School District Implementation and Teacher Needs for Quality Nutrition Education

Objective: We identified Colorado primary/secondary educators' perceptions and needs regarding implementation of new nutrition education academic standards. Methods: We interviewed nutrition and health education professionals to describe NE status and identify perceived/predicted barriers to successful implementation. Results: Interviewees (N = 14) identified 3 themes: curricular and non-curricular resources; types of support needed; and implementation activities/strategies. Survey completers (N = 169) represented state geographic regions, district sizes, and educator types; 80% taught nutrition. Only 24% reported active district nutrition education standards. These educators want improved access to quality curricula and instructional resources (79%), allocated time (65%), professional development (60%), funding (53%), and district-level support (50%). Conclusions: Findings identify professional development and administrative support needed by health educators to shape state and district priorities.