The NHES is a household-based data collection system designed to address a wide range of education related issues from early childhood to school age to adulthood. The NHES collects timely data about the educational activities of the U.S. population. NHES surveys have been conducted since 1991, and the last data collection was in 2007. Most NHES surveys have been conducted on a repeating basis to measure the same phenomena at different points in time.

The NHES has been conducted approximately every other year since 1991. NHES Surveys include: (1) adult education, (3) before- and after-school programs and activities, (3) early childhood program participation, (4) parent and family involvement in education, (5) civic involvement, (6) household library use, (7) school readiness, and (8) school safety and discipline.