W-B AREA CUTS D.A.R.E. IN FAVOR OF 'SUPERIOR' PROGRAM EXCLUSIVE

"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." Jeff Namey W-B Area superintendent

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.