Research and Data


  • Filling the Family and Consumer Sciences Education Pipeline by Janine Duncan
  • The Development of a Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Recruitment Event for Secondary Level Students by Kayla M. Godbey
  • Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Educator Pipeline:  Career Pathway Potential by Michael Gutter and Laura Stephenson
  • Recruiting Family and Consumer Sciences Professionals through Career-Readiness Efforts in Tennessee by Sandra Poirer, Megan E. Sager, and Emily T. Kounlavong
  • Say YES to FCS:  A National Campaign to Meet the Demand for FCS Teachers by Gayla Randel and Sandy Spavone
  • A One-Day Campus-Based Recruitment Event for Agricultural and Family and Consumer Sciences Education by Scott Smalley, Debra DeBates, and Amy Smith
  • USDA Says Yes to Supporting FCS:  The Role of the United States Department of Agriculture in FCS Research, Education, and Extension by Ahlishia J. Shipley and Caroline E. Croccoll
  • Creation of a New Family and Consumer Sciences Education Program at Oklahoma State University by Paula J. Tripp and Shiretta F. Ownbey

  • Educators and Counselors: Professional Allies in Addressing the National Teacher Shortage by Karen Alexander and Cynthia L. Miller
  • Profile and Promotion of the Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Education Student by Sally Arnett-Hartwick
  • University of Wyoming and Colorado State University Partnership: Fulfilling the Need for FCS Teachers in Wyoming by Dawn Mallette and Virginia B. Vincenti
  • Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Shortage Inaccuracies: Collaborating to Set the Record Straight by Carol Werhan and Duane A. Whitbeck


All Hands on Deck: Research Needed to Examine the Educator Shortage in Family and Consumer Sciences

  • Authors:  Janine Duncan, Carol Werhan, and Karen Bergh
  • Publication:  Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, December 2017
The purpose of this article is to present the current status of the FCS educator shortage and the “Say Yes to FCS” national initiative to recruit FCS educators. Emergent findings from the Say Yes initiative demonstrate a few important points: 1) comprehensive data collection at the state and federal level is needed, beginning with counting students and teachers; 2) there is a need to work across all practice settings and with all professionals, including secondary teachers, to address the shortage; 3) the shortage of post-secondary FCS teacher education programs and faculty likely contribute to a shortage of researchers dedicated to this issue; and 4) there is a need to garner support from content area researchers to document the impact FCS education has on individual, family, and community outcomes. Developing a strategic research collaborative across content and practice settings—an “all hands on deck” approach—has the potential to affirm the relevance of FCS education to the well-being of individuals, families, and communities, and it could also serve to strengthen the pipeline for future FCS educators and researchers, alike.


Family and Consumer Sciences Education Secondary Programs:  National Survey Shows Continued Demand for FCS Teachers
  • Author:  Carol Werhan
  • Published in the January 2014 (Volume 105 Issue 4) of the Journal of Family & Consumer Sciences, the article provides an update to national statistics on FCS secondary school programs.
Family and Consumer Sciences Programs in Secondary Schools:  Results of a National Survey
  • Author:  Carol Werhan and Wendy Way
  • Published in the January 2006 issue (Volume 98 Issue 1) of the Journal of Family & Consumer Sciences, this article provides national statistics on FCS secondary school programs.
Status of Secondary Family and Consumer Sciences Programs Infographic

"Bring Back Home Economics"/FCS Articles