Family and Consumer Sciences Programs in Secondary Schools: Results of a National Survey

A national survey of secondary family and consumer sciences (FCS) education programs focusing on the 2002-2003 academic year showed that 5,517,976 students were enrolled in FCS classes taught by 37,500 teachers. Three states responding to the survey reported having a state requirement for a specific FCS course, and many states reported that local schools and districts had such requirements. The survey also revealed that the field of FCS education is continuing to experience a serious shortage of qualified teachers. The label "family and consumer sciences" is an ongoing challenge for those wishing to collect data on program characteristics and other issues because it is still not used consistently by organizations and agencies.