B -- Study of the Quality and Impact of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Program

The contract between the Department of Education (ED) and Westat, initiated on September 27, 2000, aims to evaluate the quality and management of drug and violence prevention programs in public schools under the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Program. Originally set to run through September 26, 2005, the contract focuses on studying program effectiveness, particularly through surveys and research-based methodologies. A forthcoming modification, contingent on available funding, intends to refine the study by concentrating specifically on research-based programs and practices, evaluating them on aspects such as prevalence and fidelity, while reducing the number of survey instruments used. This change aligns the study more closely with the goals of the No Child Left Behind Act, as requested by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The modification will also extend the contract’s period of performance until September 30, 2007, with an anticipated award date on or before September 1, 2004. The contract is managed by the Department of Education’s Contracts and Acquisitions Management office in Washington, DC, with Pamela A. Bone serving as the contract specialist. The study serves to provide focused insights into the effectiveness of federally funded drug and violence prevention initiatives in schools to inform policy and program improvements.