What to do when you may be losing your program from AAFCS

Family and Consumer Sciences:
Empowering Individuals, Strengthening Families and Enabling Communities

"The prosperity of a nation depends upon the health and the morals of its citizens' and the health and the morals of a people depend mainly upon the food they eat and the homes they live in." Ellen H. Richards

Program History:
· The discipline of Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS), formerly Home Economics, was
created in 1889 by Ellen H. Richards, first woman graduate of M.I.T. and founder of the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS).
· More than 37,000 Family and Consumer Sciences middle and high school educators, who possess Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate degrees, reach over 5 million students nationwide.
· FCS is also taught in Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, Central America, and Canada.

Program Description:
· The FCS curriculum is based on the National Standards for FCS Education, which integrate math, science,
English, and social studies, and build communication, critical thinking, and problem solving skills.
· Classes are research-based and taught in preschool through college in order to prepare students with the skills to
be productive as individuals, parents, and members of a family, the community, and workforce.
· Subject areas include nutrition, personal finance, child development, career exploration, human relations, and
more.

FCS Classes:
· Already exist with facilities and trained staff in many school districts.
· Are contextual—Students understand WHY they have to learn something. Lessons apply to everyday life.
· Are hands-on—Students learn by doing, resulting in a higher retention of subject matter.
· Include high levels of interaction with the community, utilizing low- or no-cost methods, such as service learning, career development internships, and cross-age teaching. For example, high school students enhance their literacy skills and those of the preschool and elementary children to whom they present lessons and stories.
· Develop school- to-career transition skills and reinforce the SCANS competencies.
· Utilize cutting-edge methods, such as the use of cooperative learning and portfolio assessment.
· Include exposure to and application of new technology.
· Improve pupil-teacher interaction and trust.
· Increase student confidence and social and emotional intelligence.
· Required in some U.S. states and certain countries, including Waveland, Indiana; Tokyo, Japan; and Kenya. Africa.

Evaluation results show a high rate of success and transferable skills.
· General data is usually available at local and state departments of education.
· Individual teachers evaluate on a yearly basis by utilizing standards, rubrics, portfolios, reflection,
observations, skill demonstrations, and summative and formative evaluations by parents, peers, and self.
· FCS Teachers of the Year report annually on the highly positive impact of their classes.
· Research is currently underway to determine the specific long-term impact of these courses.
· Parents say they wish they’d had a class like that when they were in school!

National and Local Awards/ Honors:
· Teachers receive numerous prestigious awards for their programs, such as State and National Teacher of the Year, AAFCS Teacher of the Year, AAFCS Leader and New Achiever, Association of Career and Technical Education (ACTE) Teacher of the Year, Disney Outstanding Teacher Awards, Milken Awards, Teacher’s Hall of Fame, and countless state and federal grants, such as Carl Perkins and Learn and Serve.
· FCS teachers are often recognized by local groups, including school boards, Chambers of Commerce, and Civic and not-for-profit organizations, and chosen as speakers, textbook authors, and reviewers.
· In addition to state teacher licensure, many FCS teachers achieve the national Certified in Family & Consumer Sciences (CFCS) credential.

Everyone Needs the FACS of LIFE!
Marilyn Swierk, AAFCS President Elect 2008-09
For more information, please contact Gwynn Mason, AAFCS Senior Communications Manager, at gmason@aafcs.org or visit www.aafcs.org