Using State Data to Conduct Research in the Field of Gifted Education

State databases offer researchers the opportunity to conduct research using data collected by states. These databases contain financial, demographic, and accountability data. Accessing and acquiring data from these repositories, though, can offer challenges to scholars interested in conducting research. This brief describes the type of data collected by states, how to acquire this data, and includes potential limitations when using this data. Special consideration is given to concerns regarding acquiring state information on smaller populations of students, especially students identified as gifted and talented.