ADE Director's Communication Memo Form


Memo Number : SI-00-057

Date Created : 01/07/2000

Attention:

Superintendents
Co-op Directors
other: Drug Education Coordinators

Type of Memo: Informational
Response Required: Optional
   
Section:   School Improvement and Professional Development - Ms. Janinne Riggs
Subject:
Safe and Drug-Free Schools

Regulatory Authority:
20 USC 5962 (P.L. 103-382 Sections 4011-4017)

Contact Person:
Otistene Smith

Phone Number:
501-324-9747

E-mail:
osmith@arkedu.k12.ar.us

The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1994, Title IV, requires states to distribute 30 percent of available local program funds to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) that have the "Greatest Need" for additional funds to carry out drug and violence prevention programs. The amount of funds available for the 30 percent grants is approximately $905,370.00. A maximum of 31 grants can be funded for the 1999-2000 year.

Please call our office at 501-324-9747 to request a grant application. The 1999-2000, 30 percent "Greatest Need" grant deadline is FEBRUARY 11, 2000.

The "Greatest Need" funds will be distributed based on the six data areas. Each LEA will provide the risk factor data information in a grant application based on individual school district data. Peer reviewers will be selected on the basis of their general and specialized experience in the area of prevention and education. The peer reviewers will evaluate applications according to the selection criteria in the application.

Data can be obtained from the Arkansas Departments of Health, Human Services and Education, as well as local data, by LEAs to demonstrate their needs in the areas of violence, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. The following factors will be used in distributing funds to ten percent (10%) of Arkansas' LEAs with "Greatest Need" funds:

· High rates of dropouts
· High rates of unemployment
· High rates of teen births
· High rates of expulsion and suspension of students from school for (physical & verbal abuse) fighting, weapons, etc.
· High rates of alcohol or drug use among youth
· High rates of arrests and convictions of youth for alcohol and drug-related crimes

The funding decisions will primarily be based on overall greatest need, with consideration given to the quality and the capacity to implement a comprehensive local violence, alcohol, tobacco and other drug education plan, budget, and evaluation method submitted to the State Educational Agency for consideration to be funded. The "Greatest Need" recipients will be required to show evidence of the "Principles of Effectiveness" which are: (a) conduct a thorough needs assessment of objective data about the drug and violence problems in the schools and communities served; (b) establish a set of measurable goals and objectives and design its programs to meet those goals and objectives with the assistance of a local or regional advisory council; (c) design and implement its programs for youth based on research or evaluation that provides evidence that the programs used prevent or reduce drug use, violence, or disruptive behavior among youth; and (d) evaluate its programs periodically to assess its progress toward achieving its goals and objectives and use its evaluation results to refine, improve, and strengthen its programs and goals as appropriate.

The amount of funds will be determined by the number of students enrolled during the period beginning October 1, 1998. Also, the capacity of a LEA to manage and expend Safe and Drug-Free funds will be taken into consideration.

If you have any questions about the grant process, please do not hesitate to call Otistene Smith, Office of Comprehensive Health Education, Safe and Drug-Free Schools, Program Director at 501-324-9747.

Attachments:
    None

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