Databases

• Testing and Education Research Center: Accessible over the web with your SMPL card, this database contains information about private schools, colleges, graduate schools, vocational schools, and distance learning programs, as well as test preparation materials, including many online practice tests.
• RAND California: Full access to this source is available only at the Library. It contains statistics, including many relevant to California educational issues such as class size. Much of the data is available at the national, state, county, city, and zip code levels; there is also access to the full text of some Rand documents on education topics.

Local Institutions

• Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District
• Los Angeles Unified School District
• Santa Monica College
• Emeritus College:  a program of Santa Monica College for seniors and other community members.
• Yahoo List of K -12 Public Schools in LA County

General Education Sites

• Educator’s Reference Desk: The Information Institute of Syracuse provides lesson plans, links to online education information, and question archives.
• ERIC Online: The U.S. Department of Education’s Educational Resources Information Center, a database of education literature.
• National Center for Education Statistics: NCES is the primary U.S. government entity for collecting and analyzing education data.
• National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition and Language Instruction Educational Programs: Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, this organization collects, analyzes, and disseminates information relating to the effectiveness of education of linguistically and culturally diverse learners in the U.S.

Testing

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
• MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) 
• GRE (Graduate Record Exam)
• CLEP (College-Level Examination Program)
• CBEST (California Basic Educational Skills Test)
• CSET (California Subject Examinations for Teachers
• LSAT (Law School Admission Test)
• SAT and Subject Tests
• PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test)
• AP (Advanced Placement tests)
• CAHSEE (California High School Exit Exam): Beginning with the class of 2006, all public school students will be required to pass the exam to earn a high school diploma.

Primary & Secondary School Rankings & Profiles

• California Department of Education Language Census The California Department of Education collects language census data annually about English learner students and fluent English-proficient students attending the state’s public schools (K-12) in this report that provides demographic information.
• California Standardized Testing and Accountability: California’s Department of Education’s page on California tests.
• Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR): This multiple-choice test given to all students in grades 2 through 11 is designed to show how California students perform in comparison to students across the country. This site includes results by school, district, and county and the California Reading List.
• GreatSchools.net: A non-profit online guide to K-12 public, private, and charter schools nationwide with detailed profiles on California schools.
• School Wise Press: school rankings, including SAT scores and STAR test results, plus a virtual library on California education issues.
• schoolresults.org: academic performance of elementary, middle and high schools in "No Child Left Behind" programs.

College Information

• Community-College.org: Provides links to community college websites by state.
• U.S. News and World Report’s College Rankings: Offers the well-known college rankings published annually by U.S. News and World Report as well as tips on choosing, applying to, and financing college.
• College Answers: Sallie Mae provides this site on college planning, also includes information on study abroad and distance learning.
• Colleges and Universities that have Closed, Merged, or Changed their Names:  A comprehensive directory compiled by the Director of Institutional Research at Westminster College.

Financial Aid Help

• Fin Aid, the SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid: Includes a free searchable guide to student financial aid and scholarships, financial aid calculators, and links to financial aid forms.
• FAFSA Free Application for Student Aid.  Financial aid for students planning post-secondary education.  Site includes FAFSA forms and information about important deadlines.
• U.S. Department of Education Financial Aid site:  The starting point for information on federal student financial assistance, with annotated lists of resources. Includes information on preparing for higher education, choosing a school, applying for admission, types of funding, and repaying loans.  Federal Student Aid, part of the Department of Education Site, concentrates on planning, selecting, and applying for financial aid.

Tutoring, Literacy, Study Abroad, and Distance Education

• Study Abroad: Educational Directories Unlimited’s listings of overseas study programs for high school and college students with practical information and advice about foreign travel.
• Santa Monica Public Library’s Homework Help
• Literacy Network of Greater Los Angeles: Lists literacy providers, resources, and volunteer opportunities.
• Elderhostel: A popular continuing education resource for seniors.
• Shaw Guide: A searchable directory of more than 5,300 learning vacation and creative career programs worldwide.
• California Virtual Campus:  Distance education courses and programs from California institutions.
• Studyabroad.com: International study abroad program directories, links to hundreds of study abroad program home pages.

On the Bookshelf

Education resources in the Reference Collection of the Main Library include:

• School Profiles for the Santa Monica – Malibu School District: Compiled and regularly updated from California Department of Education data, reports are approximately 8 pages per school, providing current data on school characteristics, test results, equipment and resources, staff and demographics.
• California Public School Directory is prepared annually by the California Department of Education and includes contact information for all public schools and programs in California from the Elementary through the University level.
• Handbook of Private Schools is an annual descriptive survey of independent Elementary through High School education in the United States and Canada. Several paragraphs describe each school arranged by state within regional sections of the country.
• Private Independent Schools is a guide to elementary and secondary schools in the U.S. and abroad. Descriptions are given for boarding and day schools, nursery through grade 12, and a postgraduate year. Summer programs from academic enrichment and remediation to travel and sports are also described.
• California Colleges and Universities is a guide to California’s degree granting postsecondary institutions and their programs.
• College Blue Book is a six-volume set consisting of Narrative Descriptions, Tabular Data, Degrees Offered by College & Subject, Occupational Education, Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants, & Loans, and Distance Learning
• Higher Education Directory contains listings of accredited, degree granting institutions of postsecondary education in the U.S. which meet Department of Education eligibility requirements. FICE identification numbers are found here.
• Peterson’s Graduate & Professional Programs is an annual guide to graduate and professional programs offered by accredited colleges and universities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Africa.
• Peterson’s 2 Year Colleges is an annual, comprehensive guide to information on 2-year undergraduate institutions in the U.S. and Canada. It is similar in format to Peterson’s Four-Year Colleges.
• Petersons Colleges with Programs for Students with Learning Disabilities or Attention Deficit Disorders is a guide to universities, 4-year colleges, and 2-year colleges. It distinguishes between institutions that offer comprehensive programs designed specifically for students with learning disabilities and colleges that offer special but not comprehensive programs.
• Rugg’s Recommendations on the Colleges gives recommendations of undergraduate programs and miscellaneous majors for 760 colleges in the U.S.
• Directory of Financial Aids for Women gives information about the special resources set aside for women. Information is provided for scholarships, fellowships, loans, grants, awards, prizes, internships, and financial assistance to special population groups.
• Financial Aid For… describes funding opportunities for specific ethnic groups. There are volumes for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans.
• Grants Register is comprehensive survey of awards intended for students at or above the postgraduate level, or for those who require further professional or advanced vocational training.
• Scholarships, Fellowships and Loans provides access to over 6,000 sources of education-related financial aid for students and professional at all levels of study from undergraduate and vocational/technical to post doctorate and professional study.
• Elderhostel United States & Canada Catalog and Elderhostel International Catalog: These periodicals published by the non-profit educational organization Elderhostel describe inexpensive short-term academic programs hosted by educational institutions around the world.
• Guide to Distance Learning Programs: this Peterson's guide provides information about accredited college and university programs available through television, computer, videocassette, and audiocassette.
• Academic Year Abroad offers information on study abroad programs that take place during the academic year.
• International Handbook of Universities provides information on over 5,000 university-level institutions worldwide.