The following is provided to better understand the drug testing program that was approved by the Board of Trustees on October 26, 2004. Official policy is available in the Policy Online area of the district website.

Why did the Alvin ISD initiate a Student Drug Testing Program?

The District determined that the use or misuse of illegal drugs, performance-enhancing drugs, and/or alcohol among students in grades 9-12 is a problem within the schools and community. Information gathered from the student body and from other reliable sources within the community indicates that such use is prevalent within all segments of the student population, including those who participate in competitive extra-curricular activities and those who drive to school. The District determined a need to implement a program of random testing of students in grades 9 - 12 as a condition of their participation in competitive extracurricular activities and/or as a condition of obtaining/maintaining a permit to park on campus.

What are the objectives of the Student Drug Testing Program?

The drug testing program is not intended to be a punitive measure. Rather, the following objectives serve as the foundation for the program:

• to promote the health and safety of all students,

• to undermine the effects of peer pressure by providing a legitimate reason for students involved in extra-curricular activities to refuse to use illegal drugs,

• to encourage students who use drugs to participate in drug treatment programs, and

• eliminate the impact drug and alcohol use has on the learning centers of the brain so that students may achieve their full academic potential.

What is a competitive extracurricular activity?

Competitive extracurricular activities are those that are school-sponsored, school-related, competitive activities, including elective offices and participation in clubs, teams, or organizations.

Which students are subject to random drug testing?

All students in grades 9-12 who participate in any competitive extra-curricular activity and/or park a permitted vehicle on campus are subject to the testing program. The following activities and organizations are ones in which the students involved may be subject to drug testing:

Academic Decathlon

Business Professionals of America

Cheerleaders and Mascot

Color Guard

Jacketeers Drill Team

FCCLA

FFA

FBLA

HOSA

Class Officers

National Honor Society

Student Council

Speech and Debate

Theater Arts

UIL Activities, including athletics, academic competitions, band, choir, art

VICA

Does a student need to have a signed consent form from the parent/guardian authorizing participation in the drug-testing program in order to try out for an activity or run for office?

Yes. Before a student is allowed to participate in any competitive extracurricular activity and/or obtain and/or maintain a permit to park on campus, the student and the parent and/or person otherwise in lawful control of the student must present written consent to the testing. Both the student and the parent must sign the consent form authorizing the student's participation in the drug-testing program.

What happens if a parent or guardian does not consent to testing?

The student will not be able to participate or have parking privileges at Alvin ISD .

What happens if a student refuses to be tested?

Refusal on the part of any student to participate in a scheduled or random drug test shall be considered a positive test.

What happens if a student is absent on the day he or she is chosen for testing?

Any student identified for random testing on a given date that, because of illness or any other legitimate reason, leaves school before the test is performed will be included in the next random screen.

How much is the drug testing program costing Alvin ISD?

The cost of the contract with Pinnacle is $25 per random sample. Pinnacle is the same company the district uses for the drug-testing for Alvin ISD bus drivers, coaches, sponsors, etc. Pinnacle is an independent laboratory that has met all standards for certification as established by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). All testing is conducted by qualified laboratory personnel in accordance with accepted practices and procedures.

What is the process for drug testing and what method is used?

Testing is done by urinalysis using accepted immunological screening procedures because it is accurate and reliable. The process includes collection, screening, confirmation and review.

How often will drug-testing be done ?

Testing may be done on a weekly basis.

Is it possible that a student could be chosen for drug testing more than once?

Yes, because the selection is random and without suspicion.

What happens if a student quits all extracurricular activities and relinquishes campus parking privileges?

Pinnacle will be contacted and the student's name will be pulled from the activity list. Remember, if a student quits all activities, he or she will be ineligible to participate or park on campus for the remainder of the school year.

What happens if a student tests positive?

Any specimens that test positive are tested again for confirmation utilizing the Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) testing methodology. Parents are notified to determine if there is a medical explanation for the positive test result. If there is no medical explanation for the positive result, the district is notified.

Who actually does the collection process?

Pinnacle employees will oversee the collection of samples.

What about privacy and confidentiality and where samples are being collected?

The collection and coding of specimen samples is done in a manner that ensures proper identification and confidentiality. The Pinnacle employee is always positioned in a way that gives each student his or her privacy. The samples are collected in a restroom suitable for the testing and which has been chosen by the Principal and a representative from Pinnacle.

For what drugs will students be tested?

Any substance considered illegal by either federal or Texas law or that is controlled by the United States Food and Drug Administration including, but not limited to the following alcohol; amphetamines/methamphetamines (speed, uppers, diet pills); anabolic steroids (performance-enhancing drugs); barbiturates (downers, sleeping pills); benzodiazepines (Valium, Librium); cannabinoid (marijuana); cocaine metabolites; hallucinogens (LSD); MDMA (Ecstasy); Methadone; nicotine; opiates (heroin, morphine, codeine); phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust); propoxyphene (Darvon). Alvin ISD reserves the right to test for any and all illegal or controlled substances as determined at the discretion of the district.

What are the consequences of a positive test?

First Offense

The student testing positive through random drug testing will be suspended from all competitive after-school extracurricular practices , performances, competitions, activities, and/or driving privileges for 15 school days. The Designated Official will arrange for a conference between the student, parent/guardian, Communities in Schools representative, appropriate sponsor(s), and the student's assistant principal to discuss the offense. The student will be required to participate in the campus Communities in Schools drug abuse program or show proof of private drug abuse counseling. Any costs associated with private counseling are the responsibility of the student and/or parent/guardian. During this period of suspension, the student may undergo drug-testing weekly. If the results of the weekly tests are negative, the student will be eligible to practice and participate in performances, competitions, activities, and/or regain driving privileges at the end of the 15-school-day suspension period. If the student has a second or subsequent positive result in the weekly drug-testing, this will count as a second offense and the campus designee along with the Student Assistance Program coordinator will be notified by the District designee to determine the frequency of additional drug-testing and when the student can regain his/her eligibility.

Second Offense

The student testing positive for a second time will be suspended from all competitive after-school extracurricular practices , performances, competitions, and/or activities, and/or driving privileges for a period of 45 school days. The Designated Official will arrange for a conference between the student, parent/guardian, Communities in Schools representative, appropriate sponsor(s), and the assistant principal to discuss the second offense. The student will be required to participate in the campus Communities in Schools drug abuse program or show proof of private drug abuse counseling. Any costs associated with private drug abuse counseling are the responsibility of the student and/or parent/guardian. During this period of suspension, the student may undergo drug-testing each week. If the results of these tests are negative, the student will be eligible to practice and participate in performances, competitions, activities, and/or regain driving privileges following the end of the suspension period of 45 school days. If the student has another positive result during the 45-day period in the weekly drug-testing, this will count as a third offense and the campus designee, along with the Student Assistance Program coordinator will be notified by the District designee to determine the frequency of additional testing and when the student can regain eligibility.

Third Offense

The student testing positive for the third time in a random drug-testing shall be suspended from all competitive after-school extracurricular activities and/or driving privileges for a period of one (1) calendar year from the date of the confirmation of the third positive drug test result or alcohol test result. The Designated Official will arrange for a conference between the student, parent/guardian, Communities in Schools representative, appropriate sponsor(s), and the assistant principal. The student will be required to participate in the campus Communities in School drug abuse program or show proof of private drug abuse counseling. Any costs associated with private counseling are the responsibility of the student and/or parent/guardian. The student will also be required to continue to practice his/her sport/activity in the class period allotted and consent to a drug test at the end of the year of suspension in order to regain eligibility.

What is the process for appeals?

Should a student and/or parent or person otherwise in lawful control of the student elect to appeal a positive test result, the second half of the specimen in question may be tested by a laboratory mutually agreed upon by the student, parent and District. In such cases, the student and/or parent or person otherwise in lawful control of the student shall assume responsibility for payment of all fees related to the second test. A written request to appeal a positive test must be submitted to the Superintendent or designee within three days of receiving notice of the positive results. A student and/or parent or person otherwise in lawful control of the student may appeal a suspension to the Superintendent's designee by filing a written complaint according to the provisions and time lines according to the official policy on student and parent complaints.

The student or parent may request a conference with the Superintendent or designee to appeal the positive test result. The appeal notice must be filed in writing, on a form provided by the District within three days after receipt of the test results. The Superintendent or designee shall hold a conference within ten days after the appeal notice is filed. At the conference, the Superintendent or designee shall consider only the issues and documents presented and identified in the appeal notice. The Superintendent or designee shall have ten days following the conference to provide the student or parent a written report. During the appeal, the student will remain suspended from the extracurricular activity and parking privileges will also remain revoked pending the outcome of the second test.