Results of an Impact Evaluation of a School Nutrition Education Program

Abstract

During the 2012-2013 school year, 396 students at 22 elementary schools throughout Minnesota participated in seven classes taught by Extension’s SNAP-Ed educators, as part of an impact evaluation of the SNAP-Ed Program. Schools in the treatment group conducted classes in the fall, and the delayed-control group schools conducted classes in the spring. Educators collected data four times (see table below) or data collection points (DCPs), over the course of a year to understand the impact of Extension’s health and nutrition programming in elementary schools. Data collected included: measurement of the body mass indices (BMIs) of students given pedometers and encouraged to exercise more; students’ answers to survey questions about their fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, and other healthy habits; and parents’ answers to surveys about their children. This report includes key findings from the collection of data during these four times.