Press Release

(Washington, D.C.)—The U.S. Department of Education and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy today announced the release of $8.6 million in Federal grants for schools to implement random student drug testing programs. Student drug testing is an important part of the President's drug strategy, placing emphasis on treatment, community action, and prevention in an effort to keep youth away from drugs and their damaging effects. The student drug testing grants will extend the benefits of early intervention that have proven beneficial in government, military, education, transportation, and private sector workplaces.

"I believe that a comprehensive drug program that includes random drug testing in our schools can be an effective prevention measure for steering students away from substance abuse and focus on learning and reaching their full academic potential," said U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. "As we continue to work as teammates at the federal, state and local level to create school environments that are more conducive to learning, I will continue to stress the importance of using these types of interventions as deterrents to drug use by our nation's youth."

"Youth drug use has declined 19 percent, with 700,000 fewer students using drugs now than in 2001. By implementing testing, we effectively give students a credible way to resist peer pressure," said the Director of National Drug Control Policy, John P. Walters. "In addition to its strong deterrent effects, testing also helps to give parents and educators a powerful tool to identify young people in trouble, and help them before they are too far down the path of addiction. More and more schools across the Nation are using this safe and effective prevention tool."

Nearly 400 public schools nationwide have implemented random student drug testing programs with the help of Federal resources. Federal monies have increased more than 400 percent between 2003 and 2006, and President Bush has asked Congress to increase grant money available to schools and school districts by 45 percent from 2006, to 15 million dollars in 2007.

The U.S. Department of Education will award $8.6 million in total random student drug-testing grants, with $1.7 million going to new awardees and $6.9 million for continuation grants. New awards will go to 11 school districts with 52 schools throughout the country and 55 districts with 310 schools will receive continuation grants to maintain their programs. Each grant averages approximately $125,000. The competitive grant program provides local educational systems with funds for up to four years to implement random student drug testing programs in at least two high schools and participate in a national evaluation of the impact of random student drug testing on high school students' reported substance use.

In order to qualify for a grant, applicants agree that the random testing pool will be limited to students in grades nine through twelve, and within that group of students, one or both of the following: all students who participate in the school's athletic program, and/or all who are engaged in competitive extra-curricular school-sponsored activities.

Random student drug testing has a proven record of success. In Hunterdon, New Jersey, Central High School saw a decrease in drug use in 20 out of 28 categories after implementing a random testing program for its students. A study by Ball State University in Indiana found that without testing, 85 percent of Indiana principals reported an increase in drug use and 518 students were suspended or expelled for drug or alcohol related incidents; with random testing, that figure dropped to 352. Before testing began at George Jenkins High School in Polk County, Florida, 19.5 percent of students participating in extracurriculars said they had used marijuana in the past 30 days. Following implementation of drug testing, the rate dropped to 11.8 percent. Employers following Federal drug testing models have seen a 67 percent drop in positive drug tests.

The purpose of random student drug testing is to help those in trouble by preventing drug use and helping drug-using students become drug-free in a confidential manner. The results of a positive drug test should be used to intervene with not-yet-dependent students and get drug-dependent students into effective treatment. After assessing the extent of the problem, parents and administrators should recommend appropriate interventions, such as education on the negative effects of drugs, counseling, or if necessary, drug treatment.

To view a complete list of grantees, visit http://www.ed.gov/programs/drugtesting/awards.html. For more information about random student drug testing, visit www.randomstudentdrugtesting.org.