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Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program

The MCPS Safe and Drug-Free Schools' mission is to assure safe, drug-free schools conducive to learning by reducing alcohol and other drug use and bullying, gang involvement and other high risk behaviors through education, prevention, and early intervention in public and participating nonpublic schools countywide.

In support of the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Strategic Plan, Our Call to Action: Pursuit of Excellence, the Safe and Drug-Free Schools program is focused on ensuring success for every student. Federal funding for this program will be reduced or eliminated this year.

Major functions and activities include the following:

  • Collaborating with community-based organizations to provide information and assistance to schools parents and the larger community as part of the Bridge to Excellence, Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program;
  • Supporting staff interventions with students through the Montgomery County Student Assistance Program in MCPS secondary schools and participating non-public schools;
  • Providing parent and community outreach, curriculum support, and peer leadership through programs such as “Every 15 Minutes” ," Keeping it Safe"  Coalition,  “Celebrate Recovery” and “Court Watch for Youth 18 and Under" based on the “Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol” (CMCA) a research-based program;
  • Coordinating with the Montgomery County Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Advisory Council (AODAAC), Gang Task Force, “"Keeping it Safe" Coalition and Department of Police “CSAFE” regional coalitions;
  • Partnering selected schools and with the Montgomery County Local Management Board, the Collaboration Council, to  reduce early disruptive, delinquent, and harmful behavior in youth by increasing “School Connectedness”;
  • Ensuring the purchase of approved materials and the use of research-based curriculum training to prevent alcohol and other drug use and violence;
  • Supporting peer leadership groups in cooperation with the Student Government Associations (SGA), Montgomery County Recreation Department (MCRD), Youth Services Bureaus, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), and the Mental Health Association (MHA); and
  • Implementing five MSDE-certified Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses and the annual Safe and Drug-Free Schools Symposium.