The Department of Education’s office of safe and drug-free schools has created a committee to advise the department on the effectiveness of grant programs intended to reduce harmful behavior among students.
The 19-member panel, which met June 13 in Washington, has until June 2007 to submit an assessment of the safe and drug-free schools grant program, which received $345.5 million in fiscal 2006. The money is distributed to states based on factors such as population and socioeconomic data.
In his fiscal 2007 budget proposal, President Bush has called for ending the formula grants and replacing them with a $55.8 million discretionary grant program that would require schools and districts to compete for the federal money.
The advisory committee’s next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 21 and 22.