Carolyn Sutter1, Jessica Jarick Metcalfe2, Lynn Tucker3, David K Lohrmann4, Pamela A Koch5, John P Allegrante5, Alexandra DeSorbo-Quinn6. 1. Outlier Research & Evaluation, UChicago STEM Education, University of Chicago, 1427 E. 60th Street, Chicago, IL, 60637. 2. Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801. 3. North Shore University Health System, Public Health Intern, Pilot Light, Chicago, IL, 60607. 4. Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, SPH 116 Bloomington, IN, 47405. 5. Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027. 6. Pilot Light, Chicago, IL, 60607.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Consistent with the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Approach, food education encompasses nutritional status, culture, community, environment, and society. Unifying standards are needed to support food education integration in K-12 curricula. Pilot Light, a Chicago-based nonprofit, sought to generate such standards. This study reports a formative evaluation research process that led to the development of Food Education Standards (FES). METHODS: Nine FES were drafted within the context of the National Health Education Standards. The 2-day Pilot Light Food Education Summit convened 26 experts and community members to review draft FES. A facilitated, consensus-building process generated refined FES and K-12 competencies. Drawing on Summit outcomes and expert feedback, a team of teachers subsequently drafted final FES. Summit participants completed pre- and post-Summit surveys to assess changes in food education priorities. RESULTS: The initial 9 FES were refined to 7. Comparison data indicated shifts in endorsed priorities for food education, moving from prioritizing specific knowledge, such as "categorizing food into food groups," toward "students having a conscious decision-making process around food." CONCLUSIONS: Developed with input from experts across multidisciplinary fields, the evidence-based Pilot Light FES can be feasibly implemented in multiple subjects across all school types and community socio-demographic levels.
BACKGROUND: Consistent with the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Approach, food education encompasses nutritional status, culture, community, environment, and society. Unifying standards are needed to support food education integration in K-12 curricula. Pilot Light, a Chicago-based nonprofit, sought to generate such standards. This study reports a formative evaluation research process that led to the development of Food Education Standards (FES). METHODS: Nine FES were drafted within the context of the National Health Education Standards. The 2-day Pilot Light Food Education Summit convened 26 experts and community members to review draft FES. A facilitated, consensus-building process generated refined FES and K-12 competencies. Drawing on Summit outcomes and expert feedback, a team of teachers subsequently drafted final FES. Summit participants completed pre- and post-Summit surveys to assess changes in food education priorities. RESULTS: The initial 9 FES were refined to 7. Comparison data indicated shifts in endorsed priorities for food education, moving from prioritizing specific knowledge, such as "categorizing food into food groups," toward "students having a conscious decision-making process around food." CONCLUSIONS: Developed with input from experts across multidisciplinary fields, the evidence-based Pilot Light FES can be feasibly implemented in multiple subjects across all school types and community socio-demographic levels.
Authors: India J Ornelas; Kassia Rudd; Sonia Bishop; Desiree Deschenie; Emily Brown; Kevin Lombard; Shirley A A Beresford Journal: Health Behav Policy Rev Date: 2021-05-01