Newsgroups: bit.listserv.erl-l
Date:         Sat, 25 Jul 1992 23:07:00 CDT
From:         P30JWP1@NIU.BITNET
Subject:      OERI:Drug-Free Schools (74 lines)

The following is provided by the Office of Educational Research
and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education.  Please feel
welcome to distribute.


                  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
         OFFICE OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND IMPROVEMENT

SUCCESS STORIES FROM SCHOOLS THAT FOUGHT DRUG USE

     "We try to have one clear, unified voice to the students
     from all the adults in the school. We do that through our
     curriculum in almost every area. It ensures that every
     student gets the no-use message."

                         Principal,
          Palatine (Illinois) High School

Identifying students who don't use drugs and giving them a high
profile in school is one way to fight drug use, according to the
principal of a preparatory school in Phoenix, Arizona. Another
way, according to an elementary school principal in Glen Cove,
New York, is to begin drug education in kindergarten. "How kids
feel about themselves--and those feelings are formed early--often
determines whether or not they'll use drugs," she says.

SUCCESS STORIES FROM DRUG-FREE SCHOOLS: A GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS,
PARENTS & POLICYMAKERS describes the candid and often poignant
stories of these and other schools where teachers,
administrators, parents, and students faced up to the problems of
drug use and did something about them.

The book recounts what 107 schools, all honored by the Department
of Education's Drug-Free Schools Recognition Program in the
1989-90 and 90-91 academic years, did to create and maintain
drug-and alcohol-free campuses. The book includes detailed
profiles of five diverse schools in Albuquerque, New Mexico;
Palatine, Illinois; Waialua, Hawaii; Boys Town, Nebraska; and
Buckner, Kentucky. It also describes how to assess a school's
drug problem, enforce an anti-drug policy, and stimulate parental
and community support for drug prevention efforts. The
guidebook's final section suggests where to find additional
information, such as hotlines and federal government offerings.

Each school must take its own approach, the guidebook explains,
but every school with a strong drug prevention program shares
seven key characteristics. They must: (1) recognize, assess, and
monitor the extent of drug use in their school; (2) reach out for
assistance and support from community groups; (3) set clear,
strong, and consistent policies and then enforce them; (4)
develop curriculum to meet their needs; (5) train administrators,
teachers, and support staff to be positive role models for
students; (6) involve students in activities as alternatives to
drug use; and, (7) involve families in drug prevention programs
and educate them on drug use.

The Drug-Free Schools Recognition Program annually honors public
and private elementary and secondary schools. They are nominated
for recognition by state departments of education, the National
Federation of Parents for Drug-Free Youth, the National Parent
Teachers Association, and the Council for American Private
Education. Nominations are reviewed by a panel of experts, then
site visits are made. The panel recommends schools to be
recognized to the Secretary of Education. Nominations for this
year were due April 6. Schools selected for recognition will be
announced by July 1, and a recognition ceremony will be held in
September in Washington, DC. For information about the Drug-Free
Schools Program, contact James Better at 202-219-2144.

Free copies of SUCCESS STORIES FROM DRUG-FREE SCHOOLS: A GUIDE
FOR EDUCATORS, PARENTS & POLICYMAKERS are available from the
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, P.O. Box
2345, Rockville, MD 20854, telephone 1-800-SAY-NO-TO.
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU