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U.S. Department of Education's Principles of Effectiveness

(as posted in Section 4115 of the Title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act)

Section 4115 (A):  PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVENESS-

I.  IN GENERAL- For a program or activity developed pursuant to this subpart to meet the principles of effectiveness, such program or activity shall —

 

1. be based on an assessment of objective data regarding the incidence of violence and illegal drug use in the elementary schools 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;
   
2. be based on an established set of performance measures aimed at ensuring that the elementary schools and secondary schools and communities to be served by the program have a safe, orderly, and drug-free learning environment;
   
3. be based on scientifically based research that provides evidence that the program to be used will reduce violence and illegal drug use;
   
4. 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, assets; or other variables in schools and communities in the State identified through scientifically based research; and
   
5. include meaningful and ongoing consultation with and input from parents in the development of the application and administration of the program or activity.
    

II.  PERIODIC EVALUATION-
 

1. 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).
    
2. 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.