Paying For a Drug Testing Program
Federal Funding Sources
The Department of Education offers competitive grants to develop and implement, or to expand, school-based mandatory random or voluntary drug testing programs for students in grades 6 through 12. Authorized by section 4121 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the grants are supported through the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools.
Funds awarded for school-based drug testing programs must be limited to students who participate in the school’s athletic program or who are engaged in other competitive, extracurricular, school-sponsored activities. Programs may also include students who voluntarily participate and have a parent or guardian provide that student with written consent to participate in a random drug testing program. For the purposes of this grant, “drug” is defined to include controlled substances; the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco, and prescription drugs; and the harmful, abusive or addictive use of substances including inhalants and anabolic steroids.
In 2003, the first year of grants for school-based student drug testing programs, the Department of Education awarded 8 three-year grants (74 schools) for testing and research. Since then, approximately $10 million in three-year grants has been awarded to nearly 400 schools for implementing testing programs. A total of 55 three-year grants (310 schools) were awarded in 2005, and 11 new grants were awarded in 2006, including $1.2 million for the first year of a multi-year evaluation. Information about the grant program is available at www.ed.gov/programs/drugtesting/index.html
Non-Federal Funding Sources
Many schools have partnered with community drug coalitions, local service or business organizations, or religious or civic organizations to help fund their random drug testing program. Revenue from Parent Teacher Association fund-raising events, in-school vending machines, snack bars, school T-shirts, caps, and other merchandise is also used to great effect.