| THE PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVENESS Continued A number of the archived issues of The Challenge have additional information about the Principles. See the links below to download the volumes that cover the specific issue you're interested in. Or if you're interested in an overview of all four principles, click here. This principle states that a grantee shall base its 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 on 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 a minimum, include in the needs assessment data on youth drug use and violence." These past issues of The Challenge have covered Principle #1: (Return to main Principles of Effectiveness page). This principle requires that a grantee, with the assistance of a local or regional advisory council where required by the SDFSCA, will establish a set of measurable goals and objectives and design its programs to meet those goals and objectives. "Sections 4112 and 4115 of the SDFSCA require that grantees develop measurable goals and ojbectives for their programs. Grantees shall develop goals and objectives that focus on behavioral or attitudinal program outcomes, as well as on 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 permit them to determine the extent to which programs are effective in reducing or preventing drug use, violence, or disruptive behavior among youth." The Challenge is currently covering this principle by discussing measurable goals and objectives in the issue that is now on-line. Establishing an advisory council was discussed in Volume 9, number 3 of The Challenge. (Return to main Principles of Effectiveness page). For Principle #3, grantees must design and implement 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. "In designing and improving its youth programs, a grant recipient, taking into consideration its needs assessment and measurable goals and objectives, shall select and implement programs for youth that have demonstrated effectiveness or promise of effectiveness, in preventing or reducing drug use, violence, or disruptive behavior, or other behaviors or attitudes demonstrated to be precursors to or predictors of drug use or violence. While the Secretary of Education recognizes the importance of flexibility in addressing State and local needs, the Secretary believes that the implementation of research-based programs will significantly enhance the effectiveness of programs supported with SDFSCA funds. In selecting effective programs most responsive to their needs, grantees are encouraged to review the breadth of available research and evaluation literature, and to replicate these programs in a manner consistent with their original design." The Challenge is preparing to cover this principle by working with Dr. J. David Hawkins, a member of the Expert Panel on Safe, Disciplined and Drug-Free Schools, as well as a member of ACDE's Scientific Advisory Board. (Return to main Principles of Effectiveness page). Principle #4 requires that grantees evaluate programs periodically to assess the progress toward achieving their goals and objectives, and use the evaluation results to refine, improve, and strengthen their programs, and to refine the goals and objectives as appropriate. "Grant recipients shall assesstheir programs and use the information about program outcomes and fidelity of replication to re-evaluate existing program efforts. The Secretary of Education recognizes that prevention programs may have a long implementation phase, may have long-term goals, and may include some objectives that are broadly focused. However, grantees shall not continue to use SDFSCA funds to implement programs that cannot demonstrate positive outcomes in terms of reducing or preventing drug use, violence, or disruptive behavior among youth, or other behaviors or attitudes demnostrated to be precursors to or predictors of drug use or violence. 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." (Return to main Principles of Effectiveness page). Source: U.S. Department of Education, OESE, Safe and Drug Free Schools Program, State Grants for Drug and Violence Prevention: Guidance for Implementing the Principles of Effectiveness, May 1998. |
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