Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities
The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Program is also referred to as Title IV, Part A of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
Program Description
The purpose of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Program (SDFSC) is to support programs that prevent violence in and around schools and the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs; involve parents; and coordinate these efforts and resources with other federal, state, and community entities. Grant funds are allocated (based on poverty rate and student population) to school districts to establish, operate, and improve local programs of school drug and violence prevention, early intervention, rehabilitation referral, and education in elementary through secondary schools. Districts apply for their allocation by submitting the "Local Consolidated Application for Federal Programs" to the Colorado Department of Education.
Safe and Drug-Free Schools Staff Contacts Janelle Krueger, Program Director - (303) 866-6660 Joyce M. Washington, Grant Manager - (303) 866-6708 CDE Consultant List for Title IV funded School Districts School District Program Contacts
Colorado Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Contact List
Local Program Administration Laws and Guidance
To view the Title IV law, which includes application requirements and activities that may be funded: Title IV, Part A, Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities, Title IV -- 21st Century Schools
Title IV-A Excerpts from the Law
Unsafe School Choice Option - Title IX
The Gun-Free Schools Act (GFSA) is a subpart of Title IV Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities. The GFSA mandates expulsions for students who have brought or possessed firearms at school. Compliance with the GFSA is a criterion for school accreditation by rule of the State Board of Education. For additional information, see the links below:
Federal GFSA Guidance for State and Local Education Agencies
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)
Progress reported by Colorado school districts toward reducing drug abuse and violence.
Districts receiving Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities funds annually submit a year-end performance report to the Colorado Department of Education. To view a chart of each district's progress: 2007-08 Year-End Performance Report - Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities.
Highlights of State Safety Efforts Ten Years After Columbine
- Ten years after the Columbine High School tragedy, Colorado school safety has improved. Combined effort has been instrumental in the process. Attached are some of the key milestones that contributed to the effort.
Dropout Prevention
Dropout Prevention and Student Reengagement -- Colorado Department of Education
Resources for Data-Based Needs Assessments
Colorado Data-Related Resources
Safety and Discipline Indicators Definitions -- Automated Data Exchange Documentation
Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) Protection of student data - Parental or Legal Guardian Consent for Surveys --
The citation for the Colorado Revised Statute that aligns state law with FERPA is CRS 22-1-123.
Colorado Department of Education -- District statistics, including suspensions, expulsions, and graduation rates
Statistics and Research Data -- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Research-Based Strategies
Program Glossary (Provided by the United States Department of Education, Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools as a component of a National Study Questionnaire)
Searchable database from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices
U.S. Department of Education Exemplary and Promising Programs
Safe, Disciplined, and Drug-Free Schools Expert Panel Promising Programs (2001)
Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence-Blueprints Programs
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Model Programs
National Criminal Justice Reference Service-School Based Programs
Resources, Topics of Interest and Guidance Publications
Bullying Prevention
Protecting Students from Harassment and Hate Crime: A Guide for Schools - January1999
Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence - CU, Boulder
Suicide Prevention
Threat Assessment/Warning Signs
The Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado wishes to reduce suicide and its impact in Colorado through the promotion of prevention and intervention activities that address the needs of Colorado's diverse population. The Colorado Department of Health and Environment Office of Suicide Prevention has produced a one-page hand-out entitled, Suicide in Colorado
U.S. Secret Service Bystander Study Regarding Targeted School Violence
Warning Signs for Violence Prevention -- American Psychological Association
Early Warning, Timely Response -- Information from the United States Department of Education
Safe2Tell -- Colorado's anonymous reporting tip-line that aids students, teachers, or parents to break the Code of Silence when they have information about unsafe or endangering behavior at school.
Safe2Tell Newsletter - November 2008 (Changing the Code of Silence)
Safe2TellNewsletter - January 2009 (Silence Doesn't Change Suicide)
Emergency Management
Training calendar for in-state trainings, registration forms, and descriptions for courses such as the Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS), Multi-Hazard Emergency Planning for Schools, etc.
Position Statement on SB08-181 - Coordinated Response to School Incidents
Practical Information on Crisis Planning: A Guide for Schools and Communities -- The Office of Safe and Drug-Free School, U.S. Department of Education
Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) CenterThe REMS TA Center Web site offers additional school-based resources addressing emergency management through its four phases. Resources include three major publications series, archived training materials, referral links and the opportunity to pose direct technical assistance questions.
FEMA's Emergency Management Institute offers free on-line courses to train school official to prepare for and manage emergencies.
Tobacco
Information regarding the Tobacco-Free Schools Law -- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Colorado Quitline information Tobacco cessation support
Truancy
National Center for School Engagement (Colorado Foundation for Families and Children)
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Tool Kit for Creating Your Own Truancy Reduction provides an overview of truancy issues, it causes, and solutions to the problem. Critical components of truancy programs such as family involvement, use of incentives and sanctions, developing a support network and program evaluation are also outlined. The toolkit examines the legal and economic implications of truancy and provides recommendations to courts, schools, state lawmakers, and researchers for addressing this issue.
Violence Prevention in Schools
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children -- Child Safety is More Than a Slogan, Stranger-Danger Warnings Not Effective for Keeping Kids Safer
Miscellaneous Prevention-Related Information and Resources
The Student Drug-Testing Institute provides timely information on many aspects of student drug-testing.
Strong Families Make Sense: Clickable Map of Family Strengthening Activities
Rocky Mountain Center- Resource Guide, Substance Abuse and Drug Statistics
Don't Do It! Ineffective Prevention Strategies & Bibliographic Citations
Aligning Social Skill Acquisition with Colorado Academic Content Standards
Effective Violence Prevention Components and Techniques PowerPoint Presentation
Colorado-based Programs, Initiatives, Coalitions, Agencies and Organizations
Colorado School Safety Resource Center, Colorado Department of Public Safety
Colorado School Violence Prevention and Student Discipline Manual
Youth-Based Organizations and Additional State Agencies and Organizations
Youth Violence Prevention Program -- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division -- Colorado Department of Human Services
Best Practices Health Topics Page -- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Colorado Family Education, Resources, and Training -- Colorado State University
National Links
Note: Some documents on this page are made available in the Adobe Acrobat PDF format. Acrobat allows the user to view and print the documents exactly as they look in hard copy. First-time users of this format will have to perform a one-time only installation of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader Software before they will be able to read or print a document. This format is used extensively both on the Web and on this site.
Grants.gov allows organizations to electronically find and apply for more than $400 billion in Federal grants. Grants.gov is the single access point for over 1000 grant programs offered by all Federal grant-making agencies.
National Adolescent Health Information Center, Fact Sheets that are concise and easy to use
Safe and Drug-Free Schools -- U.S. Department of Education
Education Flexibility -- U.S. Department of Education
Office for Civil Rights -- U.S. Department of Education
For additional information, E-Mail: Joyce M. Washington