Northeast > Resources > Topic Specific > National Prevention Resources and Policies > Principles of Effectiveness (Revised)

The US Department of Education (USED) used to promote their Principles of Effectiveness that regulated the delivery of federally-funded prevention programs. Do these Principles still exist?

Note: This FAQ has been updated. Click here to go to the orginal FAQ.

Back in 1998, USED attempted to define what works in prevention by announcing that specific Principles of Effectiveness would govern recipients' use of funding received under Title IV, the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (SDFSCA) State Grants Program. The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act that was passed in January 2002 incorporated these principles, making some important revision to them. First of all, under the NCLB act, the Principles of Effectiveness are no longer a regulation but a law. In addition, whereas in the past there were only four principles, the new principles of effectiveness now contain five general principles and two evaluation-related principles.

The Principles of Effectiveness according to the NCLB Act are as follows:

(1) IN GENERAL- For a program or activity developed pursuant to this subpart to meet

the principles of effectiveness, such program or activity shall —

(A) be based on an assessment of objective data regarding the incidence of violence and illegal drug use in the elementary and secondary schools and communities to be served, including an objective analysis of the current conditions and consequences regarding violence and illegal drug use, including delinquency and serious discipline problems, among students who attend such schools (including private school students who participate in the drug and violence prevention program) that is based on ongoing local assessment or evaluation activities

(B) be based on an established set of performance measures aimed at ensuring that the elementary and secondary schools and communities to be served by the program have a safe, orderly, and drug-free learning environment

(C) be based on scientifically based research that provides evidence that the program to be used will reduce violence and illegal drug use

(D) be based on an analysis of the data reasonably available at the time, of the prevalence of risk factors, including high or increasing rates of reported cases of child abuse and domestic violence; protective factors, buffers or assets; or other variables in schools and communities in the State identified through scientifically based research

(E) include meaningful and ongoing consultation with and input from parents in the development of the application and administration of the program or activity

(2) PERIODIC EVALUATION-

(A) REQUIREMENT- The program or activity shall undergo a periodic evaluation to assess its progress toward reducing violence and illegal drug use in schools to be served based on performance measures described in section 4114(d)(2)(B).

(B) USE OF RESULTS- The results shall be used to refine, improve, and strengthen the program, and to refine the performance measures, and shall also be made available to the public upon request, with public notice of such availability provided.

Source: This information was excerpted from the U.S. Department of Education’s Website: http://www.ed.gov/legislation/ESEA02/pg52.html#sec4115

Related CAPT products:

The CAPT offers training related to program development, implementation, and evaluation. Please contact Deborah McLean Leow at dmclean@edc.org if you would like more information.

Other related documents and websites:

No Child Left Behind Website:

This website provides parents and concerned citizens with information and resources regarding the No Child Left Behind Act including: frequently asked questions, key dates, and an online newsletter. http://www.nclb.gov

Other contacts for more information:

Call the Safe and Drug-Free Schools program staff at (202) 260-3954 for technical assistance on program administration and grant application requirements.

Please contact the Northeast CAPT at capt@edc.org for more information.