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Assessments |
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NCES collects and reports information on the academic performance of the nation's students as well as the literacy level of the adult population. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is NCES' primary assessment of what American elementary/secondary students know and can do in academic subjects. This NCES program also assesses the proficiency of adults in performing basic literacy and mathematical tasks through the National Assessments of Adult Literacy (NAAL). NCES also participates in international assessments (see international). |
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Early Childhood |
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The NCES survey program for early childhood provides detailed information on children's health, early care and early school experiences through two cohorts, the Kindergarten Cohort and the Birth Cohort. This is one of the first nationally representative studies to capture a picture of early childhood development and educational experiences. |
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Elementary/Secondary |
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The NCES survey program at the elementary/secondary education level provides information on the condition of public and private education. Through the Common Core of Data (CCD) survey national, state, and local data on public elementary and secondary education is collected. Important additions to NCES' data collection programs in the last decade include the Schools and Staffing Survey, the Private School Universe Survey, and the National Household Education Survey. |
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International |
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Insights into the educational practices and outcomes of the United States are obtained by comparing them with those of other countries. 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. |
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Library |
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Libraries represent an educational resource that is available to individuals regardless of age, social status, or educational background. In an effort to provide more complete information on this aspect of the education spectrum, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) initiated a formal library statistics program in 1989 that now includes surveys on academic libraries, public libraries, school library media centers, state library agencies, and library cooperatives. |
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Postsecondary |
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The NCES survey program at the postsecondary education level provides statistical information used by planners, policymakers, and educators in addressing a multitude of issues. One major source of this information is the annual Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Survey which provides a variety of data on the nation's 9,800 public and private postsecondary institutions. Special studies of students, financial aid, postsecondary faculty, and bacehelor's degree recipients, doctoral degree recipients, transcript studies, and various longitudinal studies, complement IPEDS. |
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References/Other |
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In order to fulfill the NCES mission, "…to collect, analyze, and disseminate statistics and other information related to education in the United States and in other nations…," NCES must strive to develop high quality, customer-driven products and to be fully engaged with the education community to gain a full understanding of the data needs and interests of our customers. As such, several activities have been designed to fulfill that part of our mission including a statistical standards program which sets standards for all of NCES' activities. |
