The policy had been motivated by the discovery that athletes were leaders in the student drug culture and concern that drug use increases the risk of sports-related injury. The district had also demonstrated the reasonableness of its determinations on these points in the trial court. The district had undertaken other, unsuccessful measures to achieve its goals. The district had involved the community in the decision to adopt the policy. In fact, the parents in attendance at a special parent input night gave their unanimous approval.
Students athletes have a reduced expectation of privacy.
It did so because Without more specific facts regarding the nature of the other activities, the kind of drug testing applied to them and the reasons therefore, we cannot determine the validity of such programs. As reflected in the opinion, this means that there is a higher standard for California school districts seeking to require drug testing of their students than for districts in other states with respect to curricular or co-curricular activities. As reflected in both Vernonia and the Attorney General opinion, it would not appear to be too difficult at this point in time to establish to a court s satisfaction the safety hazard posed by drugs to students while participating in athletic programs. However, the district must also demonstrate that drug abuse by student athletes is actually occurring. Drug testing of students participating other extracurricular activities is also permissible if the district meets the same requirements which apply to athletic activities.