U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today announced more than $28 million in federal support to help schools across the nation combat drug use and make schools safer, particularly for middle school students.

Seventy-four school districts in 34 states will use the funds to recruit, hire and train middle school drug-prevention and school-safety coordinators.

"This $28 million will help schools adopt programs-for making our schools safer and reducing drug use by young people-that have proven to be effective in meeting those important goals," Paige said. "In conjunction with comprehensive, community-wide strategies to prevent school violence and drug use, these school-based coordinators can help middle schools in particular to become safe places for learning."

Middle schools and students will benefit by using coordinators to:

• identify and assist schools in adopting successful, research-based drug and violence prevention programs and strategies;
• develop, conduct and analyze assessments of school drug and crime problems;
• work with community organizations, parents and students to obtain information about effective programs and strategies;
• identify additional funding sources for drug prevention and school safety program initiatives; and,
• provide feedback to state educational agencies on successful programs and activities.

The funds flow to school districts for use in meeting the demands presented by middle schools contending with past instances of violence or drug use or possession. Eligible schools are those in which at least one student was, within the previous year, suspended, expelled or transferred to an alternative school for possession, distribution or use of alcohol, tobacco or drugs, or for the possession or use of a weapon. Also eligible are schools that referred at least five students to substance abuse treatment or suspended, expelled or transferred at least five students to alternative schools in response to physical attacks or fights.

Coordinators serve up to seven schools, work solely on coordination of drug prevention or school safety programs, and must have a degree from an accredited four-year institution of higher education, as well as an academic background or equivalent work experience in a field related to youth development.

The grants announced today include funding for two years of a three-year grant period.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: Project descriptions will be available at www.ed.gov/offices/OSDFS/. A list of grantees and contacts follows.

Middle Schools Coordinators, FY 2001 Grantees

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