Program Overview

Title IV, Part A--Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities   

The purpose of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities program is to:

1. support programs that prevent violence in and around schools; prevent the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs; involve parents and communities;
2. coordinate with related federal, state, school, and community efforts and resources to foster a safe and drug-free learning environment that supports student academic achievement.

Program Requirements

Principles of Effectiveness:

1. An assessment based on objective data about drug and violence problems in the schools and community must be completed; (Example: Safe School Survey available through Region 10 SDFSC Cooperative) Performance measures (goals and objectives) must be written to assure that the schools and communities have a safe, orderly and drug-free learning environment; Programs, strategies and activities must be grounded in scientifically-based research; (See Science-based prevention SAMHSA model programs, www.samhsa.gov; U.S. Department of Education Exemplary and Promising Safe, Disciplined and Drug-Free Schools, www.ed.gov) An effective SDFSC program must be based on an analysis of the prevalence of risk and protective factors, buffers, assets or other variables based on scientifically-based research, that exist in the communities and the state; Programs must include consultation with, and input from parents; (Regional Advisory Committee provides ongoing basis consultation with representatives and organizations in order to seek advice regarding how best to coordinate activities for schools in the Region 10 SDFSC Cooperative)
2. The program must be evaluated periodically to refine, improve and strengthen the program. The results must be available to the public for review.