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An Evaluation of the California Instructional School Garden Program Grants
Author(s) -
Hazzard Eric L,
Moreno Elizabeth,
Beall Deborah Lane,
ZidenbergCherr Sheri
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.940.7
Subject(s) - specialty , grant funding , state (computer science) , political science , agricultural economics , psychology , medical education , medicine , public administration , family medicine , economics , algorithm , computer science
This study evaluated the effectiveness of the California Instructional School Garden Program (CISGP) grants. A total of 1,992 surveys were sent and 749 grantee schools completed the survey for a 37.6% response rate. The development of a new garden, sustained use of an existing garden, or expansion of an existing garden was less than expected (p=.01). Fewer schools than expected reported using the garden for instruction (p<.001) and to teach academic subjects (p<.003). Almost two‐thirds of schools (63.5%) reported they were able to utilize all of their grant funds. Other schools (5.3%) did not have all of all their funds distributed to them, while some schools (3.2%) did not have any of their funds distributed to them. Less than 40% of schools reported they were able to accomplish all of their garden goals with the funds. Approximately 26% reported the funds they received were not sufficient to reach their gardening goals. Over one‐third of schools reported that the state budget crisis negatively affected their school garden. In summary, the difference between predicted and actual utilization of the CISGP grants may be due to a combination of the state budget shortfall and insufficient amount of the grant awards. Funding for this project was paid for, in part, by the California Department of Food and Agriculture Specialty Crops Grant NOFA #07‐0135 and the Gustavus and Louise Pfeiffer Research Foundation.