THE RECOMMENDED DIETARY-ALLOWANCES - CAN THEY INFORM THE DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDS OF ACADEMIC-ACHIEVEMENT

The Recommended Dietary Allowances are the most widely used standard i n the field of nutrition. They have served for over 50 years as the ba sis for fundamental food and nutrition policies that affect every Amer ican. A review of the evolution of these standards provides guidance f or the development of standards of academic achievement that will be a ccepted by a broad range of users. The development of standards is an iterative process, and regular review and revision must be anticipated and planned for. Controversies are most likely to arise in the absenc e of unequivocal data and the need to substitute judgment, no matter h ow well informed. Finally, if standards are to be widely accepted, som e level of consensus is critical. Therefore, the process of establishi ng them must be open to those who are interested.