Providing information about education related issues; providing incentives through the issuance of awards to teachers who demonstrate excellence in teaching; providing incentives through the issuance of awards to students who demonstrate excellence in academic performance; providing recognition through publicity and the issuance of awards to teachers who demonstrate excellence in teaching; providing recognition through publicity and the issuance of awards to students who demonstrate excellence in academic performance; providing on-line information and on-line electronic databases related to education issues; providing information regarding issues related to improvements in education and educational options; preparing reports containing information on student education trends, factors affecting student learning, and best practices for use in training and educating state and local governments, school districts, parents, individuals and other community organizations; educational research; providing research and information on curriculum development, teacher motivation, effective methods of instruction, and other educational issues of concern to state and local governments, school districts, parents, individuals and other community organizations; conducting and providing research and analysis in the field of education to state and local governments, school districts, parents, individuals and other community organizations to improve education; providing information in the field of education related to best practices and key results; providing model education policies and information for others; advising others with respect to best practices in education