What can I do to help make sure that my child's school is safe and drug-free?

	Under the provisions of No Child Left Behind, teachers and school personnel can undertake reasonable actions to maintain order and discipline without fear of being sued.

• Review school discipline policies with your child. Make sure that she knows what behaviors you expect of her in school. Let her know that you will support teachers in their efforts to enforce the policies.

• Work with the school to develop a plan to handle safety and drug problems, such as drug education and violence prevention programs. Make sure the school has clear consequences for students who break school rules.

• Get to know your child's friends and their parents. Make sure their attitude about drugs is compatible with yours. If not, encourage your child to find new friends.

• Under the No Child Left Behind Act, states must identify "persistently dangerous schools" and provide families with an alternative to sending their children to schools that are unsafe. If your child attends such a school—or if your child has been a victim of school violence—talk with school officials about your options.