The Department of Education (DOEd) announced today the availability of $2M in demonstration grants for local educational agencies (LEA), and public and private entities to develop or enhance, implement, and evaluate student drug testing programs. “The Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA) is pleased to see this federal funding available for student drug testing programs, although more is needed. This funding, and the results of the demonstration programs, however, can have significant positive effects on the advancement of student drug testing programs by improving the likelihood of increased funding in the future”, stated Laura Shelton, executive director. The DOEd estimates that seven grants between $200K and $400K will be awarded for a 36 month period. In addition, the DOEd anticipates that additional funds will be made available for fiscal year 2004. These additional funds will be granted to those on the rank-ordered list that do not receive funds in fiscal year 2003.
Private and public entities that wish to apply for the grant must demonstrate that they have established a partnership with one or more LEA to carry out the student drug testing program. This partnership must be identified through a partnership agreement. All applying, including LEAs, must provide assurance that legal counsel has reviewed the program and deemed that the program does not appear to violate constitutional principles or related state and federal student drug testing requirements.
In regards to substances to be tested for, the grant provides for testing of anabolic steroids, inhalants, and tobacco (for those under 18) in addition to controlled substances and alcohol. If random drug testing is implemented, the program may include student athletes, students participating in competitive extracurricular activities, and those students who, along with their parents, consent/volunteer to participate in random drug testing. Student drivers are not included in the list of those allowed to be subject to random drug testing.
Additional requirements of eligible programs include: (1) A target population must be identified and a significant need for drug testing within the target population must be demonstrated; (2) the drug testing program must be part of a comprehensive drug prevention program; (3) a comprehensive plan for referral to treatment or counseling must be outlined for those that test positive; and (4) a plan for ensuring the confidentiality of test results must be provided.
Much of the competitive priority for receiving the grants is geared towards the ability to provide meaningful evaluation of the program. The DOEd is looking for entities that can provide experimental or quasi-experimental evaluation of the student drug testing programs. Specifically, data from reliable and valid measures of the intervention that the program intends to implement and of the outcomes that the program intends to affect should be collected before and after participation in the program.
The Secretary of Education has set an overall performance target that calls for a 5% reduction in student drug use annually. Those applications that best show a strong capacity to help achieve this target, and to provide reliable data on this indicator have the best change of receiving the grants.
While the amount of grant monies available is less than we would like to see, DATIA feels that this can have significant positive effects on the advancement of student drug testing programs. Informal studies already performed show the positive benefits of drug and alcohol testing, and should these demonstration grant programs further evidence this fact, the potential for future federal funds to support student drug testing programs increases. In addition, the grant calls for programs to be reviewed by legal counsel, which will lead to quality programs that utilize standards and guidelines. As such, the programs conducted using demonstration grants that show a decrease in drug use by students have the potential for establishing model programs for additional schools to use in the future.
Download the full Federal Register notice including instructions on submitting a grant application. Applications must be submitted by August 20, 2003 for consideration
