In response to its mandate to “collect and disseminate statistics and other data related to education in the United States” and the need for policy-relevant, nationally representative longitudinal samples of elementary and secondary students, NCES instituted the secondary longitudinal studies program. The aim of this continuing program is to study the educational, vocational, and personal development of students at various stages in their educational careers and the personal, familial, social, institutional, and cultural factors that may affect that development. NCES (and ELS:2002 and HSLS:09) is authorized by section 406(b) of the General Education Provision Act (20 U.S.C. 1221e) as amended by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002.
Roll over the points below to see when each wave of data collection occurred (open circles represent ongoing or planned collections).
Click here to return to the Secondary Longitudinal Studies Program page.
