Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Education promotes and enhances education across the United States with a mission to empower individuals throughout their lifespan to manage the challenges of living and working in a diverse, global society through life literacy education. Through this approach, FCS prepares students for success in families, careers, and communities.

The discipline supports people-centered careers, including social work and counseling, family therapy and childcare, early childhood and K-12 education, lifetime wellness and health coaching, nutrition educators and dietitians, chefs and food innovators, textile and apparel professionals, including apparel production or manufacturing occupations, fashion and interior designers, and family finance and consumer advocates.

While membership in the Family and Consumer Sciences Education Division is open to all ACTE members, the professional learning, networking and resources offered by this Division will be most relevant to CTE professionals who work with the following Career Clusters:

• Education Cluster
• Hospitality, Events & Tourism Cluster
• Arts, Entertainment & Design Cluster (Fashion & Interiors Sub-cluster)

Educators who prepare students for some career fields under the Healthcare & Human Services Cluster (Community & Social Services and Behavioral & Mental Health Sub-clusters) may also find valuable content in this Division.

FCS Content Specific Online Resources

E-Learning Resources from FCS Education

Related Organizations

• American Association of Family & Consumer Science (AAFCS)
• Family and Consumer Sciences Education Association (FCSEA)

Resources

• FCS Education Programs in the US
• Family and Consumer Sciences Education University Programs

Career and Technical Student Organizations

•  Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)

The purpose of the FCS Division is to prepare students for family life, work life and careers in FCS by providing opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviors needed for:

• strengthening the well-being of individuals and families across the life span
• becoming responsible citizens and leaders in family, community and work settings
• promoting optimal nutrition and wellness across the life span
• managing resources to meet the material needs of individuals and families
• balancing personal, home, family and work lives
• using critical and creative thinking skills to address problems in diverse family, community and work environments
• successful life management, employment and career development
• functioning effectively as providers and consumers of goods and services
• appreciating human worth and accepting responsibility for one’s actions and success in family and work life

Division Associates of the Family and Consumer Sciences Education Division:

• NATFCS-National Association Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences
• LeadFCS Education

FCS Graduate Fellowship Information

Apply to the FCS Division Graduate Fellowship

View Graduate Fellowship Recipients

For questions regarding the graduate fellowship please contact Dawn Mallette at dawn.mallette@colostate.edu

FCS Division Awards

See the 2026 FCS Division Award Guidelines for award details and general information.

Apply for a FCS Division Award  Important: Applicants must be signed in to a Google account to access and submit this application. This requirement is necessary because the application includes file upload functionality for supporting documents.

For questions regarding the FCS Division Awards please contact Marla Sterling.

Roll of Honor

Established in 1960, the FCS Division Roll of Honor recognizes outstanding family and consumer sciences professionals whose contributions have strengthened the profession. Gifts made in honor of Roll of Honor inductees support the FCS Division Graduate Fellowship Fund, which provides financial assistance to graduate students preparing to become the next generation of leaders in Family and Consumer Sciences Education. We invite you and your state affiliate to honor an exceptional FCS professional by adding their name to the Roll of Honor while investing in the future of the profession through support of the Graduate Fellowship Fund. Use the following link to submit your Roll of Honor nomination.

Submit ACTE-FCS Division Roll of Honor Nomination