Useful Websites: Education

Adult, Nontraditional & Continuing Education

CAUTION! Before signing up or paying for any educational program, please check with the appropriate accrediting organization, such as the DISTANCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING COUNCIL (DETC), to verify that the school or program is accredited. A complete list of recognized accrediting agencies may be found on the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION website.

Distance Education Clearinghouse - A comprehensive and up-to-date directory of distance education information. Mostly aimed at educators and administrators, but links to Distance Education Catalogs, Certificate Programs, and other Distance Education Websites will be of interest to distance learners. (University of Wisconsin)

Distance Education and Training Council - The accrediting agency for correspondence study and distance education institutions. Includes a directory of accredited institutions, with descriptions and links for more than 500 different academic, vocational, and avocational courses offered by mail or by telecommunications.

Distance Learning Links - A directory of links to 'distance learning institutions offering degrees, certificates and courses in distance education and training. There are course offerings for the Bachelor, Master and Doctoral degree programs as well as non-credit courses for adult learners and others who wish to pursue a specific skill or interest.' (United States Distance Learning Association)

Eduscapes - A wide variety of online educational materials for 'life-long learners of all ages'. (By professional educators Annette Lamb & Larry Johnson)

Elderhostel - Elderhostel provides adventures in lifelong learning through educational travel, for adults age 55 and over.

College & University Information

CAUTION! Before signing up or paying for for any education program, please check with the appropriate accrediting organization to verify that the school or program is accredited. A complete list of recognized accrediting agencies may be found on the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION website.

CAUTION! Before submitting any personal or financial data online, first verify that the company or organization is reputable, and the internet connection secure. The library cannot guarantee the privacy or security of information transmitted via library computers.

GENERAL

Career Colleges and Technical Schools - Advice and resources for choosing a career college or technical school that will train you for a specific career, trade, or profession such as automotive technician, computer technician, hairstylist, medical assistant, or truck driver (US Department of Education). See also: Choosing a Career or Vocational School (FTC).

College Admissions Resources - Offers a helpful Prep for College Calendar (described below) and Steps to College Online Newsletter for college-bound students. Also explains what your rights and responsibilities are during the college admission process, which college admission process will best suit you, what you should know about Educational Consultants and Commercial Counseling Centers, and more. Also offers a Seal of Approval program to help students and families choose from among the growing number of admission counseling resources, including online services. (National Association for College Admission Counseling)

College is Possible - Advice on preparing for college, choosing the right college, and paying for college. (American Council on Education)

College Matchmaker Search - Enter information about what you want in a college, majors you're interested in, financial needs, test scores and other information, and get back a list of schools that match your needs and preferences. (College Board)

College Navigator - Search for colleges by name, geographic area, type of institution, instructional programs and/or size. College Navigator will provide a list of schools matching your criteria, along with statistics for each school on enrollment, costs, graduation rates, admissions, financial aid, accreditation, and more. (National Center for Education Statistics)

Common Application Online - This site simplifies the application process by offering an online form accepted as the application for admission at hundreds of colleges and universities; you can submit the same form to as many of these institutions as you choose.

e-Campus Tours - Hundreds of virtual campus tours of colleges and universities in the US. You must register for a free account (enter your name, grade, zip code, email address, and a password) to access the tours.

First in the Family - Practical advice, inspiration, and information for young people who will be the first in their families to go past high school (Whatkidscando.org & Lumina Foundation for Education). See also Know How 2 Go, described below.

HBCU Mentor - Provides information and admissions applications for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, to help students and their families select a college, apply for admission, and plan to finance higher education. (Xap Corporation)

Hobson's CollegeView - Includes useful sections on Historically Black colleges & universities and Christian colleges. Use the Site Map to find helpful articles on a variety of topics (commercial site). For more on Historically Black Colleges see HBCU Mentor, above.

Know How 2 Go new - Advice and information for students from middle school through high school on how to prepare for college and why they should go to college. Also includes advice for parents, teachers and mentors for helping teens succeed in school (American Council on Education et al.). See also First in the Family.

Next Step Magazine - Articles and interactive tools to help students through the college-planning process. Includes information for parents and counselors as well. (Commercial site)

Petersons Testing & Education Reference Center - Search thousands of college and graduate school entries, identify scholarships, take practice tests, and use test prep eBooks; includes practice tests and study tips for all kinds of standardized tests, including the SAT, ACT, PSAT, CLEP, GED, NCLEX, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, civil service, postal, law enforcement, and ASVAB; you'll need your library card barcode to get started. The Peterson's Colleges & Universities website also allows you to search and compare colleges & universities, and offers helpful articles on distance learning, admissions essays, test preparation, financial aid, and more. (Thomson Corporation)

Prep for College Calendar - This detailed schedule, covering freshman through senior years of high school, explains when to register for tests, apply for scholarships, submit college applications, and all the other steps needed for students preparing to go to college. (National Association for College Admission Counseling)

Princeton Review - Information about undergraduate and graduate schools, including law, business, medical, and technical schools, plus access to online applications, and advice on admissions & financial aid. (Princeton Review is a publisher of college-related books and provider [for a fee] of test preparation courses.)

Study Abroad: IE Passport new - Choose Country, Field of Study, Instructional Language and other criteria from the advanced search page to locate study opportunities in countries around the world. Includes a Student Center offering information and advice on studying abroad (Institute of International Education & EducationDynamics, commercial site). See also CIEE: The Council on International Educational Exchange new , an international education organization that creates and administers programs allowing high school and university students and educators to study and teach abroad.

COLLEGE DIRECTORIES

(The directories below are listings / links only. Searchable databases
of colleges are included in the General section, above.)

BRAINTRACK™ - International University Index - Contains thousands of links to colleges and universities in almost 200 countries. Click on the appropriate region to start, and follow links to the country, city, or institution you are looking for. (FutureMeld LLC)

Community College Directory - A comprehensive listing of links to community colleges nationwide, arranged by state; there is also an alphabetical list. (University of Texas).

College Source - Virtual library of over thousands of cover-to-cover, original-page-format college catalogs. This site charges a subscription fee, but offers a free trial period (registration required). Formerly College Catalogs Online.

Military Schools - Directory of accredited schools with military programs approved by the Department of Defense, with links to the schools if available. Covers colleges, junior colleges, and elementary / secondary schools.

N.J. College & University Directories new - Directory of colleges and universities in the state, organized by sector, with presidents, mailing addresses, and telephone numbers as well as links to home pages and to degree offerings. Also provides an alphabetical listing, listing by county, interactive maps, and separate listings of Community Colleges, Independent Colleges & Universities, Proprietary, degree-granting institutions, and Religious, Rabbinical, & Theological Institutions. (N.J. Commission on Higher Education)

U.S. Colleges & Universities Directory - Links to the home pages of U.S. colleges, universities, and community colleges, arranged alphabetically or by state. Also links to accrediting boards. (University of Texas at Austin).

COLLEGE RATINGS & RANKINGS

See: Caution & Controversy;
See also: Graduate School & Law School

Academic Ranking of World Universities - An annual ranking of the top universities in Europe, the Americas, and the Asia/Pacific region. Institutions are ranked by indicators such as faculty and alumni winning prestigious prizes or publishing in prestigious journals, as well as per capita academic performance. (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

America's Best Colleges - This annual rating of colleges, from US News & World Report magazine, also offers 'a detailed school directory, interactive tools, a step-by-step college admissions guide, articles, and more.' (Commercial site)

College and University Rankings Links [UPDATED LINK!] - A directory of numerous college ranking lists, covering both undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as schools outside the US. We recommend reading the Caution & Controversy [UPDATED LINK!] article, which discusses the validity of rankings. (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

College Results - Not really a ranking guide, this site allows you to learn about universities' records of graduating diverse groups of students, and compare the graduation rates of similar institutions. Data is drawn from the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics. (The Education Trust)

TheU.com - 'Uncensored College Video Tours and College Reviews. For Students, By Students.' A forum for students to share their opinions about life at colleges and universities throughout the country. You may need to register and obtain a password for full access. NOTE: Most of the videos posted are not actually campus tours but show various aspects of campus life, including concerts, lectures, sports events, student protests, and rowdy drinking parties. (Commercial site)

Washington Monthly College Guide [UPDATED LINK!] - Rates colleges on their commitment to national service. Updated in 2009. (Washington Monthly magazine)

FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIP INFO

CAUTION! Before applying for financial aid or scholarships, please see the Federal Trade Commission's advice on AVOIDING SCHOLARSHIP SCAMS.

NOTE: Some additional information on financial aid and scholarships may be found in websites listed in the General section, above.)

College Answer - Information on selecting, applying to, and paying for college. Formerly 'Wired Scholar'. (SLM Corporation)

College Savings Plans Network - Information on federal-tax-exempt college savings or 529 Plans. (National Association of State Treasurers)

FAFSA Online Financial Aid Application - Information on applying for Federal Student Aid. Apply online, or download an application. Use the FAFSA4Caster to begin exploring your financial aid options and get an early estimate of eligibility for federal student aid. See also Student Aid on the Web, described below. (U.S. Department of Education)

FinAid.org - A comprehensive annotated collection of online information about student financial aid. Covers scholarships, loans, military, and other student aid (commercial site: A Monster company). For additional online financial aid resources, see National Association for College Admission Counseling: Financial Aid Resources page.

Petersons Testing & Education Reference Center - Search thousands of college and graduate school entries, identify scholarships, take practice tests, and use test prep eBooks; includes practice tests and study tips for all kinds of standardized tests, including the SAT, ACT, PSAT, CLEP, GED, NCLEX, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, civil service, postal, law enforcement, and ASVAB; you'll need your library card barcode to get started. The Peterson's Colleges & Universities website also offers helpful resources on financial aid and more. (Thomson Corporation)

Scholarships.com - Free online database of over 600,000 college scholarships, grants, fellowships, and internships from thousands of sources. NOTE: Use of this service requires filling out a detailed personal profile questionnaire. FastWeb Scholarship Search lets you create a personalized profile that can be matched against expansive databases of colleges and scholarships. You can also find out about job opportunities and internships. Free registration required (commercial site: A Monster Company). For additional online financial aid resources, see National Association for College Admission Counseling: Financial Aid Resources page.

SmartMoney College Planning - Advice on financial aid, and saving and investing for college (SmartMoney Magazine). See also CNN-Money's Paying for College page. (Commercial sites)

Student Aid on the Web - This site provides information on obtaining Federal Student Aid (FSA) including grants, loans, and work-study funds. Also offers advice on choosing a school, preparation and applications, and attending college. (U.S. Department of Education)

Student Guide: Financial Aid from the U.S. Department of Education - The current online guide (PDF format).

GRADUATE SCHOOL & LAW SCHOOL

America's Best Graduate Schools - This annual rating of graduate programs, from US News & World Report, also offers school directories, articles, and research tools for the prospective grad student. Includes Business Schools. We also recommend reading Caution & Controversy (University of Illinois) which discusses the validity of rankings.

GradSchools.com - A searchable directory of graduate schools, including both unpaid listings and paid advertising. You can look up schools by a field of study, or search for a specific school by name. For most unpaid listings, only basic contact information and brief program description are provided. Also offers information on graduate school financial aid.

Graduate School Essays - Tips on writing effective essays for graduate school applications. (Writing Center at Rensselaer).

Hobson's GradView - Advice on choosing a graduate school, financial aid, admissions, and more. (Commercial site)

Jurist Law School Resources - A comprehensive directory of links to websites of ABA-accredited law schools, plus a law school news blog. (University of Pittsburgh School of Law)

Petersons Testing & Education Reference Center - Search thousands of college and graduate school entries, identify scholarships, take practice tests, and use test prep eBooks; includes practice tests and study tips for all kinds of standardized tests, including the SAT, ACT, PSAT, CLEP, GED, NCLEX, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, civil service, postal, law enforcement, and ASVAB; you'll need your library card barcode to get started. The Peterson's Graduate Planner also offers information about selecting, preparing, and paying for graduate school. (Thomson Corporation)

COLLEGE & VOCATIONAL TESTING (SAT, etc.)

College Board - Register for the SAT® online and practice online with actual SAT® test questions; includes info on PSAT/NMSQT®, AP®, and CLEP®. You can also use collegeboard.com to identify and search for suitable colleges, apply to college online, explore career options, and learn about college costs and financial aid.

ETS - The Educational Testing Service Network - Information on standardized tests such as the SAT®, AP®, GRE®, TOEFL®, CLEP®, and others, including online registration, test-taker guidelines, and practice tests.

Number2.com - Free customized online test preparation courses for SAT, ACT and GRE, with user-friendly tutorials, practice sessions, vocabulary builder, and more. NOTE: You will have to provide some personal identifying information to create an account (required for use of the site). (Xap Corporation)

Petersons Testing & Education Reference Center - Practice tests and study tips for all kinds of standardized tests, including the SAT, ACT, PSAT, CLEP, GED, NCLEX, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, civil service, postal, law enforcement, and ASVAB; you'll need your library card barcode to get started.

Yahoo Test Prep Center - Test-taking strategies and comprehensive practice problems for college and graduate school entrance tests, including AP, SAT, SAT Subject Tests, PSAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, and LSAT (from Yahoo and Peterson's).

GED Preparation

************ ADVISORY: Beware of Misleading Diploma Claims************

American Council on Education GED Page - The official GED website, provides general descriptions of the test and sample questions.

GED Preparation Resources [UPDATED LINK!] - Links to GED preparation materials available online. (University of Maryland)

Getting a GED - Answers to common questions about the GED: What is the GED? How Do I Get Ready for the Test? What is the GED Test Like? Who is Eligible to Take the GED Test? Why Do I Need a GED? and Will the GED Help Me Get Into College? En Español: Cómo obtener un GED. (The Beehive / One Economy Corporation)

Literacy Link - Online lessons, practice tests, and other materials to help you learn basic workplace skills and prepare for the GED. Free registration is required. (WKET-TV)

NJ Department of Education GED Information Page - Explains what the GED test is, how to register, where to take the test, etc.

Petersons Testing & Education Reference Center - Practice tests and study tips for the GED and many other standardized tests, plus test-taking tips and strategies; you'll need your library card barcode to get started. See also Peterson's Test Preparation: GED. (Thomson Corporation)

Test Prep Review: GED - Practice questions for standardized tests, including the GED. Also offers general test-taking tips. (Commercial site)

Learning Disabilities

The Alliance new - Gives technical assistance to 100 Parent Centers under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Parent Centers in each state provide training and information to parents and professionals to help them meet their children's special educational needs. Website includes links to Parent Centers in every state, as well as publications and other resources. Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) new is the statewide Parent Center for New Jersey.

Homeschooling Children with Disabilities - Links to information and support for homeschooling children with special needs. For additional resources on cognitive and other disabilities, see the main Family Village page. (University of Wisconsin)

LD Basics - Explains the basics about learning disabilities (symptoms, types, strategies), with special sections for parents and teachers. (Learning Disabilities Association of America)

Learning Disabilities - Information and tools for parents of a child with a learning disability (LD), or for parents who suspect their child may have a learning disability. (National Center for Learning Disabilities)

Teaching LD - Teaching how-to articles aimed at teachers and administrators of children with disabilities and children who are gifted. Presents methods and materials for classroom use as well as current issues in special education teaching and learning. Articles are in PDF. (Council for Exceptional Children)

Your Child with Learning Difficulties - Guidance for parents. (Originally created by Schwab Learning, formerly a program of the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation; now part of Greatschools.net, commercial site)

School Directories & Information (K-12)

Association of Boarding Schools [UPDATED LINKS!] - A searchable directory of Accredited College-Prep Boarding Schools throughout the United States, Canada, and abroad, plus information about different types of boarding schools, choosing a school, how to apply, and more. You can also browse schools by alphabet, girls schools, boys schools, coed schools, location, size, grades offered, military schools, and subject focus, as well as summer programs (nonprofit membership organization). Boarding School Review offers statistical profiles, some alumni reviews, and other tools to help families research college-preparatory boarding schools, mostly in the U.S. Includes links to school websites. The same company also operates Private School Review (commercial sites). See also Private / Independent Schools, described below.

Great Schools: New Jersey - Online guide offering statistical profiles of K-12 schools, plus advice for parents about school selection, navigating the system, and getting involved. You can also use the site to research schools in other states. (Commercial site)

NJ Blue-Ribbon Schools - 'The nationally-funded Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors schools that are models of excellence and equity.' You can find more award-winning NJ schools and educators on the Recognition Program home page. See also New Jersey Schools to Watch®. NOTE: Best Practices and Star Schools programs have been discontinued. (NJ Dept. of Education)

NJ School Report Card - Click on 'New Jersey School Report Card' for a profile of each public school in the state, with statistics on enrollment, faculty, class size, expenditures, test scores, computer use, etc. Or you can go straight to the South Plainfield schools report card (NJ Dept. of Education). NJ.com also has a simplified online presentation of School Report Card.

NJ Statewide Testing - Information and sample questions for elementary and high school students taking standardized tests such as the ASK and HSPA.

Private / Independent Schools - A searchable directory of private / independent schools. You can search by school name, location, school type, religious affiliation, sports programs, and other special programs (National Association of Independent Schools, a nonprofit membership organization). See also Private School Review (commercial site).

School Locator - Search this site to find schools in a specified geographic area. Provides statistical data such as enrollment and student-teacher ratio. Covers private and public schools, as well as colleges and libraries. (National Center for Education Statistics)

School Matters - Provides searchable data for all schools, districts and states across the nation, including detailed academic performance, demographic, and financial statistics. Features a side-by-side comparison option and rankings of America's Best High Schools (Standard & Poor's). For a quick overview of educational quality in each state, see Leaders and Laggards: A State-by-State Report Card on Educational Effectiveness (U.S. Chamber of Commerce).

South Plainfield Public Schools - Official home page for all the South Plainfield public schools, including the adult school.

Teachers, Parents & Homeschoolers - Resources

FACTS ON FILE: CURRICULUM RESOURCE CENTERS - Printable handouts on a variety of subjects, including history, geography, and science, for the elementary, middle school, high school, and junior college curriculum. Log on to FACTS ON FILE from our DATABASES page to use the Curriculum Resource Centers. You'll need to enter your library card barcode number to get started if you're logging on at home.

Achieve - A nonprofit organization working to help ensure that young people leave school with the skills needed to succeed in college or the workplace. Includes benchmarks of learning in various curriculum areas. 'Students, parents, teachers, employers and state education officials all can use [these] as an important tool' for analyzing the effectiveness of school and employment systems. Includes a free e-newsletter and information for each state.

American Homeschool Association - FAQs & links to homeschooling articles, essays, interviews, resources, book reviews, support groups, and more.

Annenberg Media - Instructional videos and teacher professional development programs for those with broadband Internet access, covering a wide range of subjects for grades K-12, college, and adult learners. You can also browse teacher resources by discipline and grade. (Free, but you must register to view the programs.)

A to Z Home's Cool Homeschooling - This comprehensive site contains links to articles, websites, and other useful resources relating to all aspects of homeschooling. (By a 'retired' homeschooling parent)

Back-to-School Transitions: Tips for Parents - Suggestions to help ease the transition from August to September and promote a successful school experience (National Association of School Psychologists). See also Back to School for brief, helpful health and safety information for parents at the start of the school year, covering common childhood illnesses, check-ups & immunizations, sleep, nutrition, travel to & from school, and backpack safety, plus links to related resources (Federal Citizen Information Center).

Back to School Activities [UPDATED LINK!] - Links to ideas and resources for teachers and homeschoolers starting off a new school year, including icebreakers, first-day activities, crafts, clip art, printables, and more. (Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers)

Blue Web'n - Online library of selected educational websites which you can browse by subject, grade level, content area, and/or format (tools, references, lessons, hotlists, resources, tutorials, activities, projects). (SBC/AT&T)

C-Span Classroom Resources - Instructional materials on civics, economics, history, current events, and language arts.

Cable in the Classroom - Commercial-free, educational video and web resources available free from cable TV networks to public and private schools. (A non-profit foundation from the cable telecommunications industry)

Character Education - Free resources, materials, and lesson plans to help teachers promote ethical values in their students. Includes character-building activities, discussions, and other resources, with a special section on character in sports (Live Wire Media, an educational media producer/distributor). Includes a Service Learning Primer, described below. For additional information and resources, see Character Education Q & A and Character Education Links (Character Education Partnership).

Core Knowledge® - Lesson plans and other resources for a core curriculum aimed at helping elementary and middle school students establish strong foundations of knowledge, grade by grade. Includes FAQ for homeschoolers. (By author / educator E. D. Hirsch, Jr.)

CyberBee - Curriculum ideas and related web resources for teachers and homeschoolers. (By Library Media Specialist Linda C. Joseph)

CyberSmart Curriculum - The CyberSmart School Program seeks to help educators and students in grades K-8 use the Internet safely and effectively while taking full advantage of the rich content available online. (Originally co-published with Macmillan/McGraw-Hill)

Discovery School Teaching Tools - Use this site to generate puzzles, quizzes, worksheets, & lesson plans. (The Discovery Channel, commercial site)

Doing What Works - 'A website dedicated to assisting teachers in the implementation of effective educational practices.' Covers the topics of Early Childhood Education, English Language, Math & Science, Psychology of Learning, and School Improvement, with research-based teaching recommendations, reviews of how actual schools are teaching, and useful tools to help you improve your practice. (U.S. Department of Education)

EDSITEment - 'The Best of the Humanities on the Web.' An outstanding collection of lesson plans, with links to online humanities resources from some of the world's great museums, libraries, cultural institutions, and universities. Browsable by category/subcategory and grade level; you can also search by keyword or phrase. (National Endowment for the Humanities et al.)

Education World® : Site Reviews Center : Archives - Reviews hundreds of sites by subject (art, history, math, etc.); for teachers, students, and parents. (Commercial site)

Educator's Reference Desk (EduRef) - Thousands of links to resources covering a wide variety of education-related issues. Includes lesson plans by subject, and access to the ERIC database of educational abstracts. (Formerly Ask Eric.)

Eduweb® Adventures - A collection of imaginative, interactive K-12 learning experiences created for museums, zoos, and other institutions; great for homeschoolers. Browse by subject or grade level.

ERIC®: Education Resources Information Center - Enormous searchable directory of journal articles and other materials on teaching & education. Links to full text are included where available. (U.S. Department of Education).

FactCheckEd - Lesson plans and related materials aimed at helping students acquire the skills to see through deceptive advertising in consumer products and politics. (Annenberg Public Policy Center, University of Pennsylvania.

Garden-Based Learning - Learning activities which provide children with opportunities for mastery, belonging, power, and generosity, while teaching them about science, nature, and economics (Cornell University).

Going to School - Information for parents of kids in Pre-K through grade 5. Explains what and how kids learn, grade-by-grade. Offers advice on choosing a school, helping your child adjust to a new grade or a new school, helping with homework, making friends, and more (PBS, commercial site). To help you decide whether your child is ready to start kindergarten, see Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten? [UPDATED LINK!] (University of Minnesota Extension) and Ready for Kindergarten? (Scholastic Inc., commercial site). For more great tips on helping prepare your young child for school, see Ready Web (University of Illinois). See also Countdown to Kindergarten [UPDATED LINK, opens directly to PDF document], Get Ready Activities new , and Ten Ways to Get Ready for Kindergarten new [Opens directly to PDF document]; also available in Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese, and other languages. (Boston Public Schools).

Heritage Teaching Resources - A variety of online materials about Black History, Women's History, Asian Pacific Americans, Hispanic Heritage, and American Indian Heritage (Smithsonian). See also Gale Free Resources for activities, biographies, links, quizzes, and timelines for Women's History, Black History, and Hispanic Heritage (Thomson Gale Publishing).

Home Education Magazine - Helpful homeschooling advice and information, plus links to book catalogs, curriculum resources, support groups, discussion boards, recommended websites, and more.

Home Fires - Online journal for homeschoolers with facts, articles, curriculum materials, links and more. There is a fee for some resources, but many are free. (Commercial site)

Home School Legal Defense Association - Information on current legal and political issues related to homeschooling; includes updates on state legislation. (Nonprofit organization)

Interactives - 'Provides educators and students with strategies, content, and activities that can enhance and improve students' skills in a variety of curricular areas,' including math, science, language, history, and art. (Annenberg Media)

International Ed [UPDATED LINK!] - A selection of online resources for teaching and learning about other cultures, places, and languages. (Asia Society)

Intute - Created by a network of UK universities and partners, Intute contains thousands of links to high quality educational resources on the web, evaluated and annotated by subject specialists. You can search the collection by keyword or browse by topic. NOTE: Some sites have a UK or European focus. (The Intute Consortium: University of Manchester et al.)

Jon's Homeschool Resource Page - Many useful resources for homeschooling. (By a software consultant)

LearnNC - A searchable collection of resources for K-12 teaching and learning, including lesson plans and teaching strategies, classroom text & multimedia, 'Best of the Web', and online courses for teachers and students. Covers arts, science, civics, geography, literature, history, and more. (University of North Carolina)

Library of Congress Webcasts - Another great site to find online videos on a wide range of topics, including biography, history, culture, education, government, literature, religion, and science & technology.

Math Education: Parent Resources new - Advice and information for parents to help their children succeed at learning mathematics. Also includes Tips for Teachers as well as lessons, activities, and other math resources for elementary, middle, and high school teachers. (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics)

Media Awareness Resources for Teachers - Resources for teaching media literacy, including a lesson library which is searchable by grade and subject. Curriculum standards are for Canada, but most materials should be useful to teachers, homeschoolers, and parents in the U.S. as well (Media Awareness Network). See Media Literacy 101 for additional lessons, activities, and other resources (University of Washington).

Montessori Homeschooling - Q & A for those interested in using the Montessori principles in homeschooling, with links to additional resources. (International Montessori Index)

New Jersey Homeschool Association - Includes legal information and FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) about homeschooling in New Jersey. (Volunteer organization)

NJ Statewide Testing - Information and sample questions for elementary and high school students taking standardized tests such as the ASK and HSPA.

NJ Teacher Licensing and Credentials - How to apply for teacher certification in New Jersey, including the 'Alternate Route' requirements. Separating or retiring military personnel in pursuing a second career in public education should see the Troops to Teachers page. For information on teacher certification requirements in other states, see Teacher Certification Map new (University of Southern California).

New York Times Learning Network - Free website offers the day's news and other information on current events, aimed at teachers, parents, and students in grades 3-12. Links within daily news stories provide instant definitions for unfamiliar words, and pop-up maps & info for most of the countries mentioned. The site also includes daily news quiz, lesson plans, discussion guides, word of the day, and more. See also New York Times Upfront (Scholastic Inc.) and NewsHour Extra (PBS).

Open Courseware Consortium - Find free online college-level course materials covering a broad range of topics, from universities around the world. Includes course overviews, assignments, readings, handouts, practice exams, and related resources. (Nonprofit educational consortium)

PBS Teacher Source - Thousands of lesson plans, activities, and other resources for teachers or homeschoolers. See also Teachers' Domain, described below.

PTA Parent Topics - 'Do you have a child who is the victim of bullying at school? Need some ideas for getting your family more physically active? Do you want to make the most of your next parent-teacher conference? PTA provides the resources and support you need to stay involved in the life of your child every day.' Categories include Student Success, Parent Involvement, Child Safety, Diversity & Inclusion, and Health & Wellness. (National PTA)

Research Channel - Online academic videos by a consortium of research universities and corporate research divisions. Includes lectures, symposia, and interviews in arts & humanities, business & economics, science & technology, health, social sciences, and more. Site does not work correctly in Internet Explorer 6. Another site offering free audio and videocasts of lectures, panels and events from academic institutions all over the world is University Channel, based at Princeton University; focus is on public affairs (politics, economy, law, media, etc.).

Schrock's Guide for Educators - A directory of the best sites for teaching and learning, arranged by subject and updated often. (Commercial site: Discovery School)

Science Education Gateway (SEGway) - High quality educational websites on space science, sun/earth, and solar system, with suggested grade levels (K-4, 5-8, 9-12) and content standards provided for each. The site is 'designed to help teachers locate and identify the resources they can use best and that fit their local curriculum and National Science Education Standards'. (University of California, NASA, et al.)

Service Learning Clearinghouse - Information and technical assistance for promoting learning through community service. (U.S. government program)

Service Learning Primer - A guide to the whys and hows of doing a community service project. Aimed at teachers, but material will also be useful to students planning a service project. Includes dozens of examples of projects for elementary through high school. (Live Wire Media, an educational media producer / distributor).

SkillsWise - Factsheets, worksheets, quizzes and games to help students improve their English and math skills. NOTE: This site uses British English, so some spelling and grammar rules will be different from those for American English. (BBC)

Smithsonian Education - Smithsonian educational resources for students, teachers, and families, with features on topics in art & design, science & nature, history & culture, and people & places.

StudyStack - Interactive site provides online 'flashcards' and other tools to help students learn facts and dates in history, geography, math, science, language, and medicine. (Commercial site)

Teach with Historic Places - A unique collection of lesson plans and other resources for using historic sites to teach students about history. Ideal for homeschoolers who can travel to the sites, but includes lots of resources useful for the classroom too. (National Park Service)

Teach With Movies - A guide to using movies to introduce students to 'major events of history; great achievements of civilization; extraordinary men and women who have shaped our world; works of music, dance, drama, literature and the visual arts; and ethical, social, and cultural issues.' There is a small fee for full access to learning guides, but basic info and helpful indexes are free.

Teachers' Domain - A multimedia digital library for the classroom offering video, audio, interactives, images, and documents from NOVA, American Experience, and other public television productions; with background articles for each resource, correlations to curriculum standards, lesson plans and other tools. Includes collections on Life Science, Physical Science, Earth and Space Science, Engineering, and the Civil Rights Movement; Language Arts, Social Studies, and Math will be added in the future. Free registration required for full access. (WGBH)

Teachers Network - A huge collection of lesson plans and other curriculum materials designed by teachers, for teachers. Browse or search by subject and grade level. (By a nationwide non-profit organization). Hundreds of additional great lesson plans and related resources are available free at Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL), arranged by subject (nonprofit organization). For another large collection of lesson plans, see The Lesson Plans Page, originally developed by students and faculty at the University of Missouri, with additional user-contributed materials (commercial site).

Teaching Tolerance - Classroom activities, teaching kits, and other resources dedicated to reducing prejudice, improving intergroup relations and supporting equitable school experiences for our nation's children. Mostly for teachers. (Southern Poverty Law Center)

WGBH Forum Network - Live and archived webcasts of lectures from Boston's leading cultural and educational organizations, on a wide variety of topics, including arts & literature, business, education, environment, health, history, politics, psychology, religion, science & technology, society & culture, and more. You can get a list of the latest additions, search the collection by keyword, or browse by category (WGBH & the Lowell Institute). See also The TED Talks video , 'inspired talks by the world's greatest thinkers and doers' on Technology, Entertainment, Design, Business, Science, Culture, Arts, and Global issues (nonprofit organization).

Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute Curriculum Units - Dozens of detailed lesson plans on a wide variety of themes; for elementary, middle, and high school grades.

Zoom School (Enchanted Learning) - 'An on-line elementary school classroom with lessons in geography, biology, language arts, and early childhood activities. (Commercial / user-supported site)