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W-B Area Cuts D.A.R.E. In Favor Of ‘Superior’ Program
Terrie Morgan-Besecker | Times-Leader | 09/24/2005

WILKES-BARRE – Concern about the inability to document the success of D.A.R.E. has prompted the Wilkes-Barre Area School District to drop the drug and alcohol prevention program in favor of another that has been nationally recognized for its accomplishments, Superintendent Jeff Namey confirmed Friday.

Starting this fall, students will be introduced to Project ALERT, an 11-week program that focuses on teaching children to resist drugs, alcohol and tobacco through a series of videos, small-group discussions and role playing.

Although the program and D.A.R.E. share a common goal, there are key differences in how the programs are presented.

D.A.R.E. programs are taught by specially trained police officers from the communities in which a school is located. Project ALERT utilizes teachers within the school who also obtain special training.

The D.A.R.E. program is typically presented to students in fourth or fifth grade. Project ALERT is designed to be presented in sixth or seventh grade, with a three-lesson “booster” course the following year.

Wilkes-Barre, like many other local districts, has had a longstanding relationship with D.A.R.E., which was taught by two city police officers.

Namey said the officers did an excellent job, but district officials believe Project ALERT has a better curriculum.

“D.A.R.E. was a very good program. What made the program was not necessarily the content, but the individuals presenting the program. They did an outstanding job,” Namey said. “Project ALERT is a far superior program.”

The program, developed by the RAND Corp., a nonprofit policy institute based in California, has garnered national recognition since its inception in 1991.

It is one of only nine programs that have been classified as “exemplary” by the U.S. Department of Education, said Marion Matison, vice president of marketing for Project ALERT.

That rating has been based on scientific studies RAND has conducted on the program’s outcomes.

Among the key findings: It reduced the initiation of marijuana by 30 percent, decreased current use of marijuana by 60 percent and decreased regular and heavy smoking by 33 to 55 percent.

D.A.R.E. programs, in contrast, have come under scrutiny in recent years as several studies questioned their effectiveness. A study published in the June 2004 issue of the American Journal of Public Health analyzed D.A.R.E. data from multiple studies and concluded the program was ineffective.

Namey said the lack of data to support D.A.R.E. is a key issue for school districts, which more and more are being called upon to provide hard data to support the programs they offer.

“One of the things the Department of Education is pushing strongly is for districts to have statistical backing to prove they’re accomplishing what they say they’re doing,” Namey said.

“You need data to back up what you’re saying. ‘It seems like it’s OK’ is not an acceptable answer any more.”’

Project ALERT is offered in 118 school districts in Pennsylvania, including seven in Luzerne County: Hanover, Pittston, Wyoming Area, Wyoming Valley West, Hazleton, Lake-Lehman and Dallas, Matison said.

The decision to drop D.A.R.E. has caused some concern among parents at St. Nick’s school, who learned Monday the program was being stopped. The parochial school participates in the district’s program.

Theresa Engle-Kastendieck, whose son attends the school, said she’s had two children go through D.A.R.E. and can attest to its effectiveness.

Engle-Kastendieck said she’s particularly concerned that prevention programs will no longer be taught by police.

“I think it will ruin the whole relationship with police. Most kids don’t have experience with a police officer unless it’s a bad one. This just shuts cops out of a relationship with kids, which I think is important.”

Namey said he realizes the decision will likely cause some controversy. But he’s confident parents will agree with the decision once they see the new program in action.

“I’m absolutely convinced it’s the best program,” he said.
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Terrie Morgan-Besecker, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7179

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IbeToken

Seems like our government is reaching the point where they are able to say, "Hey guys and gals, D.A.R.E. sucked, but marijuana is still bad so....hmmm...lets make another program where the taxpayers can waste more money." Its such a joke to kids, they enjoyed the D.A.R.E. program because it meant they didnt have to sit through boring school work, and now a new more comprehensive program will give kids less education on important things such as math and english and spend time and money teaching teachers to stop teaching important stuff and begin polluting young kids mind with how bad marijuana is, what a joke.