ERIC Number: EJ1238742
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019
Pages: 3
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1082-1651
EISSN: N/A
New Mexico State Affiliate Advocates for FCS in Middle Schools
Hansen, Linda; Trapp, Leesa; Renfro, Laine; Strand, Jan; Duryea, Marie; Miller, Cindy
Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, v111 n4 p14-16 2019
In 2017, Laura Pace, a middle school family and consumer sciences (FCS) teacher from Farmington, New Mexico, contacted the New Mexico Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (NMAFCS) regarding the use of a high school teacher evaluation system developed by the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) to assess her middle school program. Additionally, the PED had developed a high school level end-of-course (EOC) exam to be indiscriminately used across all FCS programs in both middle and high schools. In order to meet the EOC standards, Pace had to adapt her middle school curriculum to the high school standards that the EOC was written to assess. In the process of applying these standards to middle school students, she noticed that they were developmentally unsuitable. Classes were no longer "exploratory." In fact, they became overly rigorous. In this article, the authors discuss how the NMAFCS was prompted to review research related to the importance of the curriculum taught in middle school FCS courses. Realizing FCS programs are best qualified to lay the foundation for developing employability skills, healthy relationships, and other vital life capabilities, the NMAFCS Board decided to advocate for these programs at the next state's legislative session in January 2019. This article discusses the NMAFCS advocacy approach and the joint memorial requirements of PED.
Descriptors: Consumer Education, Family Life Education, Middle Schools, Curriculum Development, Secondary School Curriculum, Academic Standards, Developmentally Appropriate Practices, Skill Development, Job Skills, Interpersonal Competence, Daily Living Skills, Advocacy
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. 400 North Columbus Street Suite 202, Alexandria, VA 22314. Tel: 800-424-8080; Tel: 703-706-4600; Fax: 703-706-4663; e-mail: bookstore@aafcs.org; Web site: http://www.aafcs.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: New Mexico
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A