Drug Screening

participation in competitive afterschool extracurricular activities and as a condition of obtaining and maintaining a permit to drive/park on a Katy ISD campus.

The purpose of the Katy ISD Random Drug-Testing Program is to ensure the health and safety of students. It is intended to serve as a deterrent to the use of illegal drugs and/or alcohol by offering students a credible means for resisting peer pressure. This program also affords the District the opportunity to offer support and assistance to any student, who may be using illegal drugs, performance-enhancing drugs, and/or alcohol.

GENERAL QUESTIONS

Why did Katy ISD institute a drug-testing policy?

Katy ISD is concerned about the academic, physical and emotional well-being of all its students, and believes it has a responsibility to assist students in dealing with a variety of teen issues including drug and alcohol use. The drug-testing program is only one part of a comprehensive Safe and Drug Free Schools and Community program. It is designed to identify students in need of help and to provide them, and their parents, with the necessary resources to deal with substance abuse and other issues.

What are the overall objectives of the drug-testing program?

1) To ensure the health and safety of all students who represent the District in any competitive afterschool extracurricular activities;

2) To serve as a deterrent to the use of illegal drugs, performance enhancing drugs, and/or alcohol among the student body;

3) To offer students a credible means to resist peer pressure as it relates to the use of illegal drugs, performance-enhancing drugs, and/or alcohol;

4) To provide a ready source of assistance to any student who may be using illegal drugs, performance-enhancing drugs, and/or alcohol.

What is the definition of a competitive afterschool extracurricular activity?

In keeping with local guidelines, competitive afterschool extracurricular activities are defined as school-sponsored, school related competitive activities, including identified elective offices, or participation in identified clubs, teams, or organizations. Activities and/or loss of driving privileges as previously described.

What does the drug-testing process include?

The drug-testing procedures include a four-step process: collection, screening, confirmation, and review.

What method of drug-testing will be used?

Urinalysis is the method used. This method, which is the most commonly used for drug-testing, is recommended because of its accuracy and reliability.

How often will drug-testing be done?

Drug-testing will take place on a weekly basis at the high school level.

Can a student be chosen for drug-testing more than once?

Yes. Because selection for drug-testing is random and suspicion less, a student may be selected for drug-testing more than once during the year.

What if my child ends his or her participation in the extracurricular activity in the middle of the year/season, will they still be included in the drug-testing pool?

If a student elects to quit all extracurricular activities and/or not have campus parking privileges, the drug-testing vendor will be contacted by the District through an activity list update and the student’s name will be pulled from the random drug-testing pool. The student who elects to quit all competitive afterschool extracurricular activities will be ineligible for participation in a competitive afterschool extracurricular activity and/or having parking privileges for the remainder of the current school year.

COLLECTION AND TESTING

Do parents have to sign a consent form for their child’s testing?

Yes. Both the parent and student must sign the consent form authorizing the student’s participation in the District’s drug-testing program.

Where on campus will the samples be collected?

Samples will be collected in a suitable restroom collaboratively chosen by the campus principal or designee and a representative from the drug testing vendor.

What if a parent does not consent to a child being tested, will he/she still be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities or have driving privileges?

No. In order to participate in a competitive afterschool extracurricular activity or have driving privileges, both the parent and the student must consent to drug-testing.

How will students be selected for drug-testing?

Selection for drug-testing is random and suspicions less. Students who are identified for inclusion for drug-testing will be placed in a pool from which the random selections will be made. The vendor chosen to conduct the drug-testing will be responsible for randomly selecting students from established pools using electronic methods.

What happens if a student is selected for drug-testing and refuses to be tested?

Students who are selected for drug-testing and refuse to participate will be treated as if they received a positive result and will lose competitive afterschool extracurricular activities and/or driving privileges for the remainder of the school year.

If a student is chosen for drug-testing, but is absent that day, will he/she be tested upon returning to school?

Students who are not present on a day they are selected for drug testing will be replaced by another student from the pool and will not be tested as part of that pool when they return to school. Any student who has been notified that he/she is selected for random testing but who, because of illness or any other legitimate reason, leaves school before the test is performed, shall be included in the next campus random drug-testing. A student who is truant after being notified that he/she has been selected for drug-testing will be considered as having tested positive. Refusal on the part of any student to participate in a scheduled or random drug test shall be considered as having tested positive.

Who will oversee the sample collection process?

The vendor’s employees will oversee the collection of samples for testing.

How will the student’s privacy be ensured during collection?

The vendor’s employee will be in the collection area to ensure the validity of the sample; however, the monitor will be positioned in a way as to give the student his or her privacy.

How many samples will be taken?

One sample is collected and that sample will be divided into two parts in the student’s presence. Sample A will be used for the initial testing. If the test result of Sample A is positive for drugs or alcohol, a confirmation test will be conducted on Sample A. Sample B will be frozen and reserved for outside testing in the event of a challenge of the positive test result by the student or parent/guardian. All costs associated with testing the second half of the sample will be the responsibility of the student and parent/guardian.

For what substances will students be tested?

• Drug-testing will include, but not be limited to, the following substances:
• Amphetamines/methamphetamines (speed, uppers, diet pills)
• Barbiturates (downers, sleeping pills)
• Benzodiazepines (Valium, Librium)
• Cannabinoid (marijuana)
• Cocaine metabolite
• Ethanol (alcohol)
• Hallucinogens (LSD)
• Methadone
• Opiates (heroin, morphine, codeine)
• Phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust)
• Propoxyphene (Darvon)
• Steroids (performance enhancing drugs)

The District shall reserve the right to test for any and all illegal or controlled substances.

CONFIRMATION AND REVIEW

What happens if a student tests positive for drugs/alcohol?

If a student tests positive, then the vendor will first further test the specimen using Gas Chromatography/ Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) methodology.  If the specimen still tests positive, the vendor will contact the students’ parent or guardian to determine whether there is an alternative medical explanation for the positive test result. If there is no medical explanation for a positive result, the District will be notified. Parents may choose to have the second half of the sample taken during collection sent to a lab mutually agreed upon by the parent and the vendor for independent testing. All costs associated with testing the second half of the sample will be the responsibility of the student and parent/guardian

Will I receive notification if my child tests negative?

No. Parents are only contacted by the vendor if a student tests positive for drugs or alcohol.

What happens if my child receives a “false positive?”

There is no such thing as a false positive. A test result is either positive or negative. Parents will be contacted in the event of a positive test result and asked if there is an alternative medical explanation for a positive result, i.e., a prescription medication.

Is there a confirmation test on specimens that test positive on the immunological screening?

Yes. Any specimens that test positive will be confirmed by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) methodology.

How confidential are the drug-testing results?

The vendor retains control of all student records related to drug testing and will only communicate information related to a positive test result to the parent or guardian and the District’s designated vendor contact.

CONSEQUENCES

What sanctions are imposed for a positive test?

The District policy describes sanctions for a first, second, and third offense.

First Offense – The student testing positive in random drug-testing will be suspended from participation from all competitive afterschool extracurricular practices, performances, competitions, and/or activities, and/or driving privileges for a minimum three-week period. The assistant principal acting as the drug-testing campus contact will arrange for a conference between the student, parent/guardian, the Student Assistance Program (SAP) representative, appropriate sponsor(s), and the assistant principal to discuss the offense. The student will be required to participate in the campus SAP program or show proof of external counseling. Any costs resulting from outside counseling are the responsibility of the student and/or parent/guardian. During this period of suspension, the student will undergo drug-testing weekly. If the results of the weekly drug tests are negative, the student will be eligible to practice and participate in performances, competitions, and/or activities, and/or regain driving privileges on the Monday following the end of the minimum three-week suspension period. If the student has a second or subsequent positive result(s) in the weekly drug-testing, the campus designee, along with the SAP coordinator will be notified by the District designee to determine the frequency of additional drug-testing and when the student can regain eligibility.

Second Offense – The student testing positive for a second time in random drug-testing will be suspended from all competitive afterschool extracurricular practices, performances, competitions, and/or activities, and/or driving privileges for a minimum period of six weeks. The assistant principal acting as the drug-testing campus contact will arrange for a conference between the student, parent/guardian, SAP representative, appropriate sponsor(s), and the assistant principal to discuss the second offense. The student will be required to participate in the campus SAP program or show proof of external counseling. Any costs resulting from outside counseling are the responsibility of the student and/or parent/guardian. During this period of suspension, the student will undergo drug-testing each week. If the results of these tests are negative, the student will be eligible to practice and participate in performances, competitions, and/or activities, and/or regain driving privileges on the Monday following the end of the minimum suspension period of six-weeks. If the student has a second or subsequent positive result(s) in the weekly drug-testing, the campus designee, along with the SAP coordinator will be notified by the District designee to determine the frequency of additional testing and when the student can regain eligibility.

Third Offense – The student testing positive for the third time in a random drug-testing shall be suspended from all competitive afterschool extracurricular activities and/or driving privileges for a period of one (1) calendar year from the date of the confirmation of the third positive drug or alcohol test result. The assistant principal acting as the drug-testing campus contact will arrange for a conference between the student, parent/guardian, SAP representative, appropriate sponsor(s), and the assistant principal. The student will be required to participate in the campus SAP program or show proof of external counseling. Any costs resulting from outside counseling are the responsibility of the student and/or parent/guardian.

Is there an appeals process?

Yes. A student and/or parent/guardian may choose to have the second half of the sample taken during collection sent to a lab mutually agreed upon by the student/parent and the vendor for independent testing. All costs associated with testing the second half of the sample will be the responsibility of the student and parent/guardian. A written request to appeal a positive test result must be submitted to the District Coordinator of SDFSC within three days of receiving oral notice from the Medical Review Officer or authorized representative of the results. A student and/or parent may appeal a suspension under the drug-testing policy by filing a written complaint according to the provisions and timelines as set forth in policy FNG (LOCAL) as related to STUDENT AND PARENT COMPLAINTS.

Are there disciplinary consequences for testing positive?

No. The drug-testing policy is intended to identify those students in need of assistance in dealing with drug and alcohol issues.  Students who test positive for drugs or alcohol will not receive any disciplinary consequences. The result of testing positive for drugs or alcohol is the loss of competitive afterschool extracurricular activity privileges and/or driving privileges as previously described.

Does a student testing positive provide “reasonable suspicion” to conduct a locker or vehicle search?

No. The only consequences from testing positive are suspension from participation in competitive afterschool extracurricular

Will law enforcement be notified or intervene in any way in case of appositive result?

No. The only consequences from testing positive are suspension from participation in competitive afterschool extracurricular activities and/or loss of driving privileges as previously described.

STUDENT ASSISTANCE

Will counseling be made available for students who test positive for drugs or alcohol? How about their parents?

Will the District provide any drug rehabilitation or recovery services?

No. The District will not provide any rehabilitation or recovery counseling, or provide funding for a student to attend such a program. The District will work with the family to identify appropriate counseling resources if necessary.

Is a student required to participate in a school-sponsored counseling program, or can they participate in a counseling program of their choice?

Students are free to participate in an external program, but they must show proof of participation in the external program they have opted over the school-sponsored Student Assistance Program. All costs associated with an external program are the responsibility of the student and parent/guardian.

Can a student choose not to participate in any type of assistance or counseling program?

Only if the student testing positive elects to withdraw from all competitive afterschool extracurricular activities and/or forfeit all campus driving privileges.