Program Overview for Title IV: Part A - Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Program

The intent and purpose of the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities program is to support comprehensive drug use prevention and violence prevention programs that: (1) prevent violence in and around schools; (2) prevent the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs; (3) involve parents and communities; and (4) coordinate with related federal, state and community efforts and resources to foster safe and drug-free schools and communities as required by the Principles of Effectiveness. All students, staff, parents, and relevant community groups are Intended Program Beneficiaries.

General Program Requirements from funds received from SDFSC must be used to adopt and carry out a comprehensive drug and violence prevention program which shall be designed for all students and employees to (1) prevent the use, possession, and distribution of tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs by students and employees, (2) prevent or reduce violence and delinquency, (3) be consistent with the Principles of Effectiveness, and (4) foster a safe and drug-free learning environment that supports academic achievement. [P.L. 107-110, Section 4115(b) (1)] The drug and violence prevention program implemented for all students and employees must include activities to promote the involvement of parents and coordination with community groups and agencies, including the distribution of information about the LEA's needs, goals, and programs funded under the SDFSC Program.

SDFSC-funded programs shall be coordinated with other available prevention efforts to maximize the impact of all the drug and violence prevention programs and resources available to the LEA or community, and shall implement the following Principles of Effectiveness:

Principle 1: Assessments - A grant recipient shall base its SDFSC Program on an assessment of objective data concerning the drug and violence problems in the schools and communities served.

Principle 2: Performance Measures - A grant recipient shall with the assistance of local or regional consultation with required representation, which includes community representatives, establish a set of performance measures aimed at ensuring that schools and communities served have a safe, orderly, and drug-free learning environment.

Principle 3: Scientifically Based Research - A grant recipient shall design and implement its SDFSC activities for youth based on scientifically based research that provides evidence that the strategies used prevent or reduce drug use and violence.

*Principle 4: Analysis of Factors - A grant recipient shall base its SDFSC program on an analysis of the prevalence of risk and protective factors, buffers, assets, or other variables in schools and communities in the state identified through scientifically based research.

*Principle 5: Consultation - A grant recipient shall include meaningful and ongoing consultation with and input from, parents in the development of the application and administration of the SDFSC program.

Principle 6: Evaluation - A grant recipient shall evaluate its drug prevention and violence prevention periodically to assess progress toward achieving its established performance measures. The evaluation result shall be used to refine, improve, and strengthen its program, and shall also be made available to the public upon request with public notice of such availability provided.

The last step of the cycle, evaluation, may provide the documentation necessary to determine program needs and, as such initiate the cycle anew.

*The Department of Education introduced the four Principles of Effectiveness, as posted in the Federal Register of June 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1998. July 1, 2002 two additional principles became part of the Principles of Effectiveness document.

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