A wide range of facts, figures, and background information about the operation of schools in the United States is collected in this reference work. Material on various topics is presented in the form of essays, lists, statistical tables, charts, and brief descriptive articles. Among the topics addressed are efforts toward educational reform, current issues and trends in education, the character and history of American education, enrollment trends, teacher characteristics and employment trends, microcomputer use, educational finance, and the status of education in each of the states. Other topics are major national educational organizations, periodicals, and significant individuals; important federal agencies and programs; other national programs; and recent court decisions affecting school law. Additional topics include television, libraries, public relations, significant dates, and even jokes and quotes with educational themes. (PGD)