The core program is taught to 5th graders when they have not yet been led by their peers to experiment with drugs and alcohol, and when they are most receptive to drug prevention education. Because the goal of prevention requires an attitudional change in children, the developers of D.A.R.E. replaced the traditional approach of emphasizing substance abuse identification and the dangers of abuse with a curriculum that addresses values, decisions, self-concept improvement, respect for the law, and most important, peer resistance training. D.A.R.E. is taught by specially selected and thoroughly trained police officers. D.A.R.E. instructors teach 17 consecutive sessions over the course of a semester to the 5th grade. The 45 minute lessons are presented weekly.
Officers usually teach no more than four class units per day.
They spend the balance of their time at the school developing rapport with students by participating in routine activities such as lunch in the cafeteria, recess and playground, and assemblies. A follow-up curriculum is taught to 8th and 10th graders. This consists of ten sessions. The teacher usually remains in the classroom during the D.A.R.E. lesson and may offer feedback on the officer's activities or may actually, if the teacher wishes, participate in D.A.R.E. presentations. D.A.R.E. targets elementary school children.