COVERING ALL THE BASES IN EL DORADO

Drug Testing Policy, Which Isn't Restricted To Athletes, Is Among The
Toughest In U.S.

EL DORADO - Students attending El Dorado High School must agree to submit
to random drug testing before they can participate in any extracurricular
activity, attend a ball game or even park their car in the school lot.

Since the policy was instituted this school year, at least 425 students
out of the 600 who attend the public high school in this small town
outside Wichita have signed forms consenting to the random urine tests,
which screen for alcohol, tobacco and illegal drug use, said Principal
Bret McClendon. The district, which adopted the policy for middle
schoolers as well as high schoolers, sees early intervention as the best
way to prevent addiction.

"We see this in the best interest of our students. ... We don't see this
is a punitive measure," said Superintendent Tom Biggs. The district made
the policy broad to help as many students as possible, not just athletes,
he added.

Legal analysts said it is among the most far-reaching drug-testing
programs in the nation and questioned whether it was too broad to be
constitutional. Most schools with drug-testing policies test only
athletes, while El Dorado's go so far as to cover students who attend
school dances.

Although it is unclear how many schools nationwide test students for
drugs, the federal government in recent years has promoted such programs,
and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2002 opened the door to some such
tests. Last year, the federal government awarded $7.5 million in grants
for schools to start drug-testing programs.

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy estimates 2,000
public and private districts conduct drug tests. The National School
Boards Association has reported that 5 percent of public school districts
test athletes and 2 percent test students involved in extracurricular
activities.

Some states, such as Texas and New Jersey, have shown a lot of interest in
the programs, while others have no drug-testing programs in their schools,
said Jennifer Kern, research associate for the Drug Policy Alliance, a New
York-based nonprofit group promoting alternatives to the war on drugs. "It
is really a rural and suburban policy issue. Almost no major school
districts have implemented random drug testing programs in major cities
and urban areas," Kern said.

Among the El Dorado students who have resigned themselves to the policy is
cheerleader Abi Solorio, 16.

"I don't like it, but we have to go by what the school says," Solorio said.

Others, such as softball player Lauren Roedel, 16, believe it is a good idea.

"I don't have a problem with it because I don't do drugs," Roedel said.
"It doesn't really offend me."

School officials said they hoped the policy - which affects seventh
through 12th graders - would give students another reason to say no to
drugs. They noted that positive test results are not reported to law
enforcement and won't affect a student's academic participation.

However, the Drug Policy Alliance cited a study by the University of
Michigan that found drug testing did not affect illicit drug use among
students, including athletes. The study surveyed 76,000 students
nationwide in eighth through 12th grades between 1998 and 2001.

At El Dorado's public high school and middle school, positive test results
would lead to parental notification and suspensions from extracurricular
activities, which become increasingly longer with subsequent positive
results. Three positive results would lead to a student being excluded
from extracurricular activities for 16 weeks and being required to
complete a substance abuse program, according to the policy.

The policy affects any school-sponsored event, whether competitive or
noncompetitive - including clubs, athletics, school dances, club field
trips, driver education, and student parking on school property.

"This is definitely treading far outside what is legally permissible,"
Kern said.

More schools drug test students

WHAT'S NEW? Students attending the public middle school and high school in
the El Dorado district must agree to submit to random drug testing before
they can take part in any extracurricular event. They cannot attend a ball
game or school dance or park their car in the school lot otherwise.

WHAT WERE THEY THINKING? School officials say the drug testing is in the
students best interest, saying early intervention will prevent addiction.
They note only a percentage will be tested.

THE OTHER SIDE: Some students say the test is an invasion of their
privacy. A national group says drug testing does not work to prevent
illegal drug use, and baring students from activities based on it only
alienates students.

NOT ALONE: The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy
estimated 2,000 public and private districts conduct drug tests.