K–12 Associations and Interest Groups

Included here are national and Texas organizations and interest groups whose activities support general K–12 education. Specialized educational organizations and interest groups and their Web resources are listed in the appropriate curricula Subject Areas.

National Associations and Interest Groups

American Association of School Administrators (AASA) Online

Provides information for school administrators.

American Counseling Association

Dedicated to the enhancement of counseling and human development.

American Federation of Teachers

Represents over one million teachers, school support staff, higher education faculty and staff, health care professionals, and state and local government employees.

American Library Association (ALA)

ALA provides leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.

Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE)

Dedicated to the advancement of vocational education.

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)

Provides information on the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, which is concerned with curriculum and other issues in education.

Center on Education and Work

Provides leadership in identifying and responding to issues affecting the connections among education, work, community, and the family.

Education Commission of the States

A national, nonprofit organization that helps governors, legislators, state education officials and others identify, develop and implement policies to improve student learning at all levels.

National Association for the Education of Young Children

This organization, in conjunction with the International Reading Association, has created a joint position statement entitled "Learning to Read and Write: Developmentally Appropriate Practices for Young Children." Believing that the most important years for literacy development are from birth through age eight, the IRA and NAEYC created this document for all who work with young children or are interested in public policy.

National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)

Provides a national voice for secondary education.

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

Establishes rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know.

National Career Development Association

A division of the American Counseling Association whose mission is to promote the career development of all people over their life span.

National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education (NCPIE)

Dedicated to developing effective family/school partnerships in schools.

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities

The national information and referral center for information on disabilities and disability-related issues for families, educators, and other professions with a focus on birth to age 22.

National Education Association (NEA)

Provides information on the National Education Association, which is dedicated to advancing the cause of public education in the United States.

National Federation of State High School Associations

Identify, join, and link to the major state interscholastic and athletic organizations.

National FFA Association

Preparing and supporting individuals for careers in the food, fiber, and natural resources systems.

National PTA

Promotes the education, health, and safety of children and families.

National School Boards Association

Fosters equity and excellence in public elementary and secondary education through school board leadership.

Texas Associations and Interest Groups

Association of Texas Professional Educators

ATPE is concerned with quality education in Texas through partnerships with parents, business, community, and government.

Just for the Kids

A research and data analysis organization that provides student achievement data on Texas public schools.  Included is a Campus-by-Campus analysis of data taken from the Texas Education Agency and a list of the High Performing Schools based upon the reading and math scores.

Texas Association of Community Schools

A professional association of small, rural and mid-sized school districts that brings together education leaders, information and financial resources and dedicated to the advancement of excellence for students in public education.

Texas Association of School Administrators (TASAnet)

Provides access to information for Texas school administrators and provides a jobline.

Texas Association of School Boards (TASB)

Promotes educational excellence for Texas school districts.

Texas Center for Educational Research

Conducts and communicates nonpartisan research on educational issues in order to serve as an independent resource for those who make, influence, or implement educational policy in Texas.

Texas Classroom Teachers' Association

The only Texas education association devoted exclusively to the needs of classroom teachers and other professional, non-administrative education personnel.

Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA)

The largest state organization supporting instructional technology and the integration of technology into the K-12 environment.

Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education

An 800-member statewide association providing opportunities for its members to communicate with and network with their peers in the profession.

Texas Distance Learning Association

A statewide organization for promotion of the sensible application of distance Learning strategies to maximize access, equity, and quality of educational resources for teachers and learners of all age

Texas Library Association

Actively supports the professional development of librarians in school, public, academic, and special library settings. Of note are the Bluebonnet Award and Lone Star Reading Program.

Texas PTA Homepage

Describes the Texas PTA, which is dedicated to improving education through parental involvement.