[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 136 (Wednesday, July 16, 1997)] [Notices] [Pages 38072-38073] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-18707] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program ACTION: Notice of request for public comment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Department requests public comment on draft Principles of Effectiveness that would govern recipients' use of fiscal year 1998 and future years' funds received under Title IV-State and local programs of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act--the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (SDFSCA) State Grants program. DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 15, 1997. ADDRESSES: All comments concerning this notice should be addressed to William Modzeleski, Director, Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Ave., SW, Room 604 Portals, Washington, D.C. 20202-6123. Internet: William__M[email protected]. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact William Modzeleski, Director, Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Ave., SW, Room 604 Portals, Washington, D.C. 20202-6123. Telephone: (202) 260-3954. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SDFSCA, as reauthorized in 1994 by the Improving America's Schools Act (Pub. L. 103-382), offers States, school districts, schools, and other recipients of SDFSCA State grant funds wide latitude in using these funds to implement the kinds of drug and violence prevention programs that they believe best serve their needs. While the Administration favors local discretion over Federal prescription in the use of SDFSCA State and local grant funds, the Administration also has a responsibility to promote the most effective possible use of these limited resources, which in many instances are the only funds available to local schools to address their youth drug and violence problems. With information about promising and successful drug and violence prevention programs and strategies becoming more available (for example, see National Institute on Drug Abuse publication number NIH 974212, Preventing Drug Abuse Among Children and Adolescents: A Research-Based Guide (March 1997), State and local decisions about which prevention approaches to implement should be guided by research on best practices. Furthermore, schools and community organizations that initiate activities designed to prevent youth drug use or violence without conducting a high-quality needs assessment or establishing clear and objective measurable expectations about program outcomes have difficulty determining whether their programs are successful. Therefore, as one of a series of activities designed to improve the quality of drug and violence prevention programming implemented with SDFSCA funds, the Secretary is proposing that all SDFSCA State Grants program funds be used to support only activities that implement research-based drug and violence prevention strategies and programs in a manner consistent with the Principles of Effectiveness set forth in this Notice. These Principles, in conjunction with existing statutory and regulatory provisions, would help ensure that State and local educational agencies, Governors' offices, and community-based organizations plan and implement effective drug and violence prevention programs. Proposed Principles of Effectiveness To address the concerns discussed above, the Department's fiscal year 1998 budget proposal includes appropriations language that would require all recipients of SDFSCA State Grant funds to use their Title IV funds in a manner consistent with the Department's final statement of these Principles of Effectiveness. In developing these Principles, the Department has reviewed research findings and the best available practices related to making schools drug- and violence-free, and has initiated a number of informal discussions with members of the public and the research community on how these Principles might improve the outcome of programs supported with SDFSCA funds. The proposed Principles are set forth in Appendix A to this notice. If Congress enacts the Department's proposed appropriations language for fiscal year 1998 and for subsequent fiscal years, these Principles (once they are published in final in a future [[Page 38073]] Federal Register notice) would apply, by law, for each of those years to all recipients of SDFSCA State Grant program funds in designing, implementing, and assessing their SDFSCA drug and violence prevention programs in conjunction with existing statutory and regulatory requirements of the SDFSCA. Within the context of these Principles, program recipients would still be free to determine for themselves the activities that best meet their needs. The Department is considering various strategies--such as issuance of further guidance and technical assistance--to ensure that recipients understand the final Principles and know how to implement them to promote the effective use of SDFSCA funds. Between now and July 1, 1998 (when fiscal year 1998 Title IV funds become available for obligation), the Department will work with recipients of SDFSCA funds to help them understand and implement these Principles of Effectiveness. The Department also will monitor States' implementation of the Principles. Intergovernmental Review This program is subject to the requirements of Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. The objective of the Executive order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened federalism by relying on processes developed by State and local governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance. In accordance with the order, this document is intended to provide early notification of the Department's specific plans and actions for this program. Invitation to Comment Interested persons are invited to submit comments and recommendations regarding these proposed Principles of Effectiveness. The Department also is interested in receiving comments and recommendations on activities that it should undertake to ensure that all recipients understand what they must do to design and implement their program activities in ways that are consistent with the Principles once these Principles are final and become supplemental requirements of the SDFSCA program. All comments submitted in response to this notice will be available for public inspection, during and after the comment period, in room 603 Portals Building, 1250 Maryland Ave., SW, Washington, D.C., between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday of each week except Federal holidays. Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7111-7118. Dated: July 11, 1997. Gerald M. Tirozzi, Assistant Secretary, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. Appendix A--Statement of Proposed Principles of Effectiveness for the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act State Grants Program (Title IV--State and Local Programs, ESEA) Having safe and drug-free schools is one of our Nation's highest priorities. To ensure that recipients of Title IV funds use those funds in ways that preserve State and local flexibility but are most likely to reduce drug use and violence among youth, such recipients shall coordinate their SDFSCA-funded programs with other available prevention efforts to maximize the impact of all the drug and violence prevention programs and resources available to their State, school district, or community, and shall--Base their programs on a thorough assessment of objective data about the drug and violence problems in the schools and communities served. Each SDFSCA grant recipient shall conduct a thorough assessment of the nature and extent of youth drug use and violence problems. Grantees are encouraged to build upon existing data collection efforts and examine available objective data from a variety of sources, including law enforcement and public health officials. Grantees are encouraged to assess the needs of all segments of the youth population. While information about the availability of relevant services in the community and schools is an important part of any needs assessment, and while grantees may wish to include data on adult drug use and violence problems, grantees shall at minimum include in the needs assessment data on youth drug use and violence. Design their activities to meet their measurable goals and objectives for drug and violence prevention. Sections 4112 and 4115 of the SDFSCA require that grant recipients develop measurable goals and objectives for their program activities. Grantees shall develop goals and objectives that focus on program outcomes, as well as program implementation (sometimes called ``process'' data). While measures of implementation (such as the hours of instruction provided or number of teachers trained) are important, they are not sufficient to measure program outcomes. Grantees shall develop goals and objectives that will permit them to determine the extent to which program activities are effective in reducing or preventing drug use, violence, or disruptive behavior among youth. Design and implement their activities based on research or evaluation that provides evidence that the strategies used prevent or reduce drug use, violence, or disruptive behavior among youth. In designing and improving their programs, grant recipients shall, taking into consideration their needs assessment and measurable goals and objectives, select and implement programs that have demonstrated that they can be effective in preventing or reducing drug use, violence, or disruptive behavior. While the U.S. Department of Education recognizes the importance of flexibility in addressing State and local needs, the Department believes that the implementation of research-based approaches will significantly enhance the effectiveness of programs supported with SDFSCA funds. Grantees are encouraged to review the breadth of available research and evaluation literature in selecting effective strategies most responsive to their needs, and to replicate these strategies in a manner consistent with their original design. Evaluate their programs periodically to assess their progress toward achieving their goals and objectives, and use their evaluation results to refine, improve, and strengthen their program, and to refine their goals and objectives as appropriate. Grant recipients shall assess their programs and use the information about program outcomes to re-evaluate existing program efforts. While the Department recognizes that prevention programs may have a long implementation phase, may have long-term goals, and may include some objectives that are broadly focused, grantees shall not continue to implement strategies or programs that cannot demonstrate positive outcomes in terms of reducing or preventing drug use, violence, or disruptive behavior among youth. Grantees shall use their assessment results to determine whether programs need to be strengthened or improved, and whether program goals and objectives are reasonable or have already been met and should be revised. Consistent with sections 4112 and 4115 of the SDFSCA, grant recipients shall report to the public on progress toward attaining measurable goals and objectives for drug and violence prevention. [FR Doc. 97-18707 Filed 7-15-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P