Pubdate: Mon, 26 Dec 2005
Source: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram (TX)
Copyright: 2005 Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, Texas
Contact:  http://www.star-telegram.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/162
Author: Terry Webster, staff writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

DISTRICT MIGHT AGAIN OFFER DRUG-TEST KITS

The Northwest school district may again offer parents free home
drug-testing kits for middle-school students.

The 8,731-student district distributed the kits in November to parents
who asked for them.

District officials said they received about 150 kits from the
nonprofit group notMYkid. The organization supplies the free kits to
middle schools, along with drug prevention programs. In previous
interviews, organizers said that middle school is usually when
students start to use drugs.

"I've heard some positive comments that parents were pleased that this
is something that's being offered," said school board President Debbie
Thomas.

School officials said they do not know how many parents have requested
the kits since November.

The group offers schools drug-prevention programs and some drug
testing kits free of charge. After receiving their first kit free,
parents can buy additional kits at about $27.99 each.

Representatives for notMYkid said the Northwest program is its first
in Texas. Organizers have started programs in Nebraska, Georgia,
Pennsylvania, California and Kentucky, and hope to provide kits to
schools in every state.

In November, Northwest became the only area school district to offer
the home kits. Many schools offer drug prevention but not drug-testing
programs.

A 2004 survey by University Interscholastic League reported that 242
Texas superintendents indicated that their districts test for drugs.
The majority -- 773 -- said they do not.

Other Tarrant County school districts, such as Eagle Mountain-Saginaw
and Grapevine Colleyville, have drug testing for students in
extracurricular activities.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin