Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act

The safe and drug-free schools and communities program is the federal government's major initiative to prevent drug abuse and violence in and around schools. The Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1986 (20 U.S.C. 3181) was amended in 1989 by Public Law 101–226 to become the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act. In 2001, the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act was amended and reauthorized by the No Child Left Behind Act (Public Law 107–110) as Part A, Title IV, 21st Century Schools. The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act is intended primarily to support prevention programs and activities. It provides formula grants to states to support local educational agencies, consortia of agencies, and community-based organizations in developing and implementing programs to prevent drug use and violence among American children and youth. The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act supports the development of comprehensive drug and violence prevention programs for students from preschool through to the postsecondary educational level. These prevention programs include health education, early intervention, student services, mentoring, referrals for treatment and rehabilitation, and other related activities.

The purpose of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act is to support programs and activities that prevent violence in and around schools; that prevent the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; that involve parents and communities in drug and violence prevention; and that are coordinated with relevant [Page 326]federal, state, school, and community efforts and resources to promote a safe and drug-free learning environment that fosters enhanced student learning and outcomes. The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act is a central part of the federal effort to encourage the creation of safe, disciplined, and drug-free learning environments that will help all children and youth meet challenging academic standards.

Under the provisions of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the U.S. Department of Education administers the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities State Grants Program. These consist of formula grants awarded through states to local educational agencies and consortia of agencies to establish, expand, and conduct local prevention programs. Funded programs provide support for both school and community-based programs designed to help communities prevent alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, as well as prevent youth violence. These programs and their activities must be based on an assessment of objective data on the incidence of drug use and violence in elementary and secondary schools, as well as the communities they serve. They must be designed in accordance with evidence-based practices. Analysis of the data must consider conditions and consequences related to problem areas, such as delinquency and serious discipline problems. The evaluation of these programs must demonstrate how they achieve measurable performance results. The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act also stipulates that there be meaningful and ongoing consultation with, and input from, parents concerning drug and violence prevention activities and programs. The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act also provides for the training of teachers, counselors, and other school personnel, and it also provides funding for national leadership activities that directly support classroom teaching.

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