Department of Education March 30, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (Privacy Act), the Department of Education (Department) publishes this notice of a new system of records entitled ``Impact Evaluation of Mandatory-Random Student Drug Testing'' (18-13-16). This evaluation was commissioned by the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance at the Department's Institute of Education Sciences (IES). It will be conducted under a contract that was awarded by IES in July 2005. IES has been collaborating with the Department's Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools (OSDFS) to coordinate the study of mandatory-random drug testing interventions in schools. The study will address the following questions: (1) Do high school students who are subject to mandatory-random drug testing (e.g., athletes, participants in competitive extra- curricular activities, etc.) report less use of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit substances compared to comparable students in high schools without mandatory-random drug testing policies? (2) Do students in high schools with mandatory-random drug testing policies, but who are not subject to such testing (e.g., non-athletes, students who do not participate in competitive extra-curricular activities, etc.), report less use of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit substances compared to comparable students in high schools without mandatory-random drug testing policies? The system will contain information about two cohorts of approximately 200 high school students in each of (i) 26 high schools operating the mandatory-random drug testing program, and (ii) 26 high schools that will not operate the program but that will serve as control high schools for the purposes of this evaluation. The total number of high school students included in this system of records will be approximately 10,400 for each of school years 2006-07 and 2007-08. The 52 participating high schools will be from school districts that are recipients of the Mandatory-Random Drug Testing Program grants that were announced in September 2006 by OSDFS. The system of records will include information about the high school students participating in the evaluation, including the students' names; addresses; demographic information such as race/ethnicity, gender, age, educational background; and attitudes and beliefs concerning substance use, and substance use itself.

The Secretary announces the 2007-2008 award year deadline dates for the submission of requests and documents from postsecondary institutions for the campus-based programs.

The IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management invites comments on the submission for OMB review as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.