Resources for Educators
Program Evaluation
Evaluating your farm to school program helps you understand what's working, tell your story, and strengthen future funding applications. Explore why evaluation matters and find tools to help you get started.
Why Evaluate Your Program?
Evaluation isn't just paperwork — it's a powerful tool for reflection, improvement, and advocacy. When you measure your program's impact, you can:
- –Understand what is working well and what could be improved
- –Strengthen future grant applications with concrete data and stories
- –Build stronger school support from teachers, families, and school leadership
- –Share your success and celebrate student growth, community engagement, and program milestones
- –Contribute to statewide data and advocate for funding that shapes farm to school initiatives
What to Measure
Start small. You don't need to measure everything — just pick a few things that matter most to your program's goals.
Student Learning
Knowledge gained, skills developed, curiosity sparked, willingness to try new foods.
Student Participation
Number of students reached, frequency of garden visits, engagement in lessons.
Garden Outputs
Pounds harvested, varieties grown, produce shared with cafeteria or families.
Community Engagement
Volunteer hours, family involvement, community partnerships, media coverage.
Behavior Change
Healthier eating habits, increased vegetable consumption, new family cooking routines.
Stories & Quotes
Student reflections, parent testimonials, teacher observations, photos of impact.