Government Publications For Educators
Ever find yourself needing a publication that speaks on a specific topic, but not sure where to look? Many government sites provide outstanding pamphlets and reports for educators to use both as a reference and to integrate into curriculum. Here are three good starting points.
U.S. Department of Education Publications
A wealth of knowledge is available for educators on the U.S. Department of Education website. The publications cover a wide range of topics and are great for both educators and parents. There are several categories under which to find useful publications.
- ED Newsletters – You’ll stay up to date on everything happening in education. You can subscribe to the daily feed, read about education research, and find resources for working in low-performing schools.
- Helping Your Child – Good tips with lessons and activities for kids aimed at helping them succeed at school and life. Educators can get a lot of use from this section that is marketed toward parents.
- Innovations in Education – A book series that highlightsNo Child Left Behind. Lots of talk about charter and magnet schools, while information about teacher certification and parent involvement is also provided.
- Annual Plans & Reports – a Find the latest reports for U.S. Department of Education programs and initiatives. You’ll gain a better understanding of the goals and intended outcomes of each.
- Recursos en Español – A large selection of resources available for Spanish speaking educators. Many of the other sections above also have Spanish versions available.
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) – Education Publications
UNESCO provides several educational themes on the left hand side that should get you pointed in the right direction for whatever you might be looking for. Or you can search by simply entering keywords into the search box.
By choosing one of the themes on the left side of the page, you’ll be taken to a new page that more clearly defines the theme and provides a plethora of information. The latest news stories about the theme can be found in the main section of the page. Along the right-hand side are links to publications you’ll find helpful as well. Topics include early childhood, primary education, secondary education, higher education, literacy, HIV & AIDS education, and teacher education.
Government Printing Office (GPO)
If you’re looking for any publication (both print and electronic) distributed by the legislative, executive, or judicial branches of the U.S. government, GPO is your best resource as a starting point. There are over 500,000 records since the project started in 1976, with updates happening every day. Publications dating back to the late 1800s will eventually be included.
Search results provide in-depth descriptions of the files available. If they’re available online, a link is also provided. If results are available through the federal depository library, you can click to locate the nearest library. Searching by publication is also available, with periodicals, serials, Internet publications and congressional publications all available for further review.
Narrow searches to a specific format, such as maps or any of the collections mentioned above, are also available. When you find the article you want, you can email the information to yourself or add it to “My Bookshelf” – a temporary storage location for your listings you find during your Internet browsing session.
