September 2013

Since late August the National Center for Education Statistics has released a number of reports of significance to the education research community, spanning early childhood to postsecondary education:

·       TIMSS 2011 U.S. National Public-Use and Restricted-Use Datasets. U.S. versions of the 2011 International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) on fourth- and eighth-graders, with math and science achievement data and questionnaire responses from students, teachers, and schools. These versions provide U.S.-specific information not included in the international TIMSS database, for example on student race/ethnicity and percentage of public school students eligible for the federal free and reduced-price lunch program. The public-use data products can be downloaded at http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2013038. For the restricted-use data, see http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/licenses.asp on how to obtain a license.

·       Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary School Districts: School Year 2010–11 (Fiscal Year 2011). A report of data on local education agencies (LEA) from the LEA Finance Survey of the Common Core of Data, including the national median revenues per pupil in FY 2011 as compared with FY 2010; expenditures for instruction, support services, and other functions; and federal funding for local education agencies. For the full report, visit http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2013344.

·       Early Childhood Program Participation, From the National Household Education Surveys Program of 2012. Findings from the Early Childhood Program Participation Survey on children’s nonparental care arrangements, for example in a private home with relatives or nonrelatives or in a day care center, preschool, or prekindergarten. The report includes parents’ reasons for choosing particular care arrangements and their participation in learning activities with their children. For the full report, visit http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2013029.

·       Parent and Family Involvement in Education, From the National Household Education Surveys Program of 2012. Findings from the Parent and Family Involvement in Education Survey on children enrolled in public or private schools for kindergarten through 12th grade or homeschooled for those grades. The report covers various aspects of parents’ involvement in education, such as help with homework, family activities, and parent involvement at school; for homeschooled students it includes students’ homeschooling experiences, sources of curriculum, and the reasons for homeschooling. For the full report, visit http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2013028.

·       Data and Report From the 2011–12 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study. Report based on a comprehensive study of U.S. undergraduate and graduate students receiving financial aid. The data include student characteristics; percentages of students who received various types of aid, such as grants, loans, work-study wages, and veterans’ benefits; and average dollar amounts for types of aid and total aid per student. For the full report, visit http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2013165.