Research Guides: Teacher Education Resources: Reference

What You'll Find Here

Reference materials, such as encyclopedias, handbooks, and dictionaries, are useful for finding background information, statistics, theories, and more. Check out some of the resources highlighted on this page.

Find Reference E-Books

Use these databases to access online reference materials. Get started by clicking a logo below.

Find Education Statistics

The following are popular sources for finding education data and statistics. Many are produced by government agencies.

Digest of Education Statistics (NCES)
Offers statistical information covering the broad field of American education from Pre-K through graduate school.
EdData (CDE)
Fiscal, demographic, and performance data on California’s K-12 Schools.
Education (U.S. Census Bureau)
Provides information on a variety of educational topics, from educational attainment and school enrollment to school costs and financing.
Fast Facts (NCES)
Offers concise information on a range of educational issues, from early childhood to adult learning.
Nation's Report Cards
Ongoing assessment of what U.S. students know and can do in different subjects.
Public School Review
Offers free, detailed profiles of USA public schools and their surrounding communities.

Find Statistics

While statistics can sometimes be found in articles, they are often gathered and reported in different formats. The following resources may help.

Statista This link opens in a new window

Why Use Reference Books?

Using the right reference materials helps you to:

Better frame your research question
Identify key trends
Identify key individuals in developing major concepts of the field
Identify key scholars who write in the discipline
Use authoritative sources

SAGE Research Methods

SAGE Research Methods This link opens in a new window

Find resources to answer your research methods / statistics questions