At A Glance
Noteworthy Characteristics
- Includes a Food and Physical Activity in Public Elementary Schools survey on the availability of specific foods and opportunities for physical activity at schools.
- Provides nationally representative data.
- Collects data on specific issues relevant to school-age children quickly and with minimum response burden.
Website
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/frss/
Purpose
To collect data about key education issues for children in elementary and secondary schools in the United States (U.S.).
Target Population
Elementary and secondary schools in the U.S. The survey covers all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Conducted
Began in 1975. Conducted periodically. Most recent year conducted was 2016-2017.
Sponsor
National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education
Special Note(s)
The FRSS surveys most relevant to childhood obesity research are the 2005 Food and Physical Activity in Public Elementary Schools survey, the 1995 Nutrition Education in U.S. Public Schools, K-12 survey, and the 1997 Nutrition Education in U.S. Public Schools Elementary Teacher Survey, K-5.
Sampling
Sample Design
Cross-sectional, multistage stratified design, nationally representative. For further information on sampling design see:
1995 Nutrition Education Survey
1997 Nutrition Education in U.S. Public Schools, Elementary Teacher Survey, K-5
2005 Food and Physical Activity in Public Elementary Schools survey
Sample Size
Approximately 1,000 to 1,500 respondents per survey (school staff).
Approximately 1,100 elementary schools included in the 2005 Food and Physical Activity in Public Elementary Schools survey.
Approximately 1,200 teachers and 700 elementary schools included in the 1997 Nutrition Education in U.S. Public Schools, Elementary Teacher Survey, K-5.
Approximately 900 public elementary, middle, and high schools included in the 1995 Nutrition Education Survey.
Key Variables
Demographic
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Percent students eligible for free or reduced price lunch | Interview/questionnaire (school staff). |
Diet-Related
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| A la carte items available at school (including cafeteria, vending machines, school stores, and snack bars) | Interview/questionnaire (school staff). |
| Content of nutrition education and nutrition education activities outside of standard curriculum | Interview/questionnaire (school staff). |
| Hot lunch served at school and types of foods served | Interview/questionnaire (school staff). |
| Inclusion and placement of nutrition education in school curriculum | Interview/questionnaire (school staff). |
| Involvement of school meal program staff and parents in elementary school nutrition education | Interview/questionnaire (school staff). |
| Resources and support for nutrition education (e.g., availability and types of instructional materials) | Interview/questionnaire (school staff). |
| School contracts with companies to sell food at school and types of food sold | Interview/questionnaire (school staff). |
| Teacher training in nutrition education | Interview/questionnaire (school staff). |
| Times when various types of food services are available to students | Interview/questionnaire (school staff). |
| Whether nutrition education is a requirement | Interview/questionnaire (school staff). |
| Whether teachers taught nutrition education during school year, integration into other subjects, and strategies used to teach nutrition | Interview/questionnaire (school staff). |
Physical Activity-Related
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Efforts to encourage physical activity | Interview/questionnaire (school staff). |
| Frequency and length of physical education classes | Interview/questionnaire (school staff). |
| Frequency and length of recess in elementary schools | Interview/questionnaire (school staff). |
| Physical assessment of students | Interview/questionnaire (school staff). |
Geocode/Linkage
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Region | N/A |
Data Access and Cost
Data Availability
Download data.
Cost
Free of charge.
Special Note(s)
Contact the FRSS helpdesk to obtain clearance for access to restricted-use datasets.
Geocode/Linkage
Geocode Variable(s)
Region.
Existing Linkages
None noted.
Selected Publications
Click here for a full list of publications.
Diet-Related
Celebuski C, Farris E. Nutrition education in public elementary and secondary schools. Statistical analysis report. Fast Response Survey System (FRSS). Washington (DC): U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1996. NCES 96-852.
Celebuski C, Farris E. Nutrition education in public elementary school classrooms, K-5. Washington (DC): U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2000. NCES 2000-040.
Parsad B, Lewis L. Calories in, calories out: Food and exercise in public elementary schools, 2005. Washington (DC): U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2006. NCES 2006–057.
