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Drug Testing
Policy
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Waxahachie ISD’s policy is to conduct random drug testing on students in grades 7-12 that participate in school-sponsored extracurricular activities (both UIL and non-UIL sanctioned). This includes students who park on a WISD campus.
WISD and the Board of Trustees believe that the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities is a privilege offered to eligible students on an equal opportunity basis. The use of alcohol or drugs by any student presents a hazard to their health, safety, and welfare. By using random drug testing, we are able to detect and prevent illegal drug and alcohol use among students.
To be eligible to participate in any school-sponsored extracurricular activity, a secondary student (grades 7-12) must agree to participate in a drug-testing program that includes random testing during the school year. A signed consent form [below] must be on file for each student before they are able to participate in extracurricular activities.
The full policy is explained on page 2 of the FNF (Local) Board Policy.
FAQs
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What is a “school-sponsored extracurricular activity”?
Posted by:All interscholastic athletics, cheerleading, drill team, academic clubs, special interest clubs, musical performances, dramatic performances, student government, and any other activity or group that participates in contests, competitions, or community service projects on behalf of or as a representative of the District, whether UIL sanctioned or not.
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Where does my child turn in his/her signed consent form?
Posted by:Please have students turn in the signed consent form to one of their extracurricular coaches/sponsors.
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How will students be chosen for testing?
Posted by:The third-party testing company WISD has contracted with uses a software program to randomly choose a list of students to be tested at various times throughout the school year.
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How will students be tested?
Posted by:Students will provide a urine sample to a certified A&D technician of the same gender. Samples will be taken under conditions that are no more intrusive to students than the conditions experienced in a public restroom. Students will provide their samples in the privacy of a restroom stall.
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What drugs will be detected by the test?
Posted by:Drugs detected by the test include marijuana, cocaine, methaqualone, benzodiazepines, PCP, methadone, barbiturates, propoxyphene, amphetamines, opiates, and metabolites of any of these substances.
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What happens if a student tests positive?
Posted by:All positive results must be confirmed by a second, more definitive, test before being reported as positive. The same sample will be used to conduct the second test. When there is a positive, confirmed test result, the following steps will be taken:
- The school official to whom results are reported will notify the principal and extracurricular program director.
- The principal or district administrator will notify the student’s parent/guardian, the student, and the sponsor or coach of the affected activity. The principal will inform the parent of the opportunity to respond to a positive test. The principal will schedule a meeting with the appropriate campus counselor, the parent/guardian, the student, and the student’s physician to develop a plan of assistance for the student.
- At the meeting, the principal will give the student and parents a copy of the test results and provide them with an opportunity to offer an explanation of the results. Parents may also request a retest of the original specimen to confirm the results, but the retest will be at the parent’s expense. A request to retest must be made in writing within 48 hours of the meeting with the principal, and payment for the retest must be included with the request.
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Will results be reported to law enforcement?
Posted by:Results of any drug test administered under WISD’s drug testing policy will be used only to determine eligibility for participation in school-sponsored extracurricular activities.
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Will results become part of a student’s educational record or be reported to teacher/district staff?
Posted by:Results will not be placed in student records. Results will be kept confidential and disclosed only to the student, his/her parent/guardian, and school officials with a need to know (as designated by the Superintendent). Test results will not be provided to districts outside of Waxahachie ISD for any reason, including through the withdrawal process.
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Will students be punished apart from becoming ineligible for extracurricular activities?
Posted by:No, there will be no other action taken against the student except for suspension from participating in extracurricular activities.
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How can parents appeal removal from extracurricular activities?
Posted by:An appeal of the sanction may be instituted by the parent by giving written notice to the appropriate campus principal within five days. The student shall be ineligible for participation pending the appeal. All appeals shall utilize the procedures in FNG(LOCAL).
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What if a student is taking drugs prescribed by a doctor that cause them to test positive?
Posted by:Should a student test positive, parents/guardians will have the opportunity to provide their child’s medical records to show the need for a prescribed drug that could show up on the drug test.
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Is there a possibility of false positives on the test?
Posted by:A false positive is not likely, but as part of the policy, any positive result requires a retest with a second, more definitive, test.
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If tested positive & drug use confirmed, are students able to participate in extracurriculars again?
Posted by:Upon a first offense, the student will be removed from participation, including practice or competition, until the following criteria are fulfilled:
- A minimum of ten (10) school days has elapsed;
- Satisfactory completion of the assistance plan, including at least one 45-minute education and advisement session, is verified by the appropriate campus counselor; and
- The student is retested by the testing agency with a negative result.
Any student who tests positive, receives counseling, and is reinstated will be retested once a month for as long as he or she participates in school-sponsored extracurricular activities for the remainder of the school year.
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What if there are additional offenses?
Posted by:If a student tests positive a second time, the student shall be removed from participation, including practice or competition, until the following criteria are fulfilled:
- A minimum of 90 school days has elapsed;
- Satisfactory completion of the assistance plan including at least four 45-minute education and advisement sessions are verified by the appropriate campus counselor; and
- The student is retested by the testing agency with a negative result.
Any student who tests positive, receives counseling, and is reinstated shall be retested once a month for as long as he or she participates in school-sponsored extracurricular activities for the remainder of the school year.If a student tests positive a third time, the student shall be removed from participation, including practice or competition, until the following criteria are fulfilled:- A minimum of 180 school days has elapsed;
- Satisfactory completion of the assistance plan including at least four 45-minute education and advisement sessions are verified by the appropriate campus counselor; and
- The student is retested by the testing agency with a negative result.
Any student who tests positive, receives counseling, and is reinstated shall be retested once a month for as long as he or she participates in school-sponsored extracurricular activities for the remainder of the school year.
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What if a parent or guardian refuses to sign the consent form?
Posted by:Without a signed consent form on file, a student will not be allowed to participate in any school-sponsored extracurricular activity.
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What happens if a student refuses to be tested?
Posted by:Any student who refuses to be tested or who tampers with, or assists in tampering with, any sample, will be removed from extracurricular activities. If a student is in school and fails to report for testing at the appointed time, he/she will be removed from extracurricular activities.
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Will advance notice be given when the district plans to conduct testing?
Posted by:No. Students will not be notified in advance of any drug test.
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How will offenses in junior high affect students when they get to high school?
Posted by:Positive drug test results during junior high school (grades 7 and 8) shall not be used as consideration for graduated sanctions beginning in high school (grades 9–12). Once a student begins high school (grade 9), the sanction for the first positive drug test result shall be commiserate with the first level of sanctions noted above (ten-day suspension, one advisement session, proof of negative drug test result), regardless of whether the student previously tested positive as a junior high school student (grades 7 and 8).
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Why are students who park on campus also included in this policy?
Posted by:Parking on campus is a privilege extended to students and is subject to the same initial and random drug testing requirements as students who participate in school-sponsored extracurricular activities.
In addition to any other sanctions that may be imposed based on a student driver’s participation in school-sponsored extracurricular activities, a student who has a positive test result shall not be permitted to park on school property for the same number of school days in which the student is prohibited from participation in extracurricular activities. After satisfactory completion of the appropriate sanction provided above and upon subsequent testing with a negative test result, the student shall be permitted to park on school property.
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WISD Random Drug Testing
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Goals of Random Student Drug Testing
- Give our students a reason to say NO!
- Keep our students healthy and safe
- Maintain optimum student learning potential at all times
- Provide intervention/resources for drug treatment when indicated
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Why drug test?
The Waxahachie ISD Board of Trustees "encourages students to participate in school-sponsored extra-curricular activities, but believes the opportunity to participate is a privilege offered to eligible students on an equal-opportunity basis. The use of alcohol or other drugs by students participating in extracurricular activities presents a hazard to the health, safety, and welfare of the student participant. The board believes testing student participants in school-sponsored extracurricular activities serves the important purpose of detecting and preventing illegal drug and alcohol use among students." FNF(Local)
"We find that testing students who participate in extracurricular activities is a reasonably effective means of addressing the School District's legitimate concerns in preventing, deterring, and detecting drug use."
Justice Clarence Thomas
US Supreme Court
June 27, 2022
Board of Education of Independent School
District No. 92 of Pottawatomie County vs. Earls -
Who is eligible for drug testing?
Any Waxahachie ISD student in grades 7-12 that participates in school-sponsored extracurricular activities:
- Athletics
- Cheerleading
- Drill Team
- Academic Clubs
- Special Interest Groups
- Musical Performances
- Dramatic Productions
- Student Government
- Any other activity or group that participates in contests, competitions, or community projects on behalf of or as a representative of WISD
- Any student parking on WISD Campus Grounds
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Parent/Guardian Requirements
- Sign and date permission form for your student's teacher/coach/sponsor or security officer (for parking pass holders).
- Ensure a student returns the form before the deadline.
- Remember, no form equals no participation.
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Student Responsibilities
- Return signed permission form to teacher/coach/sponsor or security officer (for parking pass holders).
- Respectful cooperation with the testing process if randomly selected.
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Selection Method
- The drug-testing laboratory (A&D Tests, Inc.) will use random selection computer software from the DrugPak Software Suite to identify the students tested in each testing session.
- Students will not receive prior notice of testing dates or times.
- A student's participation in more than one campus activity does not increase their likelihood of being selected by the randomizing software. In other words, a student's name can only be in the list of names one time each testing session.
- Waxahachie ISD employees are not involved in the random drug testing selection process in any way.
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Testing Process
- A district employee will escort students to the testing site.
- A technician of the same gender from the testing laboratory will be present in the restroom at all times. These individuals are specially trained to conduct the sample collection process and to ensure its integrity.
- The student will provide a urine sample in the privacy of the bathroom stall after being given precise instructions.
- Every effort will be made to maintain the privacy and dignity of each student throughout the entire process.
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5-Panel Drug Test
- Amphetamines/Methamphetamines
- Cocaine Metabolites
- Marijuana
- Opiate Metabolites (morphine/codeine)
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
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What happens when there is a positive drug test result?
- The sample is automatically retested for verification if a student’s urine has tested positive for one of the five substances in the panel.
- The possibility of the presence of over-the-counter drug interference is also eliminated.
- If the student is taking prescribed medication that may have produced a positive result, the information will be reviewed by the laboratory’s Medical Review Officer (MRO). The MRO can change a positive test result to a negative if this circumstance exists.
- Waxahachie ISD Random Student Drug Testing policy consequences apply for positive tests.
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Parent Notification
- Drug testing results should be returned to WISD officials 4-6 days after the testing session.
- Parents/guardians will be notified as soon as possible if their student tests positive.
- The principal and/or coach/sponsor will make the notification.
- A conference will be scheduled with the student, parent or guardian, administrator, and coach or sponsor to discuss the positive drug test and the resulting consequences.
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Consequences of 1st Positive Test Result
The student will be removed from participation, including practice or competition, until the following criteria are fulfilled:
- A minimum of 10 school days have elapsed;
- Satisfactory completion of the assistance plan including at least one 45-minute education and advisement session is verified by the appropriate campus counselor; and
- The student is retested by testing agency with a negative result.
The sponsor or coach may allow the student to continue to attend practices, but the student will not actively participate. Any student who tests positive, receives counseling, and is reinstated will be retested once per month for as long as he or she participates in school-sponsored extracurricular activities for the remainder of the school year.
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Consequences of 2nd Positive Test Result
If a student tests positive a second time, the student will be removed from participation, including
practice or competition, until the following criteria are fulfilled:- A minimum of 90 school days have elapsed;
- Satisfactory completion of the assistance plan including at least four 45-minute education and
advisement session is verified by the appropriate campus counselor; and - The student is retested by the testing agency with a negative result.
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Consequences of 3rd Positive Test Result
The student will be removed from participation, including practice or competition, until the following
criteria are met:- A minimum of 180 school days have elapsed;
- Satisfactory completion of the assistance plan including at least four 45-minute education and advisement session is verified by the appropriate campus counselor; and
- The student is retested by the testing agency with a negative result.
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Appeal of Positive Drug Test Consequences
An appeal of the sanction may be instituted by the parent by giving written notice to the appropriate campus principal within five days. The student will be ineligible for participation pending the appeal. All appeals will utilize the procedures in FNG(LOCAL).
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Confidentiality
Drug test results will be disclosed to the following individuals only:
- The student
- The parent/guardian
- The necessary school officials on a need-to-know basis only.
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Results Will Not
- Become a part of the student’s academic record
- Be released to law enforcement
- Be transferred to another school district