Random Student Drug Testing in Virginia Public Schools

There were two purposes to this study. First, the study was designed to determine which Virginia public school districts have articulated policies that govern random student drug testing of students and if the school districts'' policies aligned with U.S. Supreme Court standards and Virginia statutes. The second purpose was to ascertain the patterns of practice in selected Virginia school districts that currently conduct random drug testing of students. This included identifying which student groups were being tested and for which drugs. It was also of interest to learn how school districts monitor the testing program and if drug testing practices were aligned with the policies that govern them. The analyses revealed that the current policies and patterns of practice in random drug testing in Virginia public school comply with Supreme Court standards and state statutes. Student groups subject to testing in Virginia public schools include student athletes and students in extracurricular activities in grades eight through twelve. There is evidence that the school districts implementing random drug testing programs have strong community support for the program.

Mark Lineburg is currently principal of Radford High School in Radford, Va. Mark has conducted in-service training for school districts on search in seizure in public schools. He has been adjunct professor in school law for Va. Tech. program. Mark has spoken at State and National conferences on drug testing and School Resource Officers.