Safe and Drug-Free Schools Act

Safe and Drug-Free Schools And Communities Act (SDFSCA) Title IV, Part A, Subpart 1 Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 As amended by the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 Public Law 107-110 Key Focus of Program Liaison Begins with frequent and ongoing communication between School Improvement Supervisors and School Districts  Focus on concerns related to interpretations and execution of various aspects of the law  Monitoring of school districts  Partnership Cooperation and partnership are key to ADE’s approach to grant administration  Proactive, Not Reactive  Keep in touch with the School Improvement Supervisor, School Districts and Grants Management  Purpose of the SDFSCA     Prevent violence in and around schools Prevent the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs; Involve parents and communities; and Coordinated with related Federal, State, school and community efforts and resources to foster a safe and drug-free learning environment that promotes student academic achievement. Principles of Effectiveness provides the framework to assist States and local entities in designing, implementing, evaluating high quality programs and achieving measurable results. Principles of Effectiveness Must be based on:  An assessment of objective data regarding the incidence of violence and illegal drugs in both elementary and secondary schools as well as, the communities to be served. Principles of Effectiveness  An established set of performance measures aimed at ensuring that schools and communities to be served have a safe, orderly, and drug-free learning environment. Principles of Effectiveness  Scientifically based research demonstrating that the program to be used will reduce violence and illegal drug use. Principles of Effectiveness  Analysis of data reasonably available at the time of the prevalence of risk factors including; a) high or increasing rates of reported cases of child abuse and domestic violence b) protective factors buffers, assets; c) other variables identified through scientifically based research that occur in schools and communities. Message and Materials Program must convey a clear and consistent message that illegal use of drugs and acts of violence are wrong and harmful. Private School Consultation Must consult during the design, development and implementation on issues such as:  How the children’s and teacher’s needs will be identified  What services will be offered  How, where and by whom the services will be provided Private School Consultation  How the services will be assessed and how the results of the assessment will be used to improve those services;  The size and scope of the equitable services  The amount of funds available for those services  How and when the LEA will make decisions about the delivery of services. Private School Consultation Thorough consideration and analysis of the views of the private school officials on the provision of contract services through potential third-party providers Obligation Period  Grantees have 27 months to obligate funds: 2007-2008 State Grant Award: $2,558,373.00  Funds are forwarded and awarded July – 3 months before the start of the fiscal year in October (July-toOctober) 12 months from the date of award (July-to-July) Plus an additional 12 months known as the Tydings period   Carryover of Funds by LEAs An LEA may:   Keep up to 25 percent of its allocation for the following fiscal year. Retain an amount greater than 25 percent of its fiscal year allocation for use in the following year if it can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the SEA that it has “good cause” for such a carryover. Section 4114 (a)(3) of the SDFSCA Administrative Funds  LEAs may use no more than two (2) percent of their allocation to carry out the administrative responsibilities associated with the implementation of these programs. Section 4114 (a)(2) Cap on Spending An LEA may use up to 40 percent of its allocation to support the activities described in clauses (a) through (e), but not more than half of that amount (or a maximum of 20 percent) may be used to support the activities described in clauses (a) through (d). LEAs may use the entire 40 percent to support the hiring and training activities in clause (e). Section 4115 (b)(2)(E) Cap on Spending a) b) c) Acquiring and installing metal detectors, electronic locks, surveillance cameras or other related equipment and technologies Reporting criminal offenses committed on school property Developing and implementing comprehensive school security plans or obtaining technical assistance concerning those plans Cap on Spending d) e) Supporting safe zones of passage activities, including bicycle and pedestrian safety programs, that ensure that students can travel safely to and from school Hiring and mandatory training of school security personnel who interact with students in support of youth drug and violence prevention Drug Testing May Title IV funds be used for: Drug testing students and employees?  Background checks of employees?  Allowable activities include tests that are at the request, or have the consent, of parents or legal guardians. Inspections of students’ lockers for weapons or illegal drugs may also be conducted. Section 4115 (b)(2)(E) of the SDFSCA states: Authorized LEA activities include testing students for illegal drugs, consistent with the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution. Monitoring Administrative and fiscal management  Determining a grantee’s adherence to applicable laws, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the award,  Providing technical assistance to grantees,  Monitoring Determining whether a grantee has made substantial progress by accomplishing the goals and objectives of the project and  Using the grantee’s evaluation plan to measure progress against predefined benchmarks and timelines.  Program Resources Statue-Title IV, Part A, Subpart 1 of the ESEA of 1965, as amended by the NCLB Act, Public Law  Title IX of the ESEA (General Provisions)  Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR)  Title IV Non-Regulatory Guidance  OMB Circulars –A87-Cost Principles  Program Websites  U.S. Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov/programs/dvpgovgrants /legislation.html EDGAR-Parts 76-77, 79-82, 85, 97-99 http://www.ed.gov/policy/fund/reg/edgarRe g/edgar.html   OMB Circulars – A-87 and A-133 http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/i ndex.html Contact Otistene Smith, Federal Programs Liaison Safe & Drug Free School Program Advisor #4 Capitol Mall, Room 304B Little Rock, AR 72118 501-683-5425 - Phone 501-683-5409 - Fax Otistene.Smith@arkansas.gov