Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools - Responsibilities

Responsibilities

The Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools administers, coordinates, and recommends policy for improving the quality of programs and activities designed to:

• Provide financial assistance for drug and violence prevention activities and activities that promote the health and well-being of students in elementary and secondary schools, and institutions of higher education. These activities may be carried out by State and local educational agencies and by other public and private nonprofit organizations.
• Participate in the formulation and development of Department of Education program policy and legislative proposals, and in overall Administration policies related to violence and drug prevention.
• Participate in interagency committees, groups, and partnerships related to drug and violence prevention, coordinating with other federal agencies on issues related to comprehensive school health, and advising the Secretary of Education on the formulation of comprehensive school health education policy.
• Participate with other federal agencies in the development of a national research agenda for drug and violence prevention.
• Administer the Department's programs relating to character and civics education.