InformationAll PPLD facilities will be closed Monday, May 27, for Memorial Day.
PPLD.org and The Catalog may also be unavailable intermittently as we run server updates.

Education / Academics

  1. 4Tests Online Practice Test Site -

    Educational, computer, and professional exams.
  2. Abbreviations.com -

    Find acronyms and abbreviations for a wide range of topics, including computing & the Internet, academics & science, medical, business, governmental, military, and more.
  3. Academic Earth -

    Full video courses and lectures from the world's leading scholars. Includes a large number of subjects, from Art & Architecture, Economics, History, Law, Literature, Psychology, Test Preparation, and much, much more!
  4. Academy School District 20 -
  5. Accreditation in the United States -

    Find more information on what it means when a school is accredited in the United States. From ED.gov.
  6. AFS -

    International exchange opportunities for students, teachers, young adults and families.
  7. Air Force Academy -
  8. America's Best Colleges -

    Best 650 undergraduate colleges ranked based on "quality of teaching, great career prospects, graduation rates and low levels of debt." From Forbes.com.
  9. American English Online (AEO) -

    Information on teaching and learning American English, American culture, student exchange programs, and more. From the U.S. Department of State.
  10. American Experience -

    Watch over 250 films covering the American Experience from Dinosaur Wars to the Polio Crusade, to Amelia Earhart. Also included are teacher's guides, biographies, interactive maps, primary resources, timelines, and much much more. From PBS.
  11. American Medical Association -
  12. ASE - National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence -

    Test preparation for service professionals.
  13. ASVAB Online Course and Practice Tests -

    Includes ASVAB and links to many other exams, including CDL, GED, GRE, MAT, MCAT, Nursing, and more!
  14. Ayuda estudiantil en la web -

    Student Aid on the Web.
  15. BBC Languages -

    Online courses for French, German, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Portugese, Chinese, and more.
  16. Bullying Prevention / Safe Communities - Safe Schools -

    Includes prevention tips, Colorado legislation on bullying, common myths, etc.
  17. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs -

    Exchange program information.
  18. Career Colleges and Technical Schools -

    U.S. Dept. of Education - includes information on finding a school, paying for your education, special considerations, etc.
  19. Cheyenne Mountain School District 12 -
  20. Choosing a Career or Vocational School -

    From the FTC.
  21. College / University Course Catalogs -
  22. College America - Colorado Springs -
  23. College and University Rankings -

    Links to numerous rankings sites on general and undergraduate colleges and universities.
  24. College and University Rankings -

    How rankings are determined. From Wikipedia.
  25. College Board -

    College search, planning, financing, applying, register online for the SAT, PSAT, CLEP & AP exams.
  26. College Connection Scholarships -

    Scholarships, loans, financial aid.
  27. College in Colorado -

    Career planner, SAT/ACT test prep, timelines, virtual campus tours, college comparisons, financial aid information and much more.
  28. College Navigator -

    The National Center for Educational Statistics - search for colleges by type, location, programs/majors, tuition, test scores, religious affiliation, and more.
  29. Colleges and Universities by Country - Directory -
  30. Colorado by the Numbers -

    Online statistical abstract for the state of Colorado. Provides links to government information on topics such as crime, education, health, endangered species, immigration, poverty, taxation, transportation, and much more.
  31. Colorado College -
  32. Colorado College Catalog of Courses -
  33. Colorado Colleges, Career Colleges, and Technical Vocational Colleges -

    Also has links to colleges in other states.
  34. Colorado Course Catalogs -

    Links to PPLD Teens.
  35. Colorado Department of Education At-Risk Students / Prevention Initiatives -

    Includes links to programs, consultants and schooling alternatives for students who may be at-risk.
  36. Colorado Education Statistics -

    School district data, teachers' salaries, dropout rates, etc.
  37. Colorado GED Information -

    Preparation programs, testing centers, forms, FAQs.
  38. Colorado K-12 Academic Standards and Grade Level Expectations -
  39. Colorado School Nutrition Programs -

    Provides information about the nutrition programs from the Colorado Department of Education. Includes applications and information for the Afterschool Care Snack Program, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, National School Lunch Program, Provisional Programs, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program, and Summer Food Service Program.
  40. Colorado Springs School District 11 -
  41. Colorado Technical University - Colorado Spring Campus -
  42. Colorado Technical University Course Catalog -
  43. Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA®) -

    Includes databases and directories of accredited institutions and programs, overview of accreditation in the U.S., information on degree mills and accreditation mills, research & publications, and more.
  44. Coursera -

    Free online courses covering a wide range of topics, covering computer science, humanities, economics, and much more. Participating universities include Princeton University, Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and University of Pennsylvania.
  45. CyberSmart -

    Curriculum empowering students to use the Internet safely, responsibly and effectively.
  46. DANTES Subject Standardized Tests -

    Fact sheets and sample questions.
  47. Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs -

    From the U.S. Department of Education.
  48. Department of Education (Colorado) -
  49. Department of Education (U.S.) -
  50. ED Pubs -

    Free Department of Education publications consisting of over 6,000 titles. Includes Federal Student Aid forms (FAFSA).
  51. Education Atlas -

    Early childhood, K-12, Adult, Special, higher ed., distance learning, financial aid, etc.
  52. Education Place -

    Kids' games and activities for math, reading, science, etc.
  53. Educator Licensing -

    From the Colorado Department of Education.
  54. EdX -

    Free online education courses from MIT, Harvard University, and University of California, Berkeley.
  55. El Paso County School District Map -

    Links to individual school districts in El Paso County.
  56. Elbert School District 200 -
  57. Embark.com -

    College financial aid, scholarships, student loans, grants.
  58. English As A Second Language -

    Pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, listening exercises, quizzes.
  59. Everest College - Colorado Springs -
  60. Everything ESL -

    Lesson plans, teaching tips, resources for teaching English as a Second Language.
  61. FAFSA form -

    PDF file of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid - available in English and Spanish.
  62. Falcon School District 49 -
  63. Fast Facts -

    From the National Center for Education Statistics - includes information on assessments, early childhood, elementary/secondary, international, library, postsecondary, and more.
  64. FastWeb -

    Search for scholarships, colleges, internships and more. Requires free registration.
  65. Federal Student Aid Homepage -

    Includes information on funding your education, the FAFSA4caster, which estimates your eligibility for financial aid, repayment calculators, online FAFSA application, and more.
  66. Fiction Writing -

    Lots of good information about how to write fiction, getting published, connecting with other writers, etc. From About.com.
  67. FinAid -

    Scholarships, loans, grants, prepaid tuition, military aid, applications, calculators.
  68. Foreign Language Video Series -

    Includes videos teaching English as a Second Language, Spanish, German, and French.
  69. Free ASVAB Practice Tests -

    From Military.com.
  70. Free Scholarship Search And Information -
  71. GCF Learn Free.org -

    Over 250 tutorials and 750 free lessons on topics such as computers, email, Internet basics, Office products, social media, OpenOffice.org, Google, money, math basics, reading, career/job development, everyday life, and much more.
  72. GED Testing Service -

    Official site for the GED tests from the American Council on Education and Pearson VUE - provides testing center locations, sample questions, and more.
  73. Google Scholar Advanced Search -

    Locate federal and state legal opinions, scholarly articles and patents, and more.
  74. Google Search Education -

    Includes lesson plans and activities to help increase search literacy. Also has live trainings.
  75. Government Loans -

    GovLoans.gov is your gateway to government loan information - business, education, housing, veteran, agriculture, and disaster relief.
  76. Great Schools -

    Over 500,000 ratings and reviews on schools from parents nationwide, also find profiles for schools including test scores, teacher/students stats and more.
  77. Harrison School District 2 -
  78. Higher Education Database -

    From the Colorado Dept. of Higher Education. Database contains "historical, institutional, demographic, student enrollment and degree data."
  79. Hispanic Scholarship Fund -
  80. History Classroom -

    From History.com - has daily history facts, study guides, activities & curriculum, video & speeches, and more.
  81. Homeschooling Resources -

    Links to the Homeschooling section in Recommended Websites.
  82. HomeworkSpot -

    A free homework information portal. Search by grade and subject or go to links to many special features, reference tools, teacher resources, and more.
  83. Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2011 -

    Provides statistics for crimes occurring in school and on the way to and from school. From the National Center for Education Statistics.
  84. Infoplease Homework Help -

    Information Please has been providing authoritative answers to all kinds of factual questions since 1938 in a way that engages and entertains.
  85. Información en español sobre la educación -

    Spanish-language education information.
  86. IntelliTec College - Colorado Springs -
  87. IntelliTec Medical Institute -
  88. International Debate Education Association -

    Search for statistics, topics, and articles listing pros and cons on a large amount of themes. Also contains a link to Debatepedia, a wiki encyclopedia of debates.
  89. International Salon and Spa Academy -
  90. Khan Academy -

    Over 3000 videos covering topics in math, science, history, civics, art, and test prep. Also offers over 315 practice exercises, teacher resources, and much more.
  91. La lectura es fundamental (Libros gratis para niños, programas de lectura) -

    Reading is Fundamental (free books for kids, literacy programs).
  92. Lesson Plans Library from Discovery Education -
  93. Lesson Plans Page -

    Over 2,000 free lessons by topic and grade level.
  94. Lewis-Palmer School District 38 -
  95. Library Statistics Program -

    Academic, public, and school library information.
  96. Livemocha -

    Online language courses in 30 languages - includes helpful tips from native speakers. Requires free registration.
  97. MIT World -

    Provides on demand video of significant public events at MIT. Includes more than 800 videos covering a wide range of topics.
  98. Multiplication.com -

    Offers lesson plans, activities, and resources.
  99. Nation's Report Card -

    Information about academic achievement for elementary and secondary students.
  100. National American University - Colorado Springs -
  101. National American University Academic Catalog -
  102. National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) -
  103. National Center for Education Statistics -

    Includes data on libraries.
  104. National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) Information Center -

    State and county-level higher education data and information, including student success, policies, competitiveness, and cross-cutting information.
  105. National School Lunch Program (NSLP) -

    Find information about this federally assisted program that provides low-cost or free lunches to students. Includes application information, eligibility, and more.
  106. Nazarene Bible College -
  107. Nazarene Bible College Catalog -
  108. Oficina de Ayuda Federal para Estudiantes FAFSA -

    Free Application for Student Federal Aid.
  109. Online Degree and Education Programs -

    Directory of schools, online courses, certificates, and degrees. From U.S. News & World Report.
  110. Online Degree Directory -

    Research online colleges and universities.
  111. Online Resources for Finding College Grants and Scholarships -

    From U.S. News and World Report.
  112. Open Yale Courses -

    "Each course includes a full set of class lectures produced in high-quality video accompanied by such other course materials as syllabi, suggested readings, exams, and problem sets. The lectures are available as downloadable videos, and an audio-only version is also offered. In addition, searchable transcripts of each lecture are provided."
  113. PaperRater -

    Offers grammar and spell checks, proofreading, even plagiarism detection, writing suggestions, auto grader, and more!
  114. Peterson's College Search -

    Search by state, by major, or additional selection options. Also includes information on college types, tips on how to choose a college, test prep, admissions information, and scholarships.
  115. Peterson's Culinary Arts Schools -

    Professional cooking and restaurant management schools and apprenticeships.
  116. Peterson's Distance Learning and Online Degrees -
  117. Peterson's Guide to Graduate and Professional Studies -
  118. Peterson's Planner -

    K-12, college, grad school, online & continuing education, test prep, financial aid.
  119. Peyton School District 23-Jt -
  120. Pikes Peak Community College -
  121. Pikes Peak Community College Catalog & Schedules -
  122. Pima Medical Institute - Colorado Springs -
  123. PLACE Study Guides -

    Program for Licensing Assessments for Colorado Educators.
  124. PPLD Kids Web - Homework Help -

    From Kids Web at PPLD. A great place to find information on loads of subjects to enhance your lesson plans.
  125. PPLD Teens - Homework -

    From PPLD Teens at PPLD.
  126. PRAXIS Practice Tests and Online Course -
  127. Preparing for College: An Online Tutorial -

    From the University of Washington - includes links and information on assessing skills, considering different types of schools, funding options, finding role models, and more.
  128. ProCon.org -

    Find unbiased pro and con information on 42 controversial issues. Each topic includes a summary of the issue, a "Did You Know?" section, pro & con arguments, background information, and a video gallery.
  129. PTA (CO) -
  130. Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) -

    Find information on general writing (the writing process, grammar & punctuation, etc.), research and citation (conducting and using research, APA style, MLA style, and Chicago Manual of Style), professional writing, creative writing, job search writing, and much more.
  131. Puzzlemaker -

    Online puzzle generator: word search, math squares, crisscross, maze, cryptogram. From Discovery Education.
  132. Quick Guide to Safe Schools and Youth Violence Prevention Information from State Agencies -

    From the Colorado State Publications Library.
  133. Quizlet -

    Create learning tools in different study modes: flashcards, learn mode, scatter, speller, test, and space race. Search for sets already created, or create your own.
  134. Reading is Fundamental -

    Free books for kids; literacy programs.
  135. Recursos de la biblioteca de la Biblioteca Pública de San Antonio (Enlaces, sistema de clasificación Dewey, y más) -

    Library resources from San Antonio Public Library (including links, a Spanish-language Dewey classification system chart, and more).
  136. Remington College - Colorado Springs Campus -
  137. Resources for Parents & Students -

    From the Colorado Department of Education - includes information on performance & accountability, programs, district information, and reference resources.
  138. RWM Vocational Schools Database -

    Provides a listing of private postsecondary vocational schools in all 50 states.
  139. ScholarStuff.com -

    Colleges, financial aid, scholarships, student loans.
  140. Scholastic -

    Lesson plans, online activities, article archive.
  141. School District Comparisons -

    2000 Census National School District Demographics.
  142. School Matters -

    Information and comparisons on public schools from Standard & Poors.
  143. School View -

    From the Colorado Dept. of Education - view growth models, school performance statistics, a learning center, and more.
  144. Shmoop -

    Study guides and teacher resources for literature, US history, and poetry.
  145. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates -

    Interactive map tool allows you to find percentage of poverty by age, or median household income by state, county, unified and elementary school districts, or unified and secondary school districts. From the U.S. Census Bureau.
  146. Student Aid Publications -

    Includes a college preparation checklist, financial aid fact sheets, FAFSA filing options and links, loan information, getting ready for college, consumer protection, etc.
  147. Teacher Certification Requirements for the 50 states -
  148. TEDTalks -

    Free videos of talks and performances at TED conferences, covering a wide range of topics.
  149. Test Prep Review -

    Free practice tests for GED, GRE, CDL, ACT, NCLEX, MSAT, ASVAB, et al.
  150. The NEA Almanac of Higher Education -

    From the National Education Association.
  151. Tips for College Bound Students with Diagnosed Learning Problems -

    From LD Online - includes articles on college planning, questions & answers, recommended books, websites, and forums.
  152. Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy - Colorado Springs -
  153. Troy University - Colorado Springs Site -
  154. Troy University Academic Catalogs -
  155. U.S. Department of Education Student Guide -

    FAFSA, student loans and grants.
  156. U.S. News & World Report: America's Best Colleges -
  157. U.S. News & World Report: America's Best Graduate Schools -
  158. U101 College Search -

    Links to almost 4000 college, community college, and university websites in the U.S. and Canada.
  159. Udacity -

    Free online courses including computer science, logic & discrete mathematics, programming languages, design of computer programs, algorithms, software testing, intro to physics, web application engineering, artificial intelligence, intro to statistics, and applied cryptography.
  160. University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) -
  161. University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) Course Information -
  162. University of Phoenix - Southern Colorado Campus -
  163. University of Phoenix Program Finder -
  164. University of the Rockies -
  165. University of the Rockies Academic Catalog -
  166. USGS Education -

    Find education resources from the USGS for Grades K-6, 7-12, or Undergraduate. Includes online lectures, videos & animations of popular topics, maps, images, and more.
  167. Web U.S. Higher Education -

    Regionally accredited institutions of higher education in the U.S.
  168. Western Undergraduate Exchange -
  169. Widefield School District 3 -
  170. Worldwide Classroom -

    "Consortium for International Education & Multicultural Studies."
  171. YouTube EDU -

    Videos and channels from YouTube college and university partners, including Dartmouth, Stanford, USC, and MIT.
  172. ¡Colorín Colorado! (información para que padres que quieren ayudar a sus hijos a leer) -

    Information for Spanish-speaking parents to help kids learn to read.