NCJ Number
188015
Date Published
2000
Length
56 pages
Annotation
Based on a telephone survey of a national probability sample of school districts, this report provides information on how local school districts plan, implement, and evaluate activities funded under the Federal Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (SDFSCA).
Abstract
The sample for the survey consisted of 600 districts selected after stratifying the pool of districts by district characteristics. Although the interviews were conducted between December 1998 and April 1999, the reference period for the study was the 1997-98 school year. The survey collected information from 520 districts, with 23 districts ineligible for the survey. An overall response rate of 90 percent was achieved. Many districts experienced problems in developing measurable goals and objectives. In selecting prevention activities to meet their goals and objectives, the majority of districts considered information on the effectiveness of specific activities; however, the extent to which their understanding of program effectiveness corresponded with the U.S. Department of Education's nonregulatory guidance for implementing the Principles of Effectiveness was questionable. The district staff that coordinated prevention activities often had many responsibilities. The prevention activities typically targeted students directly rather than classroom or school environments. Only a small proportion of the prevention activities implemented were research-based. The majority of districts received funding for prevention activities from other sources in addition to the SDFSCA program. Districts typically collected information on problem behavior in schools and used the information in a number of ways; however, the quality of that information may limit its usefulness. 17 tables, 2 figures, 2 references, and appended questionnaire