*Start Here: Elementary, Middle & Secondary Teacher Education (EMSTEd)

The library subscribes to several research and resource databases where you can find full text articles and other research materials related to K-12 education.

More Education-related databases can be found in the Libraries' A-Z database listing.

Here are some tips for searching for information and resources for K-12 education:

• Search with Keywords
  • A good way to start a search in a research database is to use keywords related to your topic. Think about alternative terms and different ways researchers, academics, and professionals might discuss your topic.
    • Example: if you are interested in research on elementary education, you may want to also include "primary school," "primary education," and "K-5 education" in your search query.
• Advanced Searches
  • You can also use nested connectors, also known as Boolean Operators (like AND, OR, NOT) and quotation marks for specific phrases to make your search more precise
• Sort with Filters
  • Databases have different search features, but will usually include filters and advanced search options to narrow your results by year, document type, subject, etc.
• Distinguish the Source Type
  • You may be required to identify evidence-based and/or peer-reviewed articles. However, it also important to understand the differences between sources types, including magazines, trade journals, and scholarly publications.

During your search process, if you discover items UofL does not own, you can request it through a free service called Interlibrary Loan.

You should familiarize yourself with the educator certification process for the state in which you are most interested in teaching. For Kentucky, that process is outlined on the state's Department of Education website. As part of the process, potential educators in Kentucky will need to pass the Praxis® assessments for EACH area of certification being sought as well as the Principles of Learning and Teaching test for the desired grade range. 

UofL's EBSCO Learning Express Library provides access to Praxis® Core and Subject Assessment prep materials, including practice tests, interactive microlessons, and more.

Note: Some of the currently available practice and prep materials in EBSCO's Learning Express Library's may have older test codes. For example, the Elementary Education subjects materials are for the 5001 series curriculum, which was updated in 2024 and will again be redesigned and replaced by the Elementary Education Fundamentals tests in Spring 2026. You can learn more about and compare the new tests on the Praxis website.

As stated on the Kentucky Department of Education's website, "The Kentucky Academic Standards (KAS) contain the minimum required standards that all Kentucky students should have the opportunity to learn before graduating from Kentucky high schools." The standards address what elementary, middle, and secondary teachers should aim to teach, however, it does not define how learning experiences are designed in the learning environment.

KYstandards.org provides access to:

• KAS documents by subject area (reading & writing; mathematics; social studies; science; health education and physical education; visual and performing arts; computer science; career studies and financial literacy; world language; library media; technology; and early childhood).
• General and content area resources (including model curriculum frameworks, high-quality instructional resources, evidence-based instructional practices, student assignments libraries, and more).

If you intend to become an educator in another state, you should review that state's Department of Education website for its standards and resources.

UofL Libraries also has access to databases that provide elementary, middle, and secondary teachers with curriculum-aligned materials and resources that supplement instruction. These include:

In addition, you can also explore our FindIt@UofL catalog for books and e-books on instructional materials, curriculum design, lesson plans, and more.