FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
JOHN L. WINN
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
JULIA L. JOHNSON
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
LINDA K. TAYLOR
CONTACT PERSON
NAME:
Dr. Greg Thatcher
PHONE:
(850) 245-0667
SUNCOM:
205-0667
E-MAIL:
greg.thatcher@fldoe.org
K12:
2005-37
MEMORANDUM
TO:
District School Superintendents
FROM:
Jim Warford
DATE:
April 1, 2005
SUBJECT: Improving Program Effectiveness through Selection and Implementation
with Fidelity
Per federal requirements for Title IV Safe and Drug-Free Schools (SDFS) funding and programs,
local education agencies (LEAs) are required to demonstrate to the Florida Department of
Education an evidence-based analysis that demonstrates program effectiveness toward reducing
violence, alcohol, tobacco, and other illegal drug use in schools (Section 4114(d)(2)(B), Title IV,
Part A, No Child Left Behind Act). This is important in continuing to promote a safe and healthy
learning environment, which will lead to increased student achievement.
As a part of this analysis, school districts are to conduct effective needs assessments, utilize
representative data to select appropriate prevention programs to meet the most pressing needs,
implement the programs with fidelity, and evaluate the program’s effectiveness. The
superintendents’ and school principals’ involvement in the selection of prevention programs and
support of the implementation is critical to the success of the program.
JIM WARFORD
K -12 Chancellor
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509• www.fldoe.org
District School Superintendents
April 1, 2005
Page Two
Over the following year, Department staff will be working with your district SDFS coordinators and
conducting district site visits in order to ensure process evaluations are being completed for each
SDFS-funded program. The process evaluations are intended to improve program implementation
fidelity and to make certain the chosen programs are appropriate for the identified needs of the
district. Again, support from district and school leadership in ensuring selected programs are
implemented with fidelity is critical.
Also, the Department is required to report to the federal government information on SDFS
programming. In order to meet federal reporting requirements and to optimize educational
opportunities for Florida’s students, the Department will be monitoring more closely the following
items:
1.
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Completion of a representative Needs Assessment Data Collection;
2.
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Appropriate program selection to address the most important area(s) of need;
3.
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Complete and correct implementation of SDFS-funded prevention programs;
4.
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Identification of and resolutions to barriers and challenges as they relate to program fidelity;
5.
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Anticipated program outputs versus actual program outputs as determined by comprehensive
impact and outcome evaluations.
For further information, please contact Dr. Greg Thatcher, Director, Office of Safe and Healthy
Schools, (850) 245-0416, or via email greg.thatcher@fldoe.org.
JW/gtm
cc:
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District Safe Schools Contacts
District Safe and Drug-Free Schools Coordinators
