Safe Schools

The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Program supports high quality efforts to reduce drug use and violence in schools. Such programs must be based upon principles of effectiveness outlined in the law, use proven strategies, and establish performance measures. States are also required to establish a reporting system to collect and publicly report information concerning school safety and drug use among students in the state. NCLB further requires states to identify persistently dangerous schools and to allow students who attend them, or who become victim of a violent crime in them, to transfer to a safe school.

Guidance, Regulations, Legislation, and Announcements

Guidance

Non-Regulatory Guidance, Unsafe School Choice Option (PDF)

Preliminarily Guidance, Title IV, Part I, Subpart 1- Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (Word)
For specific information on safe schools, refer to pages 5-8.

Legislation

Final Legislation, Public Law print of PL 107-110, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001; Title IV, PART A, Sec. 4002. SAFE & DRUG-FREE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES

For Information Specific to California:

Safe Schools
Provides training, resources and technical assistance to establish a school/community environment which is physically and emotionally safe, well disciplined, and conducive to learning.

Other Resources

Useful Links

Emergency Planning
This U.S. Department of Education web site is designed to be a one-stop shop that provides school leaders with information needed to plan for any emergency, including natural disasters, violent incidents, and terrorist acts.

Flu Information and Resources
This U.S. Department of Education web site provides answers to educators' and parents' questions about the flu.

National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities
This clearinghouse coordinates with the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools of the U.S. Department of Education to ensure that educational facilities are able to ensure the physical security of school occupants during natural disasters, accidents, and criminal acts and other man-made threats.

Promoting Safe and Drug-Free Schools
This guide from The National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition & Language Instruction Educational Programs (NCELA) provides a variety of information on creating safe and drug-free schools, including information on related federal legislation and programs, as well as links to fact sheets, web sites, and organizations that can help in strategic prevention of violence and substance abuse among school-age children.

Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program
This U.S. Department of Education web site provides information on programs that support drug and violence prevention, correctional and character education, and health, mental health, and physical education.

Stop Bullying Now!
This U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website provides teachers, parents and students a wide range of information and resources on how to identify, intervene in and prevent bullying in schools. It also provides free PDF versions of prevention tips and resources.