(Missouri) The Missouri Legislature revised the state's Safe Schools Act to expand the definition of school property so that students are prohibited from taking drugs and weapons NEAR a school, not just into it. The law extends prohibitions on possessions of drugs and weapons to school playgrounds, parking lots, school buses, and the site of any school activities. The law also established a pilot program using military training and motivation methods with middle school students, developed jointly by the State Department of Education, Department of Social Services, and National Guard. Students may apply to attend the four-week program upon recommendation by their school or the local division of family services counselors.

(South Carolina) Anderson School District 5 in Anderson, South Carolina, implements the Families and Schools Together (FAST) program as part of their comprehensive school safety efforts. The multi-family group process brings families together for an eight-week program that includes meals, meetings, games, and one-on-one play between family and child. The program is followed by monthly multi-family meetings. The school district implements the program at two different sites. School district evaluations have found that the program achieves its goals of improving family functioning and parental involvement in schools while decreasing student conduct disorders and aggression. For more information, contact Ms. Kathy Dobbins, Safe Schools/ Healthy Students Grant Facilitator, Anderson School District 5, (864) 260-1017.
E-mail: kathydobbins@anderson5.net.