The Governing Board is committed to providing a safe, drug-free school environment to maximize the health and safety of district students and to protect them from dangers associated with illegal drug use and drug abuse. To support the district's drug abuse prevention efforts, the Board desires to establish a drug testing program in the district's high schools that will discourage illegal drug use among students and timely identify and refer drug users to appropriate counseling and rehabilitative services.
(cf. 5131.6 - Alcohol and Other Drugs)
(cf. 5131.63 - Steroids)
Any drug testing program to be implemented by the district shall be developed in consultation with drug treatment and prevention professionals, the laboratory contracted to conduct the tests, and district legal counsel. In addition, the Superintendent or designee may invite input from students, staff, parents/guardians, community members, and representatives of local health care agencies, community service agencies, and businesses.
(cf. 1020 - Youth Services)
Participation in the district's drug testing program shall require the written consent of students' parents/guardians. The Superintendent or designee shall provide information about the program, including the district's policy and procedures, to all high school students and their parents/guardians at the beginning of each school year. All informational materials provided for this purpose shall contain clear statements about how the program will be implemented, including, but not limited to, a list of every substance that to be tested for and how students may be withdrawn from participation in the program.
(cf. 5145.6 - Parental Notifications)
Drug testing procedures shall ensure appropriate student privacy while maintaining the viability of the process. If urinalysis testing is used, the supervisor collecting the specimen shall be the same gender as the student and the specimen shall be collected in a private facility behind a closed stall.
Parents/guardians shall be notified after any positive test results are confirmed. Test results shall be kept separate from the student's other educational records and shall be disclosed only to school staff designated by the Superintendent or designee as responsible for program implementation. The district shall not release test results to law enforcement authorities except in compliance with a court order.
(cf. 5125 - Student Records)
The Superintendent or designee shall provide training to principals, coaches, and other district staff involved in implementing the district's drug testing program.
(cf. 4131 - Staff Development)
(cf. 4231 - Staff Development)
(cf. 4331 - Staff Development
Students who test positive in any voluntary drug testing program shall be encouraged to participate in an assistance program and may be required to take subsequent drug tests. No disciplinary or punitive action shall be taken against any student who tests positive in the voluntary drug testing program.
(cf. 5141.6 - School Health Services)
Random Drug Testing for Athletics
The Superintendent or designee may establish a nonvoluntary, random drug testing program for students participating in athletics.
(cf. 6145 - Extracurricular and Cocurricular Activities)
(cf. 6145.2 - Athletic Competition)
No fee shall be charged for student participation in the district's drug testing program.
(cf. 3260 - Fees and Charges)
The Superintendent or designee shall develop:
1. Informational materials to be provided to participating students and their parents/guardians about the drug testing program
The informational materials shall require parents/guardians to notify the school when their child is taking any medication by presenting either a copy of the prescription or a physician's written verification of this fact.
2. A drug testing consent form to be signed by the student and his/her parent/guardian prior to allowing the student to participate in athletics
The consent form shall specify the substances to be tested for and shall clearly indicate that the consent can be withdrawn and that the only consequence for such withdrawal will be that the student will no longer be able to participate in athletics
3. Procedures addressing how students will be selected, how often tests will be conducted, how samples will be collected and transported, and how results will be confirmed
Any student participating in athletics who fails a required drug test shall be disqualified from participating in the athletic activity in accordance with district policy and shall be referred to an assistance program.
At the beginning of each school year, the Superintendent or designee shall conduct an orientation session for students participating in athletics and their parents/guardians, to explain the district's policy and outline the procedures for drug testing and the consequences if a positive result is obtained.
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
35160.5 District policy rules and regulations; requirements; matters subject to regulation
44049 Known or suspected alcohol or controlled substance abuse by student
51262 Use of anabolic steroids; legislative finding and declaration
CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION
Article 9, Section 5 Common school system
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
350 Fees not permitted
COURT DECISIONS
Brown v. Shasta Union High School District, No. C061972, 2010 WL 3442147 (Cal. App. 3d Sept. 2, 2010)
Board of Education of Independent School District No. 92 of Pottawatomie County v. Earls, (2002) 122 S.Ct. 2559
Vernonia School District v. Acton, (1995) 115 S.Ct. 2385
Hartzell v. Connell, (1984) 35 Cal. 3d 899
Management Resources:
OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY PUBLICATIONS
What You Need To Know About Drug Testing in Schools, August 2002
WEB SITES
California Department of Education: http://www.cde.ca.gov
National Institute on Drug Abuse: http://www.nida.nih.gov
Office of National Drug Control Policy: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov
U.S. Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov
Policy WOODLAKE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: October 9, 2013 Woodlake, California