Professional Development for Agricultural Literacy in Elementary Agriculture Teachers (PDAL EAT)

This work is made possible by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), Professional Development in Agricultural Literacy (PDAL) grant program. 

Georgia has formally integrated agricultural education in elementary public schools with a pilot program for Elementary Agricultural Education (EAE) in grades K-5 that started in 2019. The 26 EAE teachers are in need of professional development to increase agricultural literacy for themselves as well as their current and future students in K-5 agricultural education. This proposal will professionally develop new EAE teachers in pedagogical content knowledge; to build community support (especially with Cooperative Extension); establish and utilize a school farm; establish a farm-to-school program; develop student interests in food, agricultural, natural resources, and human (FANH) sciences; and infuse equity and inclusion throughout the program.