- —a required meeting of parents and the student with school officials, concluding with a contract signed by the student and parents in which (1) they acknowledge a drug problem, (2) the student agrees not to use drugs, and to participate in drug counseling or a rehabilitation program.
- —suspension, assignment to an alternative school, in-school suspension, after-school or Saturday detention with close supervision and demanding academic assignments.
- —referral to a drug treatment expert or counselor.
- —notification of police.
- Penalties for repeat offenders and for sellers may include expulsion, legal action, and referral for treatment.
- Describe procedures for handling violations, including:
- —legal issues associated with disciplinary actions—confidentiality, due process, and search and seizure—and how they apply.
- —responsibilities and procedures for reporting suspected incidents that identify the proper authorities to be contacted and the circumstances under which incidents should be reported.
- —procedures for notifying parents when their child is suspected of or caught with drugs.
- —procedures for notifying police.
- Enlist legal counsel to ensure that the policy is drafted in compliance with applicable Federal, State, and local laws.
- Build community support for the policy. Hold open meetings where views can be aired and differences resolved.
Eastside High School,
Paterson, New Jersey
Eastside High School is located in an inner-city neighborhood and enrolls 3,200 students. Before 1982, drug dealing was rampant. Intruders had easy access to the school and sold drugs on the school premises. Drugs were used in school stairwells and bathrooms. Gangs armed with razors and knives roamed the hallways.
A new principal, Joe Clark, was instrumental in ridding the school of drugs and violence. Hired in 1982, Clark established order, enlisted the help of police officers in drug prevention education, and raised academic standards. Among the actions he took were:
- Establishing and enforcing strict penalties for breaking the discipline code. In reference to drugs, he stated emphatically, "If you're smoking or dealing, you're out." He acted on his warning, removing 300 students from the roll in his first year for discipline and drug-related violations.
- Increasing the involvement of local police officers, known as the "Brothers in Blue," who visited the school regularly to speak to students about the importance of resisting drugs.
- Raising academic standards and morale by emphasizing the importance of doing well, requiring a "C" average for participation in athletics, and honoring student achievements.
As a result of actions such as these, Eastside has been transformed. Today there is no evidence of drug use in the school. Intruders no longer have access to the school; hallways and stairwells are safe. Academic performance has improved substantially: in 1981-82, only 56 percent of the 9th graders passed the State's basic skills test in math; in 1984-85, 91 percent passed. In reading, the percentage of 9th graders passing the State basic skills test rose from 40 percent in 1981-82 to 67 percent in 1984-85.