School Year 2003-04

This brief publication contains data on current expenditures, by state, for public elementary and secondary education for school year 2003-04. It also contains data by state, on median current expenditure per student by school districts, and current expenditures per student by districts at the 5th and 95th percentile. State average current expenditures per student are also included in this report.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006352

Posted by ronbo at 04:25 PM

July 20, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - The Postsecondary Educational Experiences of High School Career and Technical Education Concentrators: Selected Results From the NELS:88/2000 Postsecondary Education Transcript Study

This report presents information on the postsecondary educational experiences of students from the high school class of 1992 who concentrated in career and technical education (CTE) while in high school, including their postsecondary enrollment, coursetaking, and degree attainment patterns. The report also describes the extent to which high school CTE concentrators pursued the same field at the postsecondary level. Using data from students’ secondary transcripts collected as part of the National Education Longitudinal Study (NELS:88/2000), analyses reveal that about 20 percent of 1992 high school seniors were CTE concentrators. Of those students, roughly one-quarter were dual concentrators, completing both a CTE and college preparatory curriculum. NELS:88/2000 also collected students’ postsecondary transcripts. These data show that by 2000, the majority of CTE concentrators from the class of 1992 had enrolled in postsecondary education. More than half of these students began their postsecondary education at a community college, while 37 percent began at a 4-year institution, and 7 percent at another type of institution. Of the high school CTE concentrators who enrolled in a postsecondary institution, 50 percent earned a postsecondary certificate or degree by 2000, while 26 percent earned a bachelor’s or higher degree. About half of CTE concentrators who enrolled in a postsecondary institution earned postsecondary credits in a related field and 27 percent earned 12 or more credits in a related field, roughly the equivalent of one semester of full-time postsecondary study. About 30 percent of high school CTE concentrators who earned a postsecondary degree or certificate did so in a related field.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006309

Posted by ronbo at 02:09 PM

July 19, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Fathers of U.S. Children Born in 2001: Findings from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B), E.D. Tab

This report presents information about the biological fathers of children born in the United States in the year 2001. It is the first publication of findings using the data collected from fathers during the base-year collection of the ECLS-B. It presents information on specific demographic characteristics of resident and nonresident biological fathers’ involvement in pregnancy and birth, fathers’ attitudes about fathering, and father involvement.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006002

Posted by ronbo at 06:19 PM

July 18, 2006

NCES Newsflash: New NAEP Report Comparing Private and Public Schools Now Available!

"Comparing Private Schools and Public Schools Using Hierarchical Linear Modeling" is a new study using National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results. This study examines mean NAEP reading and mathematics score differences between public and private schools when selected characteristics of students and/or schools were taken into account using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM). Among the student characteristics considered were gender, race/ethnicity, disability status, and identification as an English language learner. Among the school characteristics considered were school size and location, and composition of the student body and of the teaching staff. In particular, if the student populations enrolled in the two types of schools differed systematically with respect to background characteristics related to achievement, then those differences would be confounded with straightforward comparisons between school types. When school means were adjusted in the HLM analysis, the average for public schools was significantly higher than the average for private schools for grade 4 mathematics, while the average for private schools was significantly higher than the average for public schools for grade 8 reading. The average differences in adjusted school means for both grade 4 reading and grade 8 mathematics were not significantly different from zero.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006461

Read more about the study's findings at: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/studies/2006461.asp

See other NAEP school studies at: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/studies/privateschools/ http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/studies/charter/

Posted by ronbo at 06:27 PM

NCES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Arts Instruction of Public School Students in the First and Third Grades

This Issue Brief uses the First- and Third-Grade Spring Teacher Questionnaires of the ECLS-K to examine the changes over time from first to third grade in how often young children are exposed to arts education in the general classroom. The Brief also looks at differences in these characteristics by level of poverty and/or urbanicity of the school. In both first and third grade, most public school students received weekly instruction in music and art at least weekly, while weekly instruction in dance and theater occurred less often within each year. About 32 percent of students in high poverty public schools never received theater instruction in either grade compared with 24 percent of students in low poverty public schools. Of the students who received music instruction in either first or third grade, 29 percent of students in urban public schools received weekly music instruction less often in third grade than in first compared with 20 percent of students in suburban public schools and 22 percent in rural public schools.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006099

Posted by ronbo at 06:14 PM

June 29, 2006

NCES Newsflash: Two New Forum Guides posted to the NCES Website

Forum Guide to Elementary/Secondary Virtual Education

This guide provides recommendations for collecting accurate, comparable, and useful data about virtual education in an elementary/secondary education setting.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006803

Forum Guide to the Privacy of Student Information: A Resource for Schools

This guide was written to help school and local education agency staff to better understand and apply FERPA, a federal law that protects privacy interests of parents and students in student education records.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006805

Posted by ronbo at 07:23 PM

June 26, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Dropout Rates in the United States: 2002 and 2003

This report continues the dropout rate report series. The report is based on several sources of data and provides details on high school dropouts and high school completers for 2002 and 2003. Apart from provide characteristics of dropouts and completers in these years, the report also provides information about trends in high school dropout and completion rates going back to the 1970s. Among other findings, the report shows that young people (16-24 year olds) of Hispanic origin have been more likely to be out of high school without a high school credential than young White- and Black, non-Hispanics over the past 30 years.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006062

Posted by ronbo at 07:30 PM

NCES Newsflash: NAEP Secondary Analysis Research Program: Applications Deadline July 27!

Applications for the NAEP Secondary Analysis Research Program for 2007 are due July 27, 2006, by 8 p.m. EDT. Please note that Letters of Intent are not required at this time.

The NAEP Secondary Analysis Research Program was developed to encourage the preparation of reports that would not otherwise be available utilizing new ideas or state-of-the-art techniques to analyze and report the information gathered from NAEP assessments and the NAEP High School Transcript Studies (HSTS). Much potentially valuable information that could be gained from the NAEP data remains untapped. This grant program was developed to make resources available to qualified data analysts to explore the NAEP data more fully. Analyses and reports prepared under this program should potentially be useful to the general public, parents, educators, educational researchers, or policymakers.

The FY 2007 NAEP Secondary Analysis Research Program application package and required forms can be downloaded at: http://www.ed.gov/programs/naepsarp/applicant.html

Descriptions of recently funded proposals are available at: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/naepgrants.asp

Read about the NAEP HSTS at: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/hsts/

Explore NAEP data at: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nde/

Posted by ronbo at 02:45 PM

NCES Newsflash: Download NCES Comparable Wage Index Data Files and Documentation

The Comparable Wage Index (CWI) is a measure of the systematic, regional variations in the salaries of college graduates who are not educators. It can be used by researchers to adjust finance data at geographic different levels in order to make better comparisons across geographic areas.

The CWI was developed by Dr. Lori L. Taylor at the Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University and William J. Fowler, Jr. at NCES. Dr. Taylor's research was supported by a contract with the National Center for Education Statistics. The complete description of the research is provided in the NCES Research and Development "A Comparable Wage Approach to Geographic Cost Adjustment" (NCES 2006-321) http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006321.

Documentation for the CWI http://nces.ed.gov/edfin/pdf/2006865.pdf describes four geographic levels of the CWI, which are presented in four separate files http://nces.ed.gov/edfin/prodsurv/data.asp. These files are the school district, labor market, state, and a combined regional and national file.

The school district file provides a CWI for each local education agency (LEA) in the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) database. For each LEA there is a series of indexes for the years 1997 - 2004. The file can be merged with school district finance data, and this merged file can be used to produce finance data adjusted for geographic cost differences. This file also includes four agency typology variables. The additional files allow for similar cost adjustments for larger geographic areas.

NCES has sponsored the development of other geographic adjustment indexes in the past; the latest was for the 1993-94 school year. For more information on geographic cost adjustments generally, please see this web site - http://nces.ed.gov/edfin/prodsurv/data.asp.

Posted by ronbo at 02:26 PM

June 21, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - The Averaged Freshman Graduation Rate for Public High Schools From the Common Core of Data: School Years 2002-03 and 2003-04

This report presents the averaged freshman graduation rate for public high school students for school years 2002-03 and 2003-04 based on data reported by state education agencies to the National Center for Education Statistics. Rates are included for most of the 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and three other jurisdictions for both years. Comparing the averaged freshman graduation rate among public school students in the class of 2002-03 to that of 2003-04 in each of the 48 reporting states and the District of Columbia, 32 states and the District of Columbia experienced increases in the rate, 1 state experienced no change, and 15 states experienced declines in the rate over this 2-year period.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006606

Posted by ronbo at 05:18 PM

NCES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Profile of Undergraduates in U.S. Postsecondary Education Institutions: 2003-04, With a Special Analysis of Community College Students

This report is the fifth in a series of reports that accompany the release of the data from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS). This report includes an analysis of community college students, examining the relationship between a measure of students’ degree commitment and their likelihood of maintaining their enrollment over the 1-year period under study. The study developed a taxonomy called the Community College Track, which classifies students’degree commitment (more, less, or not committed) based on their reported intentions of completing a program of study (transfer, associates degree, certificate, or no degree) and their attendance status (at least half time or not) within their program of study. Overall, some 49 percent of community college students were classified as “more committed,” 39 percent as “less committed” and 12 percent as “not committed.” The two largest groups were students classified as “more committed” in transfer programs (29 percent) and “less committed” in general associate’s degree programs (17 percent). The results indicate that students who demonstrate a relatively strong commitment to completing a program of study (i.e., they explicitly report that either transfer or degree completion are reasons for attending and they attend classes at least half time) are very likely to maintain their enrollment for one year. Some 83 percent of the “more committed” students did so, compared with 70 percent of “less committed” and 58 percent of those designated as “not committed.”

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006184

Posted by ronbo at 04:57 PM

June 19, 2006

From NCES "What's New"

Documentation for the NCES Comparable Wage Index Files

The Comparable Wage Index (CWI) is a measure of the systematic, regional variations in the salaries of college graduates who are not educators. It can be used by researchers to adjust finance data at geographic different levels in order to make better comparisons across geographic areas.

The CWI was developed by Dr. Lori L. Taylor at the Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University and William J. Fowler, Jr. at NCES. Dr. Taylor's research was supported by a contract with the National Center for Education Statistics. The complete description of the research is provided in the NCES Research and Development "A Comparable Wage Approach to Geographic Cost Adjustment" (NCES 2006-321).

Documentation for the CWI describes four geographic levels of the CWI, which are presented in four separate files http://nces.ed.gov/edfin/prodsurv/data.asp. These files are the school district, labor market, state, and a combined regional and national file. The school district file provides a CWI for each local education agency (LEA) in the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) database. For each LEA there is a series of indexes for the years 1997 - 2004. The file can be merged with school district finance data, and this merged file can be used to produce finance data adjusted for geographic cost differences. This file also includes four agency typology variables. The additional files allow for similar cost adjustments

Posted by ronbo at 06:32 PM

June 14, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NCES REPORT to be Released June 20th - The Averaged Freshman Graduation Rate for Public High Schools From the Common Core of Data: School Years 2002-03 and 2003-04

This report presents the averaged freshman graduation rate for public high school students for school years 2002-03 and 2003-04 based on data reported by state education agencies to the National Center for Education Statistics. Rates are included for most of the 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and three other jurisdictions for both years. Comparing the averaged freshman graduation rate among public school students in the class of 2002-03 to that of 2003-04 in each of the 48 reporting states and the District of Columbia, 32 states and the District of Columbia experienced increases in the rate, 1 state experienced no change, and 15 states experienced declines in the rate over this 2-year period.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006606

Posted by ronbo at 12:22 PM

June 02, 2006

NCES Newsflash: Postsecondary Facilities Inventory and Classification Manual

NCES has released 'The Postsecondary Education Facilities Inventory and Classification Manual (FICM), 2006 Edition.' The manual describes standard practices for initiating, conducting, reporting, and maintaining a postsecondary institutional facilities inventory. It is designed to be useful to both specialized staff and generalists and to be applicable to institutions with sophisticated information needs as well as to those with more basic facilities information needs. It reflects the perspective that along with human resources and financial assets, space is one of the primary resources of a postsecondary educational institution. It provides updated definitions for building area measurements, space and room use codes, and other data elements that are useful for including in a facilities inventory. It describes the basic principles for developing a facilities database, provides guidance on required and optional data elements for inclusion in a facilities inventory, suggests analytic, administrative and comparative uses for facilities data and presents issues that are emerging in the collection, maintenance and reporting of facilities data.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006160

Posted by ronbo at 03:58 PM

June 01, 2006

NCES Newsflash: The Condition of Education 2006

Today, the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released The Condition of Education 2006. This annual report summarizes important developments and trends in education using the latest available data. The 2006 report presents 50 indicators on the status and condition of education and a special analysis on international assessments. The indicators represent a consensus of professional judgment on the most significant national measures of the condition and progress of education for which accurate data are available. The 2006 print edition includes 50 indicators in five main areas: (1) participation in education; (2) learner outcomes; (3) student effort and educational progress; (4) the contexts of elementary and secondary education; and (5) the contexts of postsecondary education. The report finds, for example, that U.S. 15-year-olds had lower average scores in mathematics and science literacy than most of their international peers from Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)-member countries that participated in the 2003 survey. While results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress show steady improvement in mathematics scores for 4th- and 8th-graders and science scores have improved for 4th-graders, science literacy was lower in 2005 than in 1996 at grade 12. Other findings of The Condition of Education include:

School choice among public schools is growing. The percentage of children whose parents enrolled them in chosen public schools increased from 11 percent in 1993 to 15 percent in 2003.

About three-fourths of public high school students graduate in 4 years. The 2002-03 public high school graduation rate for the averaged freshman class 4 years earlier was 73.9 percent.

Undergraduate degrees are continuing to increase. Between 1989-90 and 2003-04, the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded increased by 33 percent, while the number of associate’s degrees awarded increased by 46 percent.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, or to browse the web version, please go to: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006071

Posted by ronbo at 11:50 AM

May 31, 2006

NCES Newsflash: Two New Publications Released by NCES

NCES has just released two new publications from the National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES:2005).

'Adult Education Participation in 2004-05,' presents selected data on adults’ participation in adult educational activities in the United States, excluding full-time college/university or vocational/technical credential programs, over a 12-month period from 2004-05. These data are from the Adult Education Survey of the 2005 National Household Education Surveys Program. Interviews for the survey were conducted with a nationally representative sample adults. A wide range of statistics is included in the report. For example, 44 percent of adults reported having participated in formal adult educational activities (excluding full-time college programs) in this time period.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, go to: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006077

'After-School Programs and Activities: 2005,' presents data on participation in after-school activities and programs in the United States. The data are from the After-School Programs and Activities Survey (ASPA) of the 2005 National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES:2005). The data presented in the report are based on a nationally representative sample of students in kindergarten through grade 8. In 2005, 40 percent of students in kindergarten through eighth grade participated in after-school care arrangements that occurred at least once each week.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, go to: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006076

Posted by ronbo at 03:53 PM

May 24, 2006

NCES Newsflash: New Release! - National Indian Education Study, Part I: NAEP 2005 Performance by American Indian and Alaska Native Students

The National Indian Education Study (NIES) is a two-part study designed to describe the condition of education for American Indian/Alaska Native students in the United States. The study was conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Indian Education (OIE).

Part I of the study presents the performance of American Indian/Alaska Native students at grades 4 and 8 on the 2005 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading and mathematics assessments. Approximately 7,200 American Indian/Alaska Native students participated in reading and 7,300 in mathematics. This national sample includes students from both public and nonpublic schools. In addition to the national sample, states with relatively large populations of American Indian/Alaska Native students as a percentage of the state's total population are included in the report (Alaska, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota).

Findings are detailed and discussed in the report, including these for the NAEP 2005 reading assessment:

* At both grades 4 and 8, American Indian/Alaska Native students had lower average scale scores compared to all other students in the nation.
* The percentages of students performing at or above Basic and at or above Proficient were also lower for American Indian/Alaska Native students than those for all other students at both grades.
* At grades 4 and 8, American Indian/Alaska Native students in Oklahoma had higher average reading scores than all American Indian/Alaska Native students in the nation.

Findings for the NAEP 2005 mathematics assessment include these:

* At both grades 4 and 8, American Indian/Alaska Native students had lower average scale scores than all other students in the nation.
* The percentages of students performing at or above Basic and at or above Proficient were also lower for American Indian/Alaska Native students than for all other students at both grades.
* At grade 4, the average scores for American Indian/Alaska Native students in Montana and Oklahoma were not significantly different when compared to American Indian/Alaska Native students in the nation. At grade 8, American Indian/Alaska Native students in New Mexico and South Dakota had lower average scores than all American Indian/Alaska Native students in the nation.

Part II of the study, which is a survey of the educational experiences of American Indian/Alaska Native students, their teachers, and their schools, will be released in the summer of 2006.

To see complete results, go to:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/NIES

You may download the full report from:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf/studies/2006463.pdf

Posted by ronbo at 10:12 PM

NCES Newsflash: The Nation's Report Card - Science 2005 Results Released

Results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2005 science assessment were just released, detailing national performance at grades 4, 8, and 12 and state performance for most states at grades 4 and 8.

National findings since the previous assessments in 1996 and 2000 show:

* Fourth-grade students scored higher than either previous year, and lower-performing students made the largest gains since 2000.
* Eighth-graders’ overall performance remained unchanged compared with either previous year; gains by lower-income students narrowed the gap since 2000.
* Scores for twelfth-graders remain unchanged since the last assessment, but are lower than in 1996. However, the White-Black gap has widened since 2000.

At both grades, 37 states and jurisdictions participated in both 2000 and 2005:

* Fourth-graders in 9 states showed increases in scores since 2000.
* Eighth-graders in 11 states posted increases for 2000, 4 declined.

Full results for the nation and states are available at: http://nationsreportcard.gov

Browse the Executive Summary of the report:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/main2005/2006466.asp

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006466

Posted by ronbo at 09:59 PM

May 23, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NEW REPORT! - 2004 National Study of Postsecondary Faculty (NSOPF:04) Methodology Report & Restricted-Use Data File

2004 National Study of Postsecondary Faculty (NSOPF:04) Methodology Report

This report is designed to give readers an accurate picture of this important study and the data generated by its methodology. The report is organized into 6 chapters, including information about the purpose of the study, the sample design, the data collection instruments, data collection and data processing procedures, an evaluation of data quality, and weighting and variance estimation. Of the 34,330 eligible sample members, 26,110 (76 percent) completed the faculty questionnaire during a field period from January to October of 2004. Seventy-six percent of respondents completed the self-administered web questionnaire, and 24 percent were interviewed by telephone. The average time to complete the survey was 30 minutes. Of the 1,070 eligible institutions, 980 (91 percent) provided faculty lists and 920 (84 percent) completed the institution questionnaire. Evaluations of operations and procedures focused on the institution contacting endeavor, the timeline for data collection from institutions (faculty lists and institution questionnaires) and faculty (CATI and self-administered interviews), tracing and locating procedures, refusal conversion efforts, the effectiveness of incentives, and the length of the faculty interview. Item nonresponse was below 15 percent for 87 of the 90 items in the institution questionnaire and for 141 out of the 162 items in the faculty questionnaire.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006179

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Restricted-Use Data File: 2004 National Study of Postsecondary Faculty (NSOPF:04)

Included on this CD-ROM are data files from approximately 920 institutions and 26,100 faculty and instructional staff included in the 2004 National Study of Postsecondary Faculty (NSOPF:04). Also included are electronic codebook systems for using these data files. Your organization must apply for and be granted a restricted data license in order to obtain these data.

To obtain a Restricted Use Data License, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006183

Posted by ronbo at 01:25 AM

May 19, 2006

NCES Newsflash: StatChat on The Nation's Report Card: Results from the 2005 NAEP Science Assessment, May 24 at 2 p.m. EDT

Join Associate Commissioner Peggy Carr at 2 p.m. EDT on May 24 for a StatChat—a live online discussion--about the results of the 2005 national and state science assessment, scheduled for release on May 24 at 10 a.m. EDT. Submit your questions ahead of time at http://nces.ed.gov/WhatsNew/statchat/index2.asp

The Nation's Report Card: Results from the 2005 NAEP Science Assessment will provide information on the performance of our nation’s fourth-, eighth-, and twelfth-graders and include comparisons to performance in 1996 and 2000. State data will also be available at grades 4 and 8. Visit http://nationsreportcard.gov at the time of the release for full results.

Posted by ronbo at 11:24 PM

May 17, 2006

NCES Newsflash: 2005 Digest of Education Statistics Tables are now Available

New tables from Digest of Education Statistics, 2005 provide a wide array of data covering prekindergarten through graduate school. Topics include: numbers of institutions; teachers; enrollments; graduates; educational attainment; finances; federal funds for education; employment and income of graduates; libraries; and international comparisons.

To view the new 2005 Digest of Education Statistics tables, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/

Posted by ronbo at 02:54 PM

May 16, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NEW REPORT! - Calories In, Calories Out: Food and Exercise in Public Elementary Schools, 2005

This study, prompted by concern over the rate of obesity among school-age children, was designed to obtain current national information on availability of foods and opportunities for physical activity in public elementary schools. The report includes findings on the types of food sold at one or more locations in schools and in their cafeterias or lunchrooms; the types of food sold at vending machines and school stores or snack bars, and times when foods were available at those locations; food service operations and contracts with companies to sell foods at schools; scheduled recess, including the days per week, times per day, and minutes per day of recess; scheduled physical education, including the days per week, class length, and average minutes per week of physical education; activities to encourage physical activity among elementary students; and the physical assessment of students.

To browse the report, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/Pubs2006/nutrition/

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006064

Posted by ronbo at 07:42 PM

May 15, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NEW REPORT! - The Early Reading and Mathematics Achievement of Children Who Repeated Kindergarten or Who Began School a Year Late

This report examines the association between kindergarten enrollment status (e.g., repeating kindergarten or delaying entry into kindergarten) and children’s first grade reading and mathematics achievement. Based on the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K), the statistics in brief reports that in the fall of 1998 5 percent of all children in kindergarten were repeating kindergarten and 6 percent were attending kindergarten for the first time even though they were age-eligible to do so a year earlier (i.e., delayed entry). In terms of children’s first grade performance by kindergarten enrollment status, at the end of first grade, children who repeated kindergarten have lower reading and mathematics knowledge and skills than those who started on time. At the end of first grade, children whose kindergarten entry was delayed, in general, demonstrate slightly higher reading knowledge and skills than those who started on time. In mathematics at the end of first grade, children whose kindergarten entry was delayed kindergarten are behind their classmates who began kindergarten on time.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006064

Posted by ronbo at 06:49 PM

NCES Newsflash: New version of the College Opportunities Online Locator (COOL) website

NCES announces the release of a new version of the College Opportunities Online Locator (COOL) website, a consumer information tool for students, parents, high school counselors, and others interested in postsecondary education in the United States. The site allows users to see and compare profiles of nearly 7,000 colleges and universities throughout the nation. Users can search by location, program or major, and a variety of institutional characteristics to identify postsecondary institutions that fit their preferences. In addition, up to four institutions can be compared side-by-side on areas including:

- Estimated student expenses;
- Financial aid availability;
- Admissions information;
- Enrollment details;
- Retention and graduation rates; and,
- Awards and degrees.

Links to institution websites as well as to additional information about campus security, federal student loan default rates, and accreditation are also provided.

To visit the COOL website, go to http://collegesearch.nces.ed.gov.

Posted by ronbo at 06:00 PM

May 11, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Initial Results From the 2005 NHES Early Childhood Program Participation Survey

This report presents selected data on the nonparental care arrangements and educational programs of preschool children, consisting of care by relatives, care by persons to whom they were not related, and participation in day care centers and preschool programs including Head Start or Early Head Start. It focuses on children under age 6 who have not yet entered kindergarten. For example, the report shows that 60 percent of such children were in some type of nonparental care arrangement on a weekly basis in 2005. The data are drawn from the Early Childhood Program Participation Survey (ECPP) of the 2005 National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES:2005).

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006075

Posted by ronbo at 05:00 PM

May 04, 2006

NEW NCES REPORT! - A Comparable Wage Approach to Geographic Cost Adjustment

In this report, NCES extends the analysis of comparable wages to the labor market level using a Comparable Wage Index (CWI). The basic premise of a CWI is that all types of workers—including teachers—demand higher wages in areas with a higher cost of living (e.g., San Diego) or a lack of amenities (e.g., Detroit, which has a particularly high crime rate) (Federal Bureau of Investigation 2003). This report develops a CWI by combining baseline estimates from the 2000 U.S. census with annual data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Combining the Census with the OES makes it possible to have yearly CWI estimates for states and local labor markets for each year after 1997. OES data are available each May and permit the construction of an up-to-date, annual CWI. The CWI methodology offers many advantages over the previous NCES geographic cost adjustment methodologies, including relative simplicity, timeliness, and intrastate variations in labor costs that are undeniably outside of school district control. However, the CWI is not designed to detect cost variations within labor markets. Thus, all the school districts in the Washington, DC metro area would have the same CWI cost index. Furthermore, as with other geographic cost indices, the CWI methodology does not address possible differences in the level of wages between college graduates outside the education sector and education sector employees. Nor does the report explore the use of these geographic cost adjustments as inflation adjustments (deflators.) These could be areas for fruitful new research on cost adjustments by NCES.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006321

Posted by ronbo at 10:29 PM

April 28, 2006

NCES Newsflash: National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) X Two Research Opportunities!

Using the NAEP Database for Research and Policy Discussion: Applications due May 8, 2006.

This is a 3½-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the NAEP database for education research and policy analysis, aimed at faculty and advanced graduate students, and others in education who have strong statistical skills. Accepted applicants receive financial support for attending.

The main NAEP database contains nationally representative achievement data for fourth-, eighth, and twelfth-graders from public and non-public schools in a variety of academic subjects. The database also contains information on the background and learning environment of the students who were assessed, their teachers, and their schools. Transcripts are also available for many of the twelfth-graders who were assessed.

The seminar is June 20 through June 23, 2006, in Washington, DC. More information and instructions on how to apply are available on the NCES website: http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/confinfo.asp?confid=40

--------------------
The NAEP Secondary Analysis Research Program: Applications for 2007 are due July 27, 2006, by 8 p.m. EDT.

The NAEP Secondary Analysis Research Program was developed to encourage the preparation of reports that would not otherwise be available utilizing new ideas or state-of-the-art techniques to analyze and report the information gathered from NAEP assessments and the NAEP High School Transcript Studies (HSTS). [ http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/hsts/ ] Much potentially valuable information that could be gained from the NAEP data [ http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nde/ ] remains untapped. This grant program was developed to make resources available to qualified data analysts to explore the NAEP data more fully. Analyses and reports prepared under this program [
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/naepgrants.asp ] should potentially be useful to the general public, parents, educators, educational researchers, or policymakers.

The FY 2007 NAEP Secondary Analysis Research Program application package and required forms can be downloaded from the Education Department website: http://www.ed.gov/programs/naepsarp/applicant.html

Posted by ronbo at 04:46 PM

April 14, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NAEP Secondary Analysis Research Program Is Now Accepting Applications for 2007

Applications Are Due July 27, 2006 by 8 p.m. EDT.

The NAEP Secondary Analysis Research Program was developed to encourage the preparation of reports that would not otherwise be available utilizing new ideas or state-of-the-art techniques to analyze and report the information contained in NAEP assessments and in the NAEP High School Transcript Studies (HSTS). Much potentially valuable information that could be gained from the NAEP data remains untapped. This grant program was developed to make resources available to qualified data analysts to explore the NAEP data more fully. Analyses and reports prepared under this program should potentially be useful to the general public, parents, educators, educational researchers, or policymakers.

More specifically, through the NAEP Secondary Analysis Research Program, the Institute of Education Sciences of the Department of Education intends to contribute to the improvement of student learning and achievement by (a) identifying programs, policies, and practices that are potentially effective for improving academic outcomes, as well as mediators and moderators of the effects of these programs, policies, and practices (see Goal One); and (b) developing tools or procedures to assist NAEP users in the analysis, interpretation, and reporting of state- and district-level NAEP results or to improve precision in the estimation and reporting of NAEP results (see Goal Five).

Through this program of secondary analysis grants, the Institute hopes to encourage greater use of the NAEP data and to bring fresh perspectives to the analysis of this rich database. Although the federal government assumes responsibility for collecting these data and making them available to the public, there are more opportunities for analysis and reporting of the NAEP data than can or should be done by the federal government.

The Institute also expects that the NAEP program will benefit from additional perspectives on the strengths and weakness of the methodology underlying NAEP. The Institute welcomes applications for studies that will explore new methodological techniques or analysis models, or that will develop software that helps make the NAEP data accessible to a broader range of users.

The FY 2007 NAEP Secondary Analysis Research Program application package and required forms can be downloaded at: http://www.ed.gov/programs/naepsarp/applicant.html

Follow the links to Purpose, Eligibility, Funding Status, etc., located in the navigation bar just above the Applicant Information to find other details of this research program.

Descriptions of recently funded proposals are available at: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/naepgrants.asp

Explore NAEP data at: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nde/

Read about the HSTS at: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/hsts/

If you have questions about the program or the preparation of an application, please contact the program officer, Alex Sedlacek, Ph.D., National Center for Education Statistics, at (202) 502-7446 or Alex.Sedlacek@ed.gov

Posted by ronbo at 05:29 PM

NCES Newsflash: NCES Summer Data Conference, 2006

The annual NCES Summer Forum and Data Conference will be held July 24 - 28, 2006 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. Activities will include training for Common Core of Data Coordinators (CCD); a two-day track of presentations by national experts in school finance; up-to-the-minute information about NCES survey and assessment programs; discussion on how states and districts are responding to the accountability needs of No Child Left Behind; and overviews of state projects in information technology. More detailed information, online registration and proposal submission is available at the NCES Conference website at: http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/confinfo.asp?confid=23

Posted by ronbo at 05:16 PM

April 13, 2006

NCES Newsflash: The Adult Lives of At-Risk Students: The Roles of Attainment and Engagement in High School

NCES has just released 'The Adult Lives of At-Risk Students: The Roles of Attainment and Engagement in High School.' Previous analysis of NELS:88 data found that students who are at-risk of school failure, but who are engaged and participate in school, achieve educational success. The 1993 study was a cross-sectional examination of the differences among successful versus unsuccessful students at-risk of school failure, particularly with respect to participation and engagement in school. The current study is a longitudinal investigation of the power of participating in high school and later educational outcomes. High school noncompleters, with the highest level of academic risk, stood out in each case. In postsecondary education programs, noncompleters earned the fewest credits; the mean number of credits earned by noncompleters who entered a postsecondary program was 17.0, compared to 49.4 credits for marginal completers and 87.8 credits for successful completers. High school noncompleters were less likely to be employed in 2000 (77 percent) than were successful completers (88 percent) or marginal completers (86 percent).

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006328

Posted by ronbo at 01:59 PM

April 11, 2006

NEW NCES REPORT! - Variation in the Relationship Between Nonschool Factors and Student Achievement on International Assessments

This report uses NCES data to describe differences in nonschool factors that are related to student achievement. The data are from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2003, an international assessment of 15-year olds in reading literacy, mathematics literacy, and science literacy. The report focuses on data from 20 countries that are considered to be the most developed (based on the World Bank High Income Group). The report investigates six nonschool factors that are related to student achievement: highest level of education attained by either of the students ’ parents; the highest occupational status of either of the students’ parents; the number of books that students have access to in the home; whether students speak the native language of the country at home; students’ immigrant status; and students’ family structure. The PISA data indicate that the observed variation in the distribution of student characteristics across countries does not place the United States at a disadvantage in international assessments compared with other highly developed countries; students with high levels of socioeconomic status had an educational advantage over their low SES counterparts across all 20 countries, even after considering the differences in the percentage of students who are immigrants, from less-advantaged homes, non-native language speakers, and other factors.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006014

Posted by ronbo at 02:10 PM

April 06, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Comparing Science Content in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2000 and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2003 Assessments

This report describes a study that was undertaken to compare the content of two fourth- and eighth-grade assessments in science: the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). The report provides information that will be useful for interpreting and comparing the results from the two assessments, based on an in-depth look at the content of the respective frameworks and assessment items. The report draws upon information provided by the developers of the assessments, as well as data obtained from an expert panel convened to compare the frameworks and items from the two assessments on various dimensions.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006026

Posted by ronbo at 11:52 AM

April 04, 2006

NCES Newsflash: TWO NEW NCES REPORT!

Teaching Science in Five Countries: Results From the TIMSS 1999 Video
Study

This Statistical Analysis report presents findings from the 1999 Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) Video Study of eighth-grade science teaching in five countries: Australia, Czech Republic, Japan, Netherlands, and the United States. The TIMSS 1999 Video Study is a follow-up and expansion of the TIMSS 1995 Video Study. The study is the first attempt to examine eighth-grade science lessons as they are actually delivered to students. The data presented focus on three basic questions: How did the teacher organize the lesson to support students’ opportunities to learn science? How was science represented to students in the lesson? What opportunities did students have to participate in science learning activities? The science lessons videotaped in the five countries display similarities and differences, with each country revealing a general approach to the teaching of science in the eighth grade. In general, the data suggest that, in the Czech Republic, science teaching can be characterized as whole-class events that focused on getting the content right; in the Netherlands science lessons focused on students’ independent learning of the science content; Japanese eighth-grade science lessons typically focused on developing a few physics and chemistry ideas by making connections between ideas and evidence through an inquiry-oriented, inductive approach in which data were collected and interpreted to build up to a main idea or conclusion; in Australia, lessons tended to focus on developing a limited number of ideas by making connections between ideas and evidence; and, in the United States, eighth-grade science lessons were characterized by a variety of activities that may engage students in doing science work, with less focus on connecting these activities to the development of science content ideas. A CD-ROM of video clips illustrating key factors examined in the study accompanies the report.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006011

Highlights from the TIMSS 1999 Video Study of Eighth-Grade Science Teaching

This report presents key findings from the 1999 Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) Video Study of eighth-grade science teaching in five countries: Australia, Czech Republic, Japan, Netherlands, and the United States. The TIMSS 1999 Video Study is a follow-up and expansion of the TIMSS 1995 Video Study. The study is the first attempt to examine eighth-grade science lessons as they are actually delivered to students. The data presented focus on three basic questions: How did the teacher organize the lesson to support students’ opportunities to learn science? How was science represented to students in the lesson? What opportunities did students have to participate in science learning activities? The science lessons videotaped in the five countries display similarities and differences, with each country revealing a general approach to the teaching of science in the eighth grade. In general, the data suggest that, in the Czech Republic, science teaching can be characterized as whole-class events that focused on getting the content right; in the Netherlands science lessons focused on students’ independent learning of the science content; Japanese eighth-grade science lessons typically focused on developing a few physics and chemistry ideas by making connections between ideas and evidence through an inquiry-oriented, inductive approach in which data were collected and interpreted to build up to a main idea or conclusion; in Australia, lessons tended to focus on developing a limited number of ideas by making connections between ideas and evidence; and, in the United States, eighth-grade science lessons were characterized by a variety of activities that may engage students in doing science work, with less focus on connecting these activities to the development of science content ideas. The report is accompanied by a CD-ROM of video clips illustrating key factors examined in the study.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006017

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To view the accompanying press release for these reports, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pressrelease/rel2006/4_4_06.asp

Posted by ronbo at 05:30 PM

April 03, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NCES Releases New Locale Code Methodology

NCES has revised its traditional 8-category locale code classification system to incorporate changes in the Office of Management and Budget’s definition of “rural” that were adopted for the 2000 Decennial Census. The new 12-category system continues to use the same standard geographic concepts found in the original locale codes, but now prioritizes an urban approach that combines both population size and distance from an urbanized area.

The new system has four basic groups (city, suburb, town or rural), each of which is divided into three subcategories. Cities and suburbs are classified as large, midsize, or small on the basis of their population size. Towns and rural areas are described as being in the fringe, distant, or remote in relation to the closest urbanized area. NCES’ Common Core of Data survey system will publish both the traditional and new locale codes for public schools and local education agencies beginning with the 2003-04 school year and continuing through the 2006-07 school year.

To download, view and print the new local code and documentation files, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006332

Posted by ronbo at 12:45 PM

March 28, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Teacher Qualifications, Instructional Practices, and Reading and Mathematics Gains of Kindergartners

This Research and Development (R&D) report uses data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K) to explore relationships between kindergarten teachers' reports of their qualifications and instructional practices and direct assessments of children's reading and mathematics achievement during the kindergarten year. Using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM), the study estimated the degree to which specific aspects of teacher training-the teaching credential and coursework in pedagogy-and teaching experience were associated with student achievement. In addition, the study identified teacher-reported instructional practices associated with student achievement gains and examined the qualifications of teachers and aspects of teacher training that were related to the use of these practices. Spending more time on subject and working within a full-day kindergarten structure were found to be associated with relatively large gains in achievement. Also, certain teacher background variables—particularly the self-reported amount of coursework in methods of teaching reading and mathematics—were positively related to the teacher-reported frequency of various instructional practices that in turn were associated with higher achievement.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006031

Posted by ronbo at 01:26 PM

March 27, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Fifth Grade: Findings from the Fifth-Grade Follow-Up of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99

This report highlights children’s gains in reading and mathematics over their first 6 years of school, from the start of kindergarten to the time when most of the children are completing fifth grade. It also describes children’s achievement in reading, mathematics, and science at the end of fifth grade. Comparisons are made in relation to children’s sex, race/ethnicity, family characteristics (e.g., family type, poverty status, primary home language), the types of schools attended (i.e., public or private), and residential and school mobility. While all children showed progress, learning gaps persisted. Certain family background variables were found to be associated with reading and mathematics achievement, for example, poverty status and mother's highest level of education. Children living in poverty in all rounds of data collection scored lower in both reading and mathematics, on average, than students who moved into and out of poverty during the same period. Children whose mothers had not completed high school scored lower than children whose mothers had a bachelor's or higher degree. Boys were more likely than girls to score in the highest third of the distribution of mathematics achievement scores. It is the fifth in a series of reports from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006038

Posted by ronbo at 04:44 PM

NCES Newsflash: The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) announces the addition of the IPEDS State Tables 2003 to the Tables Library area of the online Data Analysis System (DAS)

The National Center for Education Statistics announces the addition of the IPEDS State Tables 2003 to the Tables Library area of the online Data Analysis System (DAS). The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) is a single, comprehensive system designed to encompass all institutions and educational organizations whose primary purpose is to provide postsecondary education. The IPEDS State Tables 2003 provide state-level aggregate data on postsecondary institutions for all 50 states in areas including:

* Percentage distribution of Title IV institutions
* Price information
* Degrees conferred
* Certificates conferred
* Employees, faculty, and graduate assistants
* Enrollment
* Financial aid
* Graduation and transfer rates
* Revenue and expenses

The tables are available in HTML and Excel file formats. In addition, Table Parameter Files (TFP) for the state tables can be downloaded and used to replicate or modify them, as needed, using the online DAS
application.

To view, print, or download the tables, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/das/library/tables_listings/state2003_toc.asp

Posted by ronbo at 03:07 PM

March 23, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NCES Sponsored Seminar! Using the NAEP Database for Research and Policy Discussion

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, will sponsor a 3 1/2-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the NAEP database for education research and policy analysis. The main NAEP database contains nationally representative achievement scores on 4th, 8th, and 12th graders from public and non-public schools in a variety of academic subjects. The database also contains information on the background and learning environment of the students who were assessed. Transcripts are also available for many of the grade 12 students who were assessed.

When: June 20 through June 23, 2006
Where: Washington, DC
Registration: by May 8
More information about the seminar and instructions on how to apply are available at: http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/confinfo.asp?confid=40

To learn about support for research using NAEP data, see: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/funding.asp

Posted by ronbo at 06:00 PM

NCES Newsflash: NEW NCES REPORT! - Characteristics of Schools, Districts, Teachers, Principals, and School Libraries in the United States: 2003-04 Schools and Staffing Survey

The Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) is the nation’s most extensive sample survey of elementary and secondary schools and the teachers and administrators who staff them. This report introduces the data from the fifth administration (2003-04) of SASS. It is intended to give the reader an overview of the SASS data for the school year 2003-04 through tables of estimates for public, private, and BIA-funded schools and their staff. For example, one of the findings from the data is that 77 percent of public school districts required full standard state certification in the field to be taught when considering teaching applicants. Also, 82 percent of all public school teachers reported having 4 or more years of full-time teaching experience. These highlights, and others in the report, were not selected to emphasize any particular issue, and they should not be interpreted as representing the most important findings in the data. They are simply examples of the kinds of data that are available in the 2003-04 SASS. In addition, complex interactions and relationships have not been explored.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006313

Posted by ronbo at 05:58 PM

March 21, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NCES Sponsored Conference! - 2nd IEA International Research Conference

Call for Papers: 2nd IEA International Research Conference

The International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) is the sponsor of the several international comparative education assessments, including the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). Supported in part by NCES, the IEA, in cooperation with the Brookings Institution in Washington DC, is hosting a research conference focused on greater understanding of the numerous roles that education plays in the development of nations and in shaping individuals. Individual paper proposals that utilize any of the IEA international assessment datasets are encouraged. The deadline for receipt of proposals is May 31, 2006. The conference will take place from November 9-11, 2006 in Washington, DC.

Information on the submission of proposals, criteria for selection, and other details can be found at: http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/confinfo.asp?confid=166

Posted by ronbo at 12:01 PM

NCES Newsflash: NEW WEB TOOL! - Finance Longitudinal Data Tool

A new Finance Longitudinal Data Tool has been added to the Education Finance Statistics Center (EDFIN) website.

The EDFIN site now has two searchable data tools. The Peer Search Tool allows comparisons of the finances of school districts with its peers based on the latest available fiscal data. Peers can be selected manually, or automatically based on total students, student/teacher ratio, percent children in poverty, district type, and locale code. The new Longitudinal Data Tool allows comparisons of fiscal and nonfiscal school district data over time from 1989-90 to 1999-2000.

To access and use either of these finance tools please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/edfin/search/datatools.asp

Posted by ronbo at 11:57 AM

March 16, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NEW REPORT - Characteristics of Private Schools in the United States: Results From the 2003-2004 Private School Universe Survey

This report on the 2003-2004 Private School Universe Survey presents data on private schools in the United States with grades kindergarten through twelve by selected characteristics such as school size, school level, religious orientation, association membership, geographic region, community type, and program emphasis. The number of teachers and students are reported by the same categories and the number of students is reported by grade level. In the fall of 2003, there were 28,384 private schools in the United States, enrolling 5,122,772 students, and employing 425,238 FTE teachers. Private school students represented approximately 10 percent of the total elementary and secondary enrollment in the United States in 2003-2004.

Posted by ronbo at 01:42 PM

March 14, 2006

NCES Newsflash: New NCES Report Released! - Instructional Focus in First Grade

This brief uses data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999 (ECLS-K) to examine how often per week and how much time per day first-graders were instructed in subjects such as reading, mathematics, and science. The brief also focuses in more detail on students’ in-class work on reading and language arts. The major findings of the brief are that more than 90 percent of first-graders received daily instruction in reading and mathematics, while the most common length of time spent per day on reading is more than 90 minutes and on mathematics is between 31 and 60 minutes. The most common reading or language arts activities used in first grade classrooms were working on phonics and instruction in capitalization and punctuation.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006056

Posted by ronbo at 06:32 PM

NCES Newsflash: Enrollment in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2004; Graduation Rates, 1998 & 2001 Cohorts; and Financial Statistics, Fiscal Year 2004

This report presents findings from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) spring 2005 data collection, which included four components: Student Financial Aid for full-time, first-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students for the 2003-04 academic year, Enrollment for fall 2004 and 12-month counts for 2003-04, Graduation Rates for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students beginning college in 1998 at 4-year institutions or in 2001 at less-than-4-year institutions, and Finance for fiscal year 2004. These data were collected through the IPEDS web-based data collection system.

To download, view and print the publication as a PDF file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006155

Posted by ronbo at 06:01 PM

February 28, 2006

NCES Sponsored Workshop and Training Sessions

Just posted to the NCES website are information on six future NCES sponsored workshop and training sessions. Please visit http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/ to view dates, locations, agendas, and registration information for each. Below is a brief description of the sessions.

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Using the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) and the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002) Databases for Research and Policy Discussion

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, will sponsor two 2½-day advanced studies seminars on the use of longitudinal education databases for research and policy studies in 2006. Both seminars—one in May and the other in July—will cover the same material, focusing specifically on the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) and the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002) databases. The design of NELS:88 and ELS:2002 permits the examination of education, work, and the socialization of youth in the United States and the influences of schools, teachers, community, and family in promoting growth and positive outcomes.

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Using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998–99 (ECLS-K) Database for Research and Policy Discussion

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, is sponsoring a 3-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998–99 (ECLS-K) database. The ECLS-K allows researchers to examine the relationships among a wide range of child, family, teacher, classroom, and school variables and children’s development, early learning, and early performance in school.

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Using the NCES International Databases for Research and Policy Discussion

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, will sponsor a 2½-day seminar on the use of NCES International Databases: the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), and the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS).

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NAEP Database Use for Research and Policy Analyses - NAEP Database Training Seminar

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, will sponsor a 3½-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) database for education research and policy analysis. The main NAEP database contains nationally representative achievement scores on 4th, 8th, and 12th graders from public and non-public schools in a variety of academic subjects. The database also contains background information on the students who were assessed and their learning environment.

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Using the National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES) Database for Research and Policy Analyses

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, will sponsor a 3-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES) databases for research and policy analyses. NHES is a series of surveys that is designed to address a wide range of education-related issues. It provides descriptive data on the educational activities of the U.S. population, from early childhood to adult education, and offers policymakers, researchers, and educators a variety of statistics on the condition of education in the United States. These data are collected through telephone interviews with individual parents, youth, and adults.

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Using the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) and the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002) Databases for Research and Policy Discussion - Repeat

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, will sponsor two 2½-day advanced studies seminars on the use of longitudinal education databases for research and policy studies in 2006. Both seminars—this one in May and the other in July—will cover the same material, focusing specifically on the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) and the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002) databases. The design of NELS:88 and ELS:2002 permits the examination of education, work, and the socialization of youth in the United States and the influences of schools, teachers, community, and family in promoting growth and positive outcomes.

Posted by ronbo at 05:42 PM

February 07, 2006

NCES Newsflash: Using the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Database for Research and Policy Discussion

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, will sponsor a 3 1/2-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) database for education research and policy analysis. The main NAEP database contains nationally representative achievement scores on 4th, 8th, and 12th graders from public and non-public schools in a variety of academic subjects. The database also contains background information on the students who were assessed and their learning environment.

When: June 20 through June 23, 2006
Where: Washington, DC

For more information about the seminar and instructions on how to apply, point your web browser to:
http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/confinfo.asp?confid=40

To visit NAEP's website home page, go to:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard

Posted by ronbo at 06:15 PM

February 03, 2006

NCES Newsflash: Call for Papers: The 2007 NICHD-NCES ECLS-B First Release Conference

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) is sponsoring a 2-day Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) First Release Conference organized jointly by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The conference will be held March 31-April 1, 2007 in Bethesda, MD.

This conference will provide an opportunity for investigators to share research findings using data from the 9-month and 2-year ECLS-B data collections. Papers that focus on child health outcomes of ethnic minorities, low-birth weight and very-low-birth weight births, cognitive development, and twins are particularly encouraged.

NICHD will cover travel and per diem expenses for 8-12 different authors to present their studies. Abstract submissions are due July 15, 2006.

For more information, go to:
http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/confinfo.asp?confid=20

Posted by ronbo at 02:44 PM

February 02, 2006

NCES Newsflash: Homeschooling in the United States: 2003

This report uses the Parent and Family Involvement Survey of the 2003 National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES) to estimate the number and percentage of homeschooled students in the United States in 2003 and to describe the characteristics of these students and their families. In 2003, 31 percent of homeschooled children had parents who cited concern about the environment of other schools, such as safety, drugs, or negative peer pressure, as the most important reason for homeschooling, 30 percent had parents who said the most important reason was to provide religious or moral instruction, and 16 percent of homeschooled students had parents who said dissatisfaction with the academic instruction available at other schools was the most important reason. In addition, the report includes comparisons to an earlier study using data from the 1999 NHES to provide information about changes in the rate of homeschooling between 1999 and 2003 for different segments of the student population.

To download, view and print the publication as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/Pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006042

Posted by ronbo at 04:16 PM

January 26, 2006

NCES Newsflash: New web versions of the Education Statistics Quarterly-Vol. 7 Issues 1&2 have been released on the NCES website

You may browse Volume 7 of the Quarterly by visiting:
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/quarterly/vol_7/1_2/

The Quarterly offers a comprehensive overview of work done across all of NCES. Each issue includes short publications and summaries covering all NCES publications and data products released in a given time period as well as notices about training and funding opportunities. In addition, each issue includes a featured topic with invited commentary, and a note on the topic from NCES. This is the final issue of the Quarterly being produced by NCES.

You may also view various tables and figures from the Quarterly and other NCES publications by visiting our Tables & Figures Search Tool:
http://nces.ed.gov/quicktables/

This search tool lets you locate all tables/figures/charts published in the inventory of NCES' "Education Statistics Quarterly", the National Education Data Resource Center (NEDRC) Postsecondary Tables Library, the Condition of Education, the Digest of Education Statistics, and other NCES publications. Tables are constantly being added to this database.

Posted by ronbo at 02:01 PM

January 25, 2006

NCES Newsflash: Navigating Resources for Rural Schools

NCES has recently updated its rural education website, Navigating Resources for Rural Schools. The updated website is part of a series of new developments underway to increase access and make the data more consistent and useful to the rural education research community. The revised website is a first stop in finding statistics on rural education data that NCES collects. The site starts with a basic overview of how locale is defined in various NCES data collections. The section on students shows tables on enrollment and participation rates, assessment, progress through school, and expenditures and revenues per student. The section on teachers includes statistics on their credentials, salaries, attrition, and student/teacher ratios. Course offerings are found with school discipline, technology, and other measures in the section on the school environment. Sections on community and financial support provide data on parents’ satisfaction and engagement with schools, as well as customary measures of fiscal resources.

To view this website please go to:
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/ruraled/

Posted by ronbo at 05:45 PM

January 20, 2006

NCES Newsflash: NCES Education Statistics Quarterly-Vol. 7 Issues 1&2

The NCES 'Education Statistics Quarterly' offers a comprehensive overview of work done across all of NCES. Each issue includes short publications and summaries covering all NCES publications and data products released in a given time period as well as notices about training and funding opportunities. In addition, each issue includes a featured topic with invited commentary, and a note on the topic from NCES. This is the final issue of the Quarterly being produced by NCES.

To download, view and print the publication as a pdf file, please
visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006614

Posted by ronbo at 05:47 PM

NCES Newsflash: Public Elementary and Secondary Students, Staff, Schools, and School Districts: School Year 2003-04

This report contains data from the Common Core of Data (CCD) non-fiscal 2003-04 state, local education agency, and school surveys. The report presents data about the students enrolled in public education, including the number of students by grade and the number receiving special education, migrant, or English language learner services. Some tables disaggregate the student data by racial/ethnic group or community characteristics such as rural - urban. The numbers and types of teachers, other education staff, schools, and local education agencies are also reported.

To download, view and print the publication as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006307

Posted by ronbo at 03:02 PM

January 09, 2006

NCES Newsflash: 1993/03 Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study (B&B:93/03) Methodology Report

This report describes the procedures and results of the full-scale implementation of the B&B:93/03 study. Students who earned a bachelor's degree in 1992-93 were first interviewed in 1993 and then subsequently in 1994 and 1997. This is the final follow-up interview of the B&B:93 cohort, 10 years following completion of the bachelor's degree. The results of this study offer an opportunity to assess the value of a baccalaureate degree at a time when sample members are becoming established in their careers. Specific topics of interest include length of time to complete a baccalaureate degree, the pursuit of additional postsecondary education beyond a bachelor's degree, and employment outcomes.

To download, view and print this report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006166

Posted by ronbo at 02:11 PM

NCES Newsflash: Two New NCES Reports Released Today!

Teacher Professional Development in 1999–2000: What Teachers, Principals, and District Staff Report

This report uses data from the 1999-2000 Schools and Staffing Survey to address how teacher professional development was organized and managed, what kinds of activities were available to teachers, and which ones they participated in. Major topics covered include planning and implementation of professional development, selection and evaluation of professional development activities and support for teacher professional development. In 1999-2000 most schools (92 percent) provided their teachers with time for professional development during regular contract hours. According to district staff, primary responsibility for deciding the content of professional development activities rests most commonly with district staff or principals rather than teachers or outside providers. In each topic area, more than one-half of all teachers who had participated thought that the activities were very useful.

To download, view and print this report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006305

Posted by ronbo at 10:47 AM

January 05, 2006

NCES Newsflash: Employees in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2004, and Salaries of Full-Time Instructional Faculty, 200405

This E.D. TAB presents findings from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Winter 2004–05 data collection, which included two required survey components: Employees by Assigned Position (EAP) for fall 2004 and Salaries (SA) for academic year 2004–05; the Fall Staff (S) component was optional for fall 2004. These data were collected through the IPEDS web-based data collection system. Title IV institutions in the United States employed over 3.3 million individuals in fall 2004, of which, 315,000 were employed in medical schools. About 1.2 million full-time professional employees were employed by Title IV institutions (except medical schools) in the United States in fall 2004. Of those, 51 percent had faculty status. Among the 183,000 full-time professional employees in medical schools, 45 percent had faculty status.

To download, view and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006187

Posted by ronbo at 05:11 PM

January 03, 2006

NCES Newsflash: New NCES Publication on Background Characteristics, Work Activities, and Compensation of Instructional Faculty and Staff: Fall 2003

Background Characteristics, Work Activities, and Compensation of Instructional Faculty and Staff: Fall 2003 (NCES 2006-176)

This publication is the second from the 2004 National Study of Postsecondary Faculty (NSOPF:04), a study of faculty and instructional staff in public and private not-for-profit 2-year-and-above postsecondary institutions in the United States. This report describes the background characteristics, work activities, and compensation of instructional faculty and staff in fall 2003, by employment status, institution type, and program area. The results show that the majority (57 percent) of instructional faculty and staff were employed full time in fall 2003. Women made up a larger proportion of part-time than full-time instructional faculty and staff (47 percent vs. 38 percent). The average basic salary from the institution for full-time instructional faculty and staff in all types of institutions was $66,800, and the average basic salary for part-time instructional staff was $11,000 in 2003.

To downloaded and view this publication please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006176

Posted by ronbo at 07:52 PM

December 15, 2005

NCES Newsflash: 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) Results

NCES has just released The 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL). NAAL measures the English literacy of America's adults (people age 16 and older living in households and prisons). NAAL builds on the previous national assessment of literacy completed in 1992. Results are reported in terms of scale score averages and literacy levels on three literacy scales: prose, document, and quantitative. An additional component comprising 5 percent of the adult population was the non-literate in English. Results showed that the average quantitative literacy scores of adults increased 8 points between 1992 and 2003, though average prose and document literacy did not differ significantly from 1992.

Results are available in the publication ‘A First Look at the Literacy of America’s Adults in the 21st Century.’ To download the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006470

Posted by ronbo at 04:45 PM

December 14, 2005

NCES Newsflash: Research Scientist Positions at the National Center for Education Statistics/Institute of Education Sciences

Two new position openings are now available in the Early Childhood, International, Crosscutting Studies Division at the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the research arm of the U.S. Department of Education. The positions are located in the Annual Reports Program, which is responsible for indicator and other statistical reports on all levels of education.

For more information, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/jobs/job1.asp

Posted by ronbo at 01:34 PM

December 12, 2005

NCES Newsflash: Student Achievement in Private Schools: NAEP 2000-2005 Results

This new statistical analysis report from NCES focuses on private school student performance on NAEP assessments. It provides results in reading, mathematics, science, and writing in 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2005. Specifically, it focuses on the three private school types that, combined, enroll the greatest proportion of private school students (Catholic, Lutheran, and Conservative Christian) as well as private schools overall. To provide additional perspective, it also compares the performance of students in these schools to that of public school students.

The report describes differences in student demographics (race/ethnicity, parents' highest level of education, eligibility for free and reduced-price school lunch, students with disabilities, and English language learners) in the three types of private schools, and also for private schools compared with public schools.

Black and Hispanic fourth-graders in all private schools combined had higher average mathematics scores in 2003 than in 2000. However, no significant differences in scores were found across the same time period for Black and Hispanic private school students in grade 4 reading or grade 8 mathematics.

Read about the report at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/studies/privateschools/

The executive summary is available at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/studies/2006459.asp
and from there you can download the entire report as a PDF file.

Posted by ronbo at 11:30 AM

December 07, 2005

Recent ICPSR updates and additions - December 07, 2005

Below is a list of new data collection additions to the ICPSR data archive along with a list of released data collections that have been updated:

NEW ADDITIONS:

3960 Danish 1905 Cohort Study, 1998
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/03960.xml

4229 CBS News/NEW YORK TIMES Monthly Poll #6, October 2004
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/04229.xml

4230 CBS News/NEW YORK TIMES Monthly Poll #1, November 2004
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/04230.xml

4236 Afrobarometer: Round II Survey of South Africa, 2002
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/04236.xml

4310 Current Population Survey, July 1992: Telephone Availability Supplement File
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/04310.xml

4357 The Mannheim Eurobarometer Trend File, 1970-2002
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/04357.xml

4360 Uniform Crime Reporting Program Data [United States]: County-Level Detailed Arrest and Offense Data, 2003
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/04360.xml

13647 Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN): Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Past Year (Primary Caregiver), Wave 2, 1997-2000
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/13647.xml

13648 Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN): Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Lifetime (Subject), Wave 2, 1997-2000
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/13648.xml

13649 Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN): Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Past Year (Subject), Wave 2, 1997-2000
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/13649.xml

13660 Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN): Suicide Interview, Wave 2, 1997-2000
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/13660.xml

13661 Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN): Things I Can Do If I Try, Wave 2, 1997-2000
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/13661.xml

UPDATES:

2140 Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS) VIII: Degrees and Other Formal Awards Conferred Between July 1, 1972, and June 30, 1973
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/02140.xml

4055 Candidate Countries Eurobarometer 2003.3, June-July 2003
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/04055.xml

6736 Current Population Survey, February 1995: Contingent Work Supplement
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/06736.xml

13580 Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN): Master File, Wave 1, 1994-1997
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/13580.xml

13608 Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN): Master File, Wave 2, 1997-2000
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/13608.xml

13617 Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN): My Exposure to Violence (Subject), Wave 2, 1997-2000
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/13617.xml

13618 Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN): My Exposure to Violence (Primary Caregiver), Wave 2, 1997-2000
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/13618.xml

13619 Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN): My Childs Exposure to Violence, Wave 2, 1997-2000
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/13619.xml

13624 Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN): Generalized Anxiety Disorder (Primary Caregiver), Wave 2, 1997-2000
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/13624.xml

13625 Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN): Generalized Anxiety Disorder (Subject), Wave 2, 1997-2000
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/13625.xml

13636 Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN): Major Depressive Disorder (Primary Caregiver), Wave 2, 1997-2000
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/13636.xml

13637 Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN): Major Depressive Disorder (Subject), Wave 2, 1997-2000
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/13637.xml

You can also view a list of all studies added and updated in the last ninety days by visiting the ICPSR Web site at http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/.

Posted by ronbo at 03:43 PM

December 06, 2005

NCES Handbooks Online

The NCES Data Handbooks provide guidance on consistency in data definitions and maintenance for education data, so that such data can be accurately aggregated and analyzed. The online Handbook database provides the Nonfiscal Handbooks in a searchable web tool. This database includes data elements for students, staff, and education institutions. The handbook has just been updated with new and emerging terms and definitions.

Posted by ronbo at 07:06 PM

NCES Newsflash: NCES Has a New Website!

Yes, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has a new website. After five years without a major overhaul, we have redesigned the look and feel of nces.ed.gov. Hopefully you will agree the changes are for the better. We have added our newest information to the homepage and also restructured our menus to make finding what you are looking for easier. The biggest difference is the navigation bar across the top of every page that enables you to find items of interest no matter where you are on our site. Please take a few moments to click on those items and browse the menus that drop down. We hope the categories are intuitively organized.

We are also in the process of redesigning the way we present publications and survey areas. An example of the new publication template can be found at: http://nces.ed.gov/programs/crimeindicators/

We have also made available an RSS feed at:
http://nces.ed.gov/help/rss.asp
to help you keep abreast of all NCES news.

We hope you like the changes we have made. There will certainly be some bugs popping up and we will correct them as we find them. We appreciate all constructive comments.

Posted by ronbo at 09:56 AM

December 02, 2005

NCES Newsflash:

This new NCES report analyzes results of reading literacy among 15-year-olds based on the 2000 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), sponsored by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and carried out in 32 countries, including the United States. It focuses on the characteristics of students who perform at the lowest levels of reading literacy. The report has two objectives: first, to explore how the demographic and educational characteristics of low performing students compare to other students within the United States; second, to analyze if the United States differs from the other PISA countries in terms of the characteristics of its low performing students. It describes the extent to which a particular characteristic is more or less likely to be observed among the low performers than on
average.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006010

Posted by ronbo at 01:35 PM

December 01, 2005

NCES Newsflash: NAEP 2005 Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA) Results Now Available

Results from the 2005 Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA) in reading and mathematics were just released. The Nation's Report Card for TUDA reports on the performance of fourth- and eighth-graders in 11 large urban school districts. Performance of students in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, San Diego, and Washington, DC are compared with students nationally and in large central cities. District performance for 2005 is also compared with that for 2003.

Findings for fourth-graders include the following:

* In mathematics, average scores and percentages performing at or above Basic increased in 8 of 10 districts; percentages performing at or above Proficient increased in 6 districts.

* In reading, the percentage scoring at or above Proficient increased in one district; percentages at or above Basic and average scores did not change in any of the districts.

* There were no changes in the score gaps between White students and their Black or Hispanic counterparts in either subject.

Findings for eighth-graders include the following:

* In mathematics, average scores and percentages performing at or above Basic and Proficient increased in 4 of 10 districts

* In reading, the score gap between White and Black students increased in 1 district, and the gap between White and Hispanic students decreased in 1 district.

* In reading, between 2003 and 2005, the average score increased in 1 district, and there were no significant differences in the percentages performing at or above Basic or at or above Proficient in any district.

Full results are available at
http://www.nationsreportcard.gov

Posted by ronbo at 05:23 PM

November 29, 2005

NCES Newsflash: Education Statistics Quarterly

NCES has just released, 'Education Statistics Quarterly-Vol. 6 Issue 4.' The Quarterly offers a comprehensive overview of work done across all of NCES. Each issue includes short publications and summaries covering all NCES publications and data products released in a given time period as well as notices about training and funding opportunities. In addition, each issue includes a featured topic with invited commentary, and a note on the topic from NCES.

To browse the Quarterly online, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/quarterly/vol_6/6_4/

Posted by ronbo at 12:57 PM

November 28, 2005

NCES Newsflash: Changes in Patterns of Prices and Financial Aid

This new NCES report uses data from the Integrated Postsecondary Educations Data System (IPEDS) to examine median prices of attendance, financial aid, and net prices for first-time, full-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates over the period 1999–2000 to 2001–02. To capture the interaction between price of attendance and financial aid patterns over time and to take into account inflation during this period, indices of changes in three different types of prices—tuition, price of attendance, and net price—were developed for this report. The major findings of the study are that during this period, both the median price of attendance and the median value of total aid increased as a faster rate than inflation at public 4-year institutions, private not-for-profit, 4-year institutions, and private for-profit, less-than-4-year institutions. However, as a result of financial aid, net prices did not rise as rapidly as price of attendance. At public 2-year institutions, net prices not only increased at a slower rate than did sticker prices, but they also increased at a slower rate than inflation. The analysis of the price indices confirmed that examining different types of prices and net prices may lead to different conclusions. In all institutional sectors, increases in median tuition and fee levels and in price of attendance tended to be greater than increases in net prices. In most sectors, median net prices increased at a slower rate than did price of attendance over the three-year period reviewed in this report. In the public 2-year sector, net prices increased at a slower rate than inflation or even decreased.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006153

Posted by ronbo at 05:26 PM

NCES Newsflash: Upcoming Release of 2005 Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA) Results

Results from the 2005 NAEP Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA) in reading and mathematics are scheduled for release by NCES on December 1 at 10:00 AM EST. This year, fourth- and eighth-graders in 11 large urban school districts (Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, San Diego, and Washington, DC) took NAEP. The Nation’s Report Card for the districts will examine how their performance has changed over time (not all districts participated in all previous assessments); make comparisons between districts, to the nation and large central cities; and examine the performance of various student groups.

* View the results, on December 1, at the time of release at:
http://nationsreportcard.gov

* Check back for more information on viewing a live webcast of the release from Boston.

* Join National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Associate Commissioner Peggy Carr at 12:00 PM EST on December 1 for a live chat about the results. For more information or to submit questions ahead of time, check
http://nces.ed.gov/statchat/index2.asp

* Learn more about TUDA and how the district performed on the, 2003 reading assessment at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/reading/results2003/districtresults.asp

2003 mathematics assessment at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/mathematics/results2003/districtresults.asp

Posted by ronbo at 05:21 PM

NCES Newsflash: Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2005

A joint effort by the National Center for Education Statistics and the Bureau of Justice Statistics this annual report examines crime occurring in school as well as on the way to and from school. It provides the most current detailed statistical information to inform the Nation on the nature of crime in schools. This report presents data on crime at school from the perspectives of students, teachers, principals, and the general population from an array of sources--the National Crime Victimization Survey, the School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the School Survey on Crime and Safety and the School and Staffing Survey. Data on crime away from school are also presented to place school crime in the context of crime in the larger society.

Major findings include: Improvements have occurred in student safety. The violent crime victimization rate at school declined from 48 violent victimizations per 1,000 students in 1992 to 28 such victimizations in 2003. Even so, violence, theft, bullying, drugs, and weapons are still widespread.

In 2003, students ages 12-18 were victims of about 740,000 violent crimes and 1.2 million crimes of theft at school. Seven percent of students ages 12-18 reported that they had been bullied, 29 percent of students in grades 9-12 reported that drugs were made available to them on school property, and 9 percent of students were threatened or injured with a weapon on school property.

In 2003, 5 percent of students ages 12-18 reported being victimized at school during the previous 6 months: 4 percent reported theft, and 1 percent reported violent victimization. Less than 1 percent of students reported serious violent victimization (such as rape, sexual assault, robbery, or aggravated assault).

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006001

Posted by ronbo at 03:33 PM

November 18, 2005

NCES: Fourth-Grade Students Reading Aloud: NAEP 2002 Special Study of Oral Reading

This new report from NCES discusses findings about fourth-grade students' oral reading from a special study that was part of the 2002 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading assessment. The results suggest that the three separate components of oral reading ability (accuracy, rate, and fluency) are very much related to each other and to reading comprehension, as measured by the main NAEP assessment. "Fluent" readers in this study were likely to read higher percentages of words accurately, to read the passage at a faster rate, and to have scored higher, on average, on the NAEP reading assessment than "nonfluent" readers. More than one-half of the students read the study passage fluently, with a fairly high degree of accuracy, and at a rate of at least 105 words per minute. However, a group of students whose average scale score and labored oral reading performance suggested they were struggling also demonstrated, on average, the lowest performance on measures of accuracy, rate, and fluency.

Learn more from the executive summary and major findings at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/studies/2006469.asp

Download or order the full report at:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006469

Posted by ronbo at 02:07 PM

November 17, 2005

NCES: Child Care and Early Education Arrangements of Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers: 2001

This new NCES report is the latest in a series of NCES reports on young children’s nonparental care and education arrangements. It presents the most recent data available for children under the age of 6, taken from the 2001 administration of the Early Childhood Program Participation Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES). The data show that during the spring of 2001, 60 percent of children under the age of 6 who had yet to enter kindergarten were receiving some type of care or education, or both, on a weekly basis from persons other than their parents. Variations in participation rates by characteristics of children (age and race/ethnicity) and their families (household income and mother’s education and employment status), as well as by poverty status and geographic region, are examined. Additionally, the report looks at how the child, family, and community characteristics are related to the
time children spend in nonparental care each week and to the amount families pay for care.

Overall, children’s participation in nonparental care and education increases with child’s age and mother’s education. Among Black, White, and Hispanic children, Black children are most likely to be cared for by someone other than their parents on a weekly basis and Hispanic children are least likely. Children whose mothers work outside the home, either
part time or full time, are more likely than children whose mothers are not in the labor force to receive nonparental care. Also, children living below the poverty threshold and children living in the West are less likely than their counterparts to be cared for by someone other than their parents on a weekly basis.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006039

Posted by ronbo at 06:58 PM

November 16, 2005

Recent ICPSR updates and additions - November 16, 2005

Below is a list of new data collection additions to the ICPSR data
archive along with a list of released data collections that have been
updated:

NEW ADDITIONS:

4226 CBS News/NEW YORK TIMES Monthly Poll #3, October 2004
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/04226.xml

4256 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS), 2004: [United States]
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/04256.xml

4302 Deterrent Effect of Curfew Enforcement: Operation Nightwatch in St. Louis, 2003-2005
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/04302.xml

4341 Eurobarometer 62.1: The Constitutional Treaty, Economic Challenges, Vocational Training, Information Technology at Work, Environmental Issues...Oct.-Nov. 2004
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/04341.xml

4353 Firearm Injury Surveillance Study, 1993-2003 [United States]
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/04353.xml

13614 Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN): Depression, Wave 2, 1997-2000
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/13614.xml

UPDATES:

2139 Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS) VII: Degrees and Other Formal Awards Conferred Between July 1, 1971 and June 30, 1972
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/02139.xml

6577 Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study, 1993
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/06577.xml

7647 Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS) XII: Institutional Characteristics of Colleges and Universities, 1977-1978
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/07647.xml

You can also view a list of all studies added and updated in the last
ninety days by visiting the ICPSR Web site at http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/.

Posted by ronbo at 03:36 PM

November 10, 2005

NCES: Participation in Adult Education for Work-Related Reasons

This new NCES report, 'Participation in Adult Education for Work-Related Reasons: 2002-03,' summarizes data collected through the Adult Education for Work-Related Reasons survey fielded in 2003 as part of the National Household Education Surveys. The survey asked a random sample of adults about their work-related educational activities and experiences over the previous 12-months. The survey defined work-related activities in terms of formal and informal learning activities that are done for reasons related to work. Formal types of work-related adult education are defined by the presence of an instructor, whereas informal adult learning activities are defined by the absence of an instructor.

Findings from the survey reveal that 40 percent of adults in the nation participated in some type of formal adult education for work-related reasons during a 12-month period in 2002-03. Thirty-three percent participated in work-related courses, 9 percent were in a college degree program, 2 percent were in a vocational degree/diploma program, and 1 percent had an apprenticeship. Fifty-eight percent of adults participated in informal work-related learning activities.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006040

Posted by ronbo at 01:43 PM

November 08, 2005

NCES: REGISTRATION DEADLINE APPROACHING! Advanced Studies Seminar on the Use of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) Database

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, will sponsor a 3-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) database. The ECLS-B training seminar will be conducted from January 11-13, 2006 in Washington, DC. Support for travel
and lodging will be provided to accepted applicants. The application deadline for the seminar is November 18, 2005.

ECLS-B is designed to support research on a wide range of topics pertaining to young children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development across multiple contexts (e.g., home, nonparental care, and school entry). This seminar is open to advanced graduate students and faculty members from colleges and universities nationwide and to researchers, education practitioners, and policy analysts from federal, state, and local education and human services agencies and professional associations.

For more information, please visit the NCES website at:
http://nces.ed.gov/conferences/confinfo.asp?confid=78

Posted by ronbo at 02:01 PM

November 04, 2005

NCES Newsflash: The Averaged Freshman Graduation Rate for Public High Schools

NCES has just released 'The Averaged Freshman Graduation Rate for Public High Schools from the Common Core of Data: School Years 2001-02 and 2002-03.' This report presents the averaged freshman graduation rate for public high school students for school years 2001-02 and 2002-03, based on data reported by state education agencies to the National Center for Education Statistics. Rates are included for the 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Department of Defense Dependents Schools (overseas) and four other jurisdictions.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006601

Posted by ronbo at 05:21 PM

October 31, 2005

NCES: An Examination of the Conditions of School Facilities Attended by 10th-Grade Students in 2002

This new NCES report presents descriptive information from the Facilities Checklist that was part of the first year collection of the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002). In 2002, observers completed a checklist for all ELS:2002 public and private schools attended by the 10th-grade student sample. The report provides national estimates on the number of public and private 10th-grade schools that have certain characteristics related to appearance, safety and security, noise levels, and neighborhood conditions. It also presents the findings in terms of the numbers of 10th-grade public and private school students who attend schools with those same characteristics.

Major findings include:
· Nationally, 66 percent of 10th-grade schools had at least one unacceptable physical or structural condition related to cleanliness, vandalism, and/or disrepair.
· Thirty (30) percent of 10th-grade schools used security guards, 4 percent used metal detectors, 18 percent had security cameras, and 19 percent had fencing around the entire school.
· Most schools were located in neighborhoods that were generally perceived to be clean and safe, for example, 15 percent of schools were located in neighborhoods where trash was present.

Few differences were detected between students of varying socioeconomic levels, with one notable exception—students from the lowest socioeconomic quarter were more likely than students from the highest quarter to attend schools where graffiti was a problem (8 vs. 4 percent, respectively).

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006302

Posted by ronbo at 07:39 PM

NCES: Fourth-Grade Students Reading Aloud: NAEP 2002 Special Study of Oral Reading

This new NCES report discusses findings about fourth-grade students' oral reading from a special study that was part of the 2002 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading assessment. The results suggest that the three separate components of oral reading ability (accuracy, rate, and fluency) are very much related to each other and to reading comprehension, as measured by the main NAEP assessment. "Fluent" readers in this study were likely to read higher percentages of words accurately, to read the passage at a faster rate, and to have scored higher, on average, on the NAEP reading assessment than "nonfluent" readers. More than one-half of the students read the study passage fluently, with a fairly high degree of accuracy, and at a rate of at least 105 words per minute. However, a group of students whose average scale score and labored oral reading performance suggested they were struggling also demonstrated, on average, the lowest performance on measures of accuracy, rate, and fluency.

Learn more from the executive summary and major findings at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/studies/2006469.asp

Download, view and print the report as a pdf file at:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006469

Posted by ronbo at 07:36 PM

October 24, 2005

NCES: State Education Data Profiles

Search for statewide information in elementary/secondary education, postsecondary education, public libraries and selected demographics for all states in the U.S. You can select up to 4 states to compare at a time. In addition to getting statewide data you will also get data on U.S. averages and the ability to dynamically graph the results. The data used for this data tool comes from many NCES sources and has just been updated with 2003 public library information and 2004-05 postsecondary education information.

To use this data tool, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/stateprofiles/

Posted by ronbo at 05:44 PM

October 21, 2005

NCES: Independent Undergraduates: 1999-2000

NCES has just released the report, 'Independent Undergraduates:1999-2000.' This report provides a comprehensive look at independent students who were enrolled in postsecondary education in the United States and Puerto Rico in 1999–2000. Independent students are assumed to be financially self-sufficient and no longer dependent upon their parents to support them or finance their education. Many independent students work full time and attend community colleges or other postsecondary institutions that are geared toward career training in specialized fields such as health, technology, and business. Working, as many hours as they
do, independent students are more likely to enroll in postsecondary institutions part time. They are less likely than dependent students to apply for financial aid, and are less likely to apply for it on time, or before the typical May 1 deadline for state and institutional aid. Among those who do apply for aid, independent students are less likely than dependent students to receive state and institutional grants, more likely to receive Pell Grants and, although they are less likely to take out student loans, the average amount they borrow is larger. Being married or having children are characteristics common to independent students, and while being married can raise one’s income, having children can increase one’s living expenses considerably.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2005151

Posted by ronbo at 09:04 PM

October 20, 2005

NCES: Report on State Library Agencies

NCES has just released 'The State Library Agencies: Fiscal Year 2004' (NCES 2006-303). This report provides a statistical profile of state library agencies in the 50 states and the District of Columbia for state fiscal year 2004. The report includes information on governance, collections and services, service outlets and staff, revenue, and expenditures. The supplemental tables provide comprehensive state-level data. The data were collected through the State Library Agencies Survey conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

The report and the supplemental tables can be found at:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006303

For more information about this and other library surveys, please go to the Library Statistics Program home page at:
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/libraries/

Posted by ronbo at 10:36 PM

NCES: New NAEP Release: Reading and Mathematics Results for Grades 4 and 8

National and state-by-state results of the 2005 Nation’s Report Card in reading and mathematics, detailing fourth and eighth grade achievement on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) were just released.

Findings since the previous assessment in 2003 show:

* Fourth-grade students scored higher in both reading and mathematics.

* Eighth-graders scored higher in mathematics, but reading scores decreased.

* Many of the differences in achievement between Black or Hispanic students and their White counterparts have narrowed.

* Most states did not see a change in reading scores for 4th or 8th graders.

* Thirty-three states and jurisdictions showed an increase in 4th-grade mathematics scores.

Full results for the nation and states are available at the new initial release website at:
http://www.nationsreportcard.gov

Also now available is the new NAEP Data Explorer (NDE) where you can create statistical tables and graphics to help you find answers from all NAEP assessments. Explore the results of decades of assessment of students' academic performance, as well as information about factors that may be related to their learning. To use this powerful new tool please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nde/

Posted by ronbo at 10:31 PM

October 18, 2005

NCES: Advanced Studies Seminar on the Use of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) Database

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, will sponsor a 3-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) database. ECLS-B is designed to support research on a wide range of topics pertaining to young children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development across multiple contexts (e.g., home, nonparental care, and school entry). This seminar is open to advanced graduate students and faculty members from colleges and universities nationwide and to researchers, education practitioners, and policy analysts from federal, state, and local education and human services agencies and professional associations.

The ECLS-B training seminar will be conducted from January 11-13, 2006 in Washington, DC. Support for travel and lodging will be provided to accepted applicants. The application deadline for the seminar is November 18, 2005.

For more information, please visit the NCES website at:
http://nces.ed.gov/conferences/confinfo.asp?confid=78

Posted by ronbo at 06:12 PM

October 17, 2005

NCES: NAEP Mathematics and Reading 2005 Results Release Scheduled October 19

The Nation's Report Card for mathematics and reading 2005 assessments will be released October 19 at 10:00 AM EDT. Find out how fourth and eighth graders in your state and the nation are performing, and how that performance has changed since the last NAEP assessments in 2003 and over the past decade.

* Until the release time, check information in New & Noteworthy on NCES' NAEP website:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard

View the results at the time of release at the new release website,
http://nationsreportcard.gov

* Check back for more information on viewing a live webcast of the release from Washington, DC.

* Join NCES Associate Commissioner Peggy Carr at 3:00 PM EDT on October 19 for a StatChat--a live web chat about the results.

* In anticipation of the 2005 results, find out how your state has
performed on past NAEP assessments using NAEP State Profiles:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/states/

Posted by ronbo at 02:28 PM

October 12, 2005

NCES: Digest of Education Statistics, 2004 Now On-Line

NCES has just released the Digest of Education Statistics, 2004. This publication provides a compilation of statistical information covering the broad field of education from prekindergarten through graduate school. Topics in the Digest include: the number of schools and colleges; teachers; enrollments; graduates; educational attainment; finances; federal funds for education; employment and income of graduates; libraries; technology; and international comparisons.

To view the web enabled version of this document, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d04/

Posted by ronbo at 12:44 PM

October 07, 2005

NCES: A Profile of the American High School Senior in 2004

This NCES report, 'A Profile of the American High School Senior in 2004: A First Look. Initial Results From the First Follow-up of the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002),' presents initial findings from the first follow-up of the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002). ELS:2002 is the fourth major secondary school longitudinal study sponsored by NCES, closely reflecting the research purposes and design of its three predecessor studies, NLS-72, HS&B, and NELS:88. ELS:2002 began with a nationally representative sample of 10th-graders in 2002. In the first follow-up, this sophomore cohort was studied 2 years later (2004), and the sample freshened to provide a representative sample of 12th-graders. This ED TAB report summarizes the demographic and educational characteristics of the high school senior class of 2004. It also reports on the senior cohort’s mathematics achievement, their expectations for their future educational attainment, the importance to them of various institutional characteristics in choosing a college, and their values and plans.

Major findings:
About 69 percent of the senior cohort expected to complete college with a 4-year college degree.

Among the college-bound senior cohort in 2004, a greater percentage of Blacks (54 percent) than Whites (30 percent) rated low expenses as a very important factor in their postsecondary institutional choice.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006348

Posted by ronbo at 03:53 PM

October 06, 2005

NCES 19th Annual Management Information Systems Conference, 2006 (MIS 2006)

Come participate in the 19th annual MIS Conference to meet and share experiences with other MIS education staff from states, local education agencies, the Federal Government, and various associations. Learn from conference sessions and events on tried, true, and emerging MIS issues; participate in roundtables; and see demonstrations on current issues in the field. There is no cost to register and attend this event which will take place in Orlando Florida, February 22-24 2006.

For more information, to register, and to submit a session proposal
on-line, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/conferences/confinfo.asp?confid=19

Posted by ronbo at 02:15 PM

September 30, 2005

NCES: States: Fall 2004 and Degrees and Other Awards Conferred: 2003-04

This new NCES report presents findings from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) fall 2004 data collection, which included two survey components: Institutional Characteristics for the 2004-05 academic year, and Completions covering the period July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004. These data were collected through the IPEDS web-based data collection system.

Major findings include:
· Among the 6,548 Title IV postsecondary institutions, 40 percent were classified as 4-year institutions, 33 percent were 2-year institutions, and the remaining 27 percent were less-than-2-year institutions (table 1).
· During 2004-05, undergraduates attending private not-for-profit 4-year institutions paid $16,046 on average for tuition and required fees (table 3). Undergraduates attending private for-profit 4-year institutions paid $13,063 on average, and out-of-state undergraduates attending public 4-year institutions paid $12,088 on average for tuition and required fees. Public in-state undergraduates attending 4-year institutions paid $4,936 in tuition and required fees on average during 2004-05.
· Between 2001-02 and 2004-05, the average price of attendance for undergraduates attending 4-year public institutions and living on campus rose 22 percent for in-state and 23 percent for out-of-state students (table 4). Likewise, the price for undergraduates living on campus at 4-year private not-for-profit institutions rose 16 percent over the same 4-year period, while the price for undergraduates living on campus at 4-year private for-profit institutions rose 20 percent (table 5).
· For the 2003-04 academic year, about 2.2 million degrees were awarded by 4-year Title IV institutions and 542,177 were awarded by 2-year institutions (table 6).

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2005182

Posted by ronbo at 01:41 PM

September 27, 2005

NCES: Labor Force Participation in Formal Work-Related Education in 2000-01

This new NCES report examines the participation of labor force members age 25-64 in learning activities taken for work-related reasons, based on data from the 2000-01 Adult Education and Lifelong Learning Survey of the 2001 National Household Education Surveys Program (AELL-NHES:2001). The learning activities examined encompass all formal work-related learning, including postsecondary education, apprenticeship programs, adult basic education, and training courses and programs. The study found that over a 12-month period in 2000-01, 47 percent of labor force members participated in at least one work-related learning activity. Business and industry was the most common instructional provider for these participants, followed by postsecondary institutions. The most common topics studied were business, health, and computer science. Employer support and employment-related inducements were relatively common, with 80 percent of participants receiving some form of employer support, and 68 percent seeking an occupational credential, earning continuing education units, or meeting an employer requirement for participation.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2005048

Posted by ronbo at 01:29 PM

September 23, 2005

NCES: Public Libraries in the United States: Fiscal Year 2003

This new NCES report includes national and state summary data on public libraries in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the outlying areas, with an introduction, findings, and numerous tables. The report is based on data from the Public Libraries Survey, Fiscal Year 2003, and includes information on population of legal service area, service outlets, public service hours, library materials, total circulation, circulation of children’s materials, reference transactions, library visits, children’s program attendance, interlibrary loans, electronic services and information, full-time-equivalent staff, operating revenue and expenditures, and capital expenditures. The report includes several key findings: Nationwide, library visits to public libraries totaled 1.3 billion, or 4.6 library visits per capita. The average number of Internet terminals available for public use per stationary outlet was 9.5.

To download, view and print the full report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2005363

Posted by ronbo at 01:39 PM

September 20, 2005

NCES: U.S. Public School District Finance Peer Search

This NCES data tool lets you compare the finances of a school district with its peers. Peer districts are districts which share similarities among these characteristics: total students; Student/Teacher Ratio; Percent Children in Poverty; District Type; and Locale Code. This data tool has just been updated to include 2002-03 fiscal data and 2003-04 non-fiscal data. When you complete your search you will be able to generate graphs and download excel spreadsheets with your results.

To use this data tool, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/edfin/search/search_intro.asp

Posted by ronbo at 02:36 PM

September 12, 2005

NCES: Projections of Education Statistics to 2014

NCES has just released 'Projections of Education Statistics to 2014.' This report provides projections for key national education statistics on enrollment, graduates, teachers, and expenditures of elementary and secondary schools; and enrollment, degrees, and expenditures of degree-granting institutions. The report also contains state-level projections of public elementary and secondary enrollment and public high school graduates to the year 2014. The report notes that after increasing by about one-fifth between 1989 and 2002, enrollments in public and private schools are expected to increase at slower rates between 2002 and 2014. Enrollment in grades PK-8 is expected to increase by 5 percent between 2002 and 2014, while enrollment in grades 9-12 is expected to increase by 2 percent. Reflecting the increasing number of young people in the traditional college-age population, college enrollment is expected to rise by 17 percent from 2002 to 2014. The number of full-time students is expected to increase by 20 percent during this period, while the number of part-time students is expected to increase by 14 percent.

To download, view and print the entire report as a pdf file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2005074

Posted by ronbo at 08:06 PM

NCES: Build a Data Table Using Public Elementary/Secondary Data

This NCES application enables users to create customized tables of Common Core of Data (CCD) public school data using data from multiple years collected from five CCD surveys and a Census Special Tabulation. This tool is now newly updated with the addition of data from the 2003-04 school year.

To use this tool and to begin creating your own data tables, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/bat/

Posted by ronbo at 08:04 PM

September 06, 2005

NCES: 1992-93 Bachelors Degree Recipients and Their Opinions About Education in 2003

This new NCES report is the first publication using data from the final follow-up of the 1993/03 Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study (B&B:93/03). B&B:93/03 is a longterm study of 1992-93 bachelor’s degree recipients who were interviewed in 1993, 1994, 1997, and 2003. Respondents were asked about both the importance of specific aspects of their college education to them now and the usefulness of their undergraduate education as a whole to some broad areas of their lives. It presents the percentages of students who reported important relationships between their undergraduate education and their lives in 2003; the percentages who enrolled for further postsecondary education; and, for those who completed graduate programs, their satisfaction with those programs and the programs’ importance to their lives. These estimates are presented by baccalaureate major, undergraduate grade point average (GPA), control of institution, highest degree attained, and field of advanced degree.

By 2003, 43 percent of 1992–93 bachelor’s degree recipients had enrolled in a postbaccalaureate certificate, master’s, doctoral, or first-professional degree program. Of those, 63 percent had completed such a program, and 24 percent had left without completing any of these credentials. As of 2003, 20 percent of 1992–93 bachelor’s degree recipients had earned a master’s degree, 4 percent had earned a first-professional degree, and 2 percent had earned a doctoral degree. In addition, 10 years after college, one-fourth of these graduates had obtained an occupational license and 30 percent had obtained a professional certification in some field. As of 2003, 45 percent had participated in work-related training and 18 percent had taken classes for their own enrichment in the past year. About three-fifths of the group agreed that the quality of instruction they received as undergraduates (61 percent) and their undergraduate major field (58 percent) was very important to their lives 10 years later.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2005174

Posted by ronbo at 07:56 PM

August 25, 2005

NCES Releases a New Report on the Status and Trends in the Education of American Indians and Alaskan Natives

A new statistical report on the circumstances of American Indians and Alaskan Natives both in school and beyond has just been released by the National Center for Education Statistics, in the Institute of Education Sciences. Status and Trends in the Education of American Indians and Alaskan Natives presents a selection of indicators that illustrate the educational performance and attainment of American Indians and Alaska Natives, who make up 1 percent of the U.S. population. Over the past 20 years, American Indians/Alaska Natives have made gains in key education areas, such as increased educational attainment of its adult population. However, gaps in academic performance between American Indian/Alaska Native and White students remain, along with higher poverty, unemployment, and dropout rates.

Highlights from the report include:

Elementary/secondary education:
· American Indian/Alaska Native students were more likely to have dropped out of school than White or Asian/Pacific Islander students in 2003. However, they were less likely to have dropped out than Hispanics. Status dropout rates represent the percent of 16- to 24-year-olds who are out of school and who have not earned a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) credential.

· In 2003, American Indian/Alaska Native 4th and 8th-grade students scored lower on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading and mathematics assessments than White and Asian/Pacific Islander students. However, American Indian/Alaska Native 4th-grade students scored higher on NAEP reading and mathematics assessments than Blacks.

· In 2003, relatively more American Indian/ Alaska Native high school students took Advanced Placement tests than in prior years.

· American Indians/Alaska Natives scored lower, on average, than Whites on the SAT and the ACT in 2004.

Postsecondary education:
· Enrollment of American Indian/Alaska Native students in degree-granting institutions has more than doubled in the past 25 years. In 2002, American Indian/Alaska Native total enrollment was 60 percent female and 40 percent male.

· The number of American Indian/Alaska Native students earning degrees more than doubled for each level of degree between 1976 and 2003. However, American Indians/Alaska Natives were less likely to earn a bachelor’s or higher degree than their peers.

· In 2003, 42 percent of American Indians/Alaska Natives 25 years and older had attended at least some college.

More details on these findings and other related topics are available from Status and Trends in the Education of American Indians and Alaska Natives. To download, view and print the report as a PDF file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2005108

Posted by ronbo at 01:40 PM

August 18, 2005

Online Assessment in Mathematics and Writing: Reports From the NAEP Technology-Based Assessment Project,

NCES has just released 'Online Assessment in Mathematics and Writing: Reports From the NAEP Technology-Based Assessment Project, Research and Development Series.' This document contains reports from the 2001 Math Online (MOL) study and the 2002 Writing Online (WOL) study, both field investigations in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Technology-Based Assessment Project, which explored the use of new technology in NAEP. In the MOL study, nationally representative samples of fourth- and eighth-grade students were administered a computer-based mathematics test and a test of computer facility, among other measures. In addition, at the eighth- grade level, a randomly selected control group of students was administered a paper-based test containing the same items as the computer-based test. Results showed that the computer-based mathematics test was significantly harder than the paper-based test for eighth-grade students. At both grade levels, computer facility predicted online mathematics test performance after controlling for performance on a paper-based mathematics test, suggesting that degree of familiarity with computers may matter when taking a computer-based mathematics test in NAEP. In the WOL study, a nationally representative sample of eighth-grade students was administered a computer-based writing test and a test of computer facility, among other measures. The performance of this sample was compared to a second nationally representative group taking the same writing test in main NAEP. Results showed that average scores on the computer-based writing test were generally not significantly different from average scores on the paper-based writing test. However, as in the Math Online study, computer familiarity was associated with online test performance (after controlling for performance on a paper-based writing test), suggesting that the student’s computer skill level may affect online writing test performance in NAEP.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, or to browse the Executive Summary, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2005457

Posted by ronbo at 01:24 PM

August 16, 2005

NAEP 2004 Long-Term Trend: Three Decades of Student Performance in Mathematics and Reading

NCES released the results of the 2004 long-term trend (LTT) NAEP assessment on July 14. The LTT assessment provides results for the nation only, unlike the main NAEP assessments that also report results at the state level. First administered in 1971 and 1973 in reading and mathematics, respectively, the LTT assessment is given every four years.

Learn about the many important differences between the LTT and main NAEP mathematics and reading assessments by visiting:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/ltt_main_diff.asp

Explore the 2004 long-term trend (LTT) results online at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/ltt

Posted by ronbo at 12:35 PM

August 15, 2005

A Special Session of NCES Database Training for Research on American Indian/Alaska Native Students

In an effort to encourage research on American Indian/Alaska Native students, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, will conduct a 4-day advanced studies seminar on the use of the NCES databases for education research and policy analysis on American Indian/Alaska Native students. This seminar, sponsored by the Office of Indian Education (OIE), will focus primarily on the NAEP database containing both achievement scores for 4th, 8th, and 12th graders from public and non-public schools in various subject areas, and background information on the students who were assessed and their learning environment. In addition, the seminar will provide an overview of other NCES databases that contain information on American Indian/Alaska Native students.

This seminar is aimed at faculty and advanced graduate students from colleges, universities, and tribal colleges and universities. Education researchers and policy analysts with strong statistical skills from state, local, and tribal education agencies and professional associations are also welcome. This special seminar is only for those interested in the education of American Indian and Alaska Native students in the United States.

There is no fee to attend this seminar. NCES will provide training materials as well as computers for hands-on practice. NCES will also pay for transportation, hotel accommodations, and a fixed per diem for meals and incidental expenses during the training seminar.

For further information and to apply for this seminar, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/conferences/confinfo.asp?confid=165

Posted by ronbo at 08:09 PM

American Indian and Alaska Native Children

This new NCES report, 'American Indian and Alaska Native Children: Findings From the Base Year of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B),' provides descriptive information about American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) children born in the United States in 2001. It presents information on characteristics of their families, on children's mental and physical skills, on children's first experiences in childcare, on the fathers of these children, and on their prenatal care. The report profiles data from a nationally representative sample of children at about 9 months of age both overall, and for various subgroups (i.e., male and female, AIAN children living in different types of families, AIAN children living in poverty). This report tells us that about one-third of AIAN children live in poverty (34 percent), about one-third live in households where the mother has less than a high school education (34 percent); three-quarters live in households with two parents, and about 1 in 10 (11 percent) were born to teen-aged mothers. Nonetheless, AIAN children at about 9 months of age do not perform significantly differently from the general population of children in terms of early mental and physical skills, such as exploring objects in play, babbling, eye-hand coordination and pre-walking skills.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2005116

Posted by ronbo at 08:06 PM

August 09, 2005

Recent ICPSR updates and additions - August 08, 2005

Below is a list of new data collection additions to the ICPSR data
archive along with a list of released data collections that have been
updated:

NEW ADDITIONS:

4257 Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), 2003
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/04257.xml

4291 Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study, 2001
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/04291.xml

UPDATES:

2624 Central and Eastern European Eurobarometer 8: Public Opinion and the European Union, October-November 1997
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/02624.xml

3680 Los Angeles Homicides, 1830-2001
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/03680.xml

6190 Offender Based Transaction Statistics (OBTS) 1989: Alabama, Alaska, California, Idaho, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York....
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/06190.xml

8042 Offender Based Transaction Statistics (OBTS), 1979: Hawaii
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/08042.xml

8248 Offender Based Transaction Statistics (OBTS), 1980: California, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/08248.xml

8277 Offender Based Transaction Statistics (OBTS), 1981: California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, Minnesota, New York, Virginia
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/08277.xml

8408 Offender Based Transaction Statistics (OBTS), 1982: California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, Minnesota, New York, Virgin Islands, Virginia
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/08408.xml

8449 Offender Based Transaction Statistics (OBTS), 1983: California, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virgin Islands, and Virginia
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/08449.xml

8675 Offender Based Transaction Statistics (OBTS) 1984: Alaska, California, Delaware, Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/08675.xml

8911 Offender Based Transaction Statistics (OBTS), 1985: Alaska, California, Delaware, Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/08911.xml

9130 Offender Based Transaction Statistics (OBTS), 1986: Alabama, Alaska, California, Delaware, Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania....
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/09130.xml

9287 Offender Based Transaction Statistics (OBTS), 1987: Alabama, Alaska, California, Delaware, Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York....
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/09287.xml

9523 Offender Based Transaction Statistics (OBTS), 1988: Alabama, Alaska, California, Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska....
http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/09523.xml

You can also view a list of all studies added and updated in the last
ninety days by visiting the ICPSR Web site at http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/.

Posted by ronbo at 07:54 PM

First Generation Students in Postsecondary Education: A Look at their College Transcripts

This new NCES report, 'First Generation Students in Postsecondary Education: A Look at their College Transcripts,' uses data from the Postsecondary Education Transcript Study (PETS) of the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) to examine the majors and coursetaking patterns of students who are the first members of their families to attend college (referred to as "first-generation students" in this report) and compare their postsecondary experiences and outcomes with those of students whose parents attended or completed college. The results indicate that first-generation students were at a disadvantage in terms of their access to, persistence through, and completion of postsecondary education. Once in college, their relative disadvantage continued with respect to coursetaking and academic performance. First-generation status was significantly and negatively associated with lower bachelor’s degree completion rates even after controlling for a wide range of interrelated factors, including students’ demographic backgrounds, academic preparation, enrollment characteristics, postsecondary coursetaking, and academic performance. This report also demonstrates that more credits and higher grades in the first year and fewer withdrawn or repeated courses were strongly related to the chances of students (regardless of generation status) persisting in postsecondary education and earning a bachelor’s degree.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2005171

Posted by ronbo at 07:48 PM

Characteristics of Public School Teachers' Professional Development Activities: 1999-2000

Using data from the 1999–2000 Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), 'Characteristics of Public School Teachers' Professional Development Activities: 1999-2000,' shows how prevalent various features of professional development activities were among public school teachers. During the 1999–2000 school year, teachers were asked about their professional development activities during the previous 12 months. Some 59 percent of public school teachers participated in professional development focused on content in the subject matter they taught and 73 percent participated in professional development focused on methods of teaching. A majority of teachers reported receiving eight or fewer hours of professional development in either subject matter content or teaching methods. In terms of the format of professional development activities, 95 percent of teachers attended a workshop, conference, or other training session in the previous year, compared with 42 percent who participated in mentoring, peer observation, or coaching. Seventy-four percent of teachers participated in regularly scheduled collaboration with other teachers on issues of instruction. SASS asked school principals to report on how important various influences were on the determination of teacher professional development activities. More than half of public school principals reported a school improvement plan or state or local academic standards as very important influences on determining the content of teacher professional development activities; 26 percent of principals called teacher preferences a very important influence.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2005030

Posted by ronbo at 06:14 PM

New Publication on Adults Participation in Work-related Educational Activities

This new NCES report, 'Tabular Summary of Adult Education for Work-Related Reasons: 2002-03,' presents selected data on adults’ participation in work-related educational activities in the United States over a 12-month period from 2002-03. These data are from the Adult Education for Work-Related Reasons Survey of the 2003 National Household Education Surveys Program. Interviews were conducted with a nationally representative sample of the civilian, non-institutionalized population age 16 or older who were not enrolled in grade 12 or below. For the AEWR-NHES:2003 survey, work-related adult education was defined as both formal and informal learning activities that were done for reasons related to work. Findings indicate that during the 12-month period between early 2002 and early 2003, 40 percent of adults in the United States took part in one or more formal adult educational activities for work-related reasons. Also, 58 percent of adults who participated in adult educational activities for work-related reasons participated in informal learning activities for work-related reasons.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2005044

Posted by ronbo at 06:10 PM

Youth Indicators, 2005: Trends in the Well-Being of American Youth

NCES has just released, 'Youth Indicators, 2005: Trends in the Well-Being of American Youth.' This report contains statistics that address important aspects of the lives of youth, including family, schooling, work, community, and health. The report focuses on American youth and young adults 14 to 24 years old, and presents trends in various social contexts that may relate to youth education and learning.

Highlights from the report include:

-Although a performance gap in reading proficiency between 13- and 17-year-old white students and their black and Hispanic peers was still present in 2004, this gap was smaller than in 1975.
-The proportion of all 16- to 24-year-olds who were dropouts declined between 1998 (12 percent) and 2003 (10 percent). Between 1993 and 1998, the proportion of dropouts in this age group had fluctuated.
-College enrollment rates of 18- to 24-year-olds increased from 26 percent in 1980 to 38 percent in 2003; the enrollment rate of females increased more rapidly than that of males.
-While overall college attainment rates have increased, substantial gaps remain. Among 25- to 29-year-olds in 2004, 11 percent of Hispanics had completed a bachelor's degree, compared with 17 percent of blacks, and 34 percent of whites.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2005050

Posted by ronbo at 05:55 PM

August 05, 2005

New Publication on Adults Participation in Work-related Educational Activities

This new NCES report, 'Tabular Summary of Adult Education for Work-Related Reasons: 2002-03,' presents selected data on adults’ participation in work-related educational activities in the United States over a 12-month period from 2002-03. These data are from the Adult Education for Work-Related Reasons Survey of the 2003 National Household Education Surveys Program. Interviews were conducted with a nationally representative sample of the civilian, non-institutionalized population age 16 or older who were not enrolled in grade 12 or below. For the AEWR-NHES:2003 survey, work-related adult education was defined as both formal and informal learning activities that were done for reasons related to work. Findings indicate that during the 12-month period between early 2002 and early 2003, 40 percent of adults in the United States took part in one or more formal adult educational activities for work-related reasons. Also, 58 percent of adults who participated in adult educational activities for work-related reasons participated in informal learning activities for work-related reasons.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2005044

Posted by ronbo at 04:03 PM

Elementary/Secondary School Teaching Among Recent College Graduates: 1994 and 2001

This new NCES report, 'Elementary/Secondary School Teaching Among Recent College Graduates: 1994 and 2001,' discusses teaching in elementary and secondary schools, preparing to teach at the elementary/secondary level, and considering teaching among 1999-2000 college graduates as of 2001 (i.e., within about a year of completing the bachelor’s degree). It is based on data from the 2000/01 Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study (B&B:2000/01), a spring 2001 follow-up of bachelor’s degree recipients from the 1999-2000 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:2000). The report examines whether graduates who differed in demographic characteristics (gender and race/ethnicity) and undergraduate academic characteristics (types of institutions attended, college entrance examination scores, undergraduate grade point averages, and major fields of study) also differed in terms of teaching and teaching-related behaviors as of 2001. The report also compares teaching and teaching-related behaviors of the 1999-2000 cohort as of 2001 with those of the 1992-93 cohort as of 1994. The analyses indicate that 12 percent of graduates had taught in an elementary/secondary school in the year following graduation, and that teaching was more common among women, among graduates who received their degrees from public and from non-doctorate-granting institutions, and among graduates with higher cumulative undergraduate GPAs but lower college entrance examination scores. The proportion of graduates who had taught within a year of receiving a bachelor’s degree increased slightly, from 10 to 12 percent, between graduates who received their degrees in 1992-93 and 1999-2000, respectively.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2005161

Posted by ronbo at 03:55 PM

July 29, 2005

Student Reports of Bullying in 2001

The National Center for Education Statistics has just released 'Student Reports of Bullying: Results from the 2001 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey.' This publication uses data from the 2001 School Crime Supplement (SCS) to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) to examine the prevalence and nature of bullying. Bullying, as reported by students ages 12 through 18, is examined in relation to student characteristics, school characteristics, and criminal victimization. In addition, the report explores other behaviors that were reported by the bullied student, such as fear, avoidance behavior, weapon carrying, and academic grades. This report examines student reports of being bullied by direct (i.e. physical) means only, by indirect means (such as social exclusion and rejection) only, and by both direct and indirect means.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2005310

Posted by ronbo at 04:53 PM

New NCES Postsecondary Education Report

This new NCES report, 'Enrollment in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2003; Graduation Rates 1997 & 2000 Cohorts; and Financial Statistics, Fiscal Year 2003,' presents findings from the Spring 2004 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Web-based data collection. Data were requested from over 6,600 postsecondary institutions participating in Title IV federal student financial aid programs. The tables in this publication present enrollment data for fall 2003, financial statistics for fiscal year 2003, and student financial aid data for academic year 2002-2003. Also included are graduation rate data for the 1997 and 2000 student cohorts.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2005177

Posted by ronbo at 01:20 PM

July 27, 2005

NCES Education Statistics Quarterly-Vol. 6 Issue 3

The Quarterly offers a comprehensive overview of work done across all of NCES. Each issue includes short publications and summaries overing all NCES publications and data products released in a given time period as well as notices about training and funding opportunities. In addition, each issue includes a featured topic with invited commentary, and a note on the topic from NCES.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2005612

Posted by ronbo at 05:27 PM

July 25, 2005

NCES - Developments in School Finance: 2004

This report contains papers presented at the 2004 annual NCES Summer Data Conference. Discussions and presentations dealt with such topics as measuring school efficiency, analyzing the return on education investment, calculating education costs per student, and assessing the financial condition of school districts.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2005865

Posted by ronbo at 02:06 PM

July 22, 2005

NCES - UPDATED VERSION - Build a Table with Public Elementary/Secondary Data

The CCD Build a Table (BAT) tool allows users access to multi-year Common Core of Data (CCD), elementary/secondary public school information. Data tables can be created for schools, school districts, counties, states for school years 1986-87 through 2002-2003. This new updated release of BAT includes (1) much faster export to excel and between pages of data (2) ability to create reports with larger number of records and columns, and (3) increased categorical analysis options.

To use this tool to begin creating your own data tables, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/bat/

Posted by ronbo at 04:30 PM

National Forum on Education Statistics Guide to Education Indicators

The Forum Guide to Education Indicators provides encyclopedia-type
entries for 44 commonly used education indicators. Each indicator entry contains a definition, recommended uses, usage caveats and cautions, related policy questions, data element components, a formula, commonly reported subgroups, and display suggestions. The document will help readers better understand how to appropriately develop, apply, and interpret commonly used education indicators.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2005802

Posted by ronbo at 03:03 PM

June 24, 2005

Undergraduate Financial Aid Estimates for 2003-04 by Type of Institution

NCES has just released, '2003-04 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:04) Undergraduate Financial Aid Estimates for 2003-04 by Type of Institution.' This is the second publication based on the 2003-04 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:04) conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the U.S. Department of Education. NPSAS is a comprehensive survey that examines how students and their families pay for postsecondary education. This E.D. TAB focuses only on undergraduates, including separate tables for those who attended public 4-year, private-not-for-profit 4-year, public 2-year, or private for-profit postsecondary institutions during the 2003-04 academic year. It describes average tuition and fees, average total price of attendance, and the percentages of undergraduates receiving various types and combinations of financial aid and average amounts received, with a particular focus on grants and loans. The results show that 63 percent of all undergraduates enrolled in 2003-04 received some type of financial aid. About one-half (51 percent) of undergraduates received grants and about one-third (35 percent) took out student loans. The average amount of grants received was $4,000, and the average amount borrowed by undergraduates in 2003-04 was $5,800.

To download, view and print the report as a pdf file, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2005163

Posted by ronbo at 12:36 PM