Senior Director for Specialized Educational Services

WJCC Public Schools
117 Ironbound Road
Williamsburg, Va
23185

Phone: 757-603-6462
FAX: 757-565-9389

Voluntary Random Student Drug Testing is one part of a comprehensive and multifaceted alcohol and drug abuse prevention program. It is designed for students in grades 6-12. The purpose of VRSDT is to:

• Foster a safer learning environment in our schools.
• Establish a stronger culture of drug disapproval and responsible decision-making.
• Help direct students away from drug and alcohol use.
• VRSDT is not intended to “catch” current drug users or to punish them. Rather, it promotes safe, drug-free schools by giving kids a reason to say no. 

The program is completely voluntary. Sign-up forms will be sent home on the first day of school. Both parent and student must sign the form AND choose either “Yes” to enroll in the program or “No.” Every student MUST return the form, checked either Yes or No, in a confidential sealed envelope. The forms will be sent directly to the laboratory. No school personnel will see any completed forms.

Students can withdraw from the program at any time, through the VRSDT drop form, which must be signed by BOTH the student and parent. Students may enroll each school year.

The policy is non-punitive and completely confidential. Only the Medical Review Officer from the lab and the parents will know the results of a drug test. School personnel are not notified in any way. The MRO will contact the parents in the event of a positive test and offer community resources. Involvement in these suggested supports is not required.

The lab will coordinate a confidential testing calendar with the high school and middle school testing coordinators (either the principal or assistant principal). The lab will assign a number to each student eligible for testing. A special computer program will generate a random list of numbers, including alternates, for each test date. The testing coordinator will receive a list of names to be tested when the lab company arrives on the designated testing day.

Students will be asked to produce a sample in a secured, tamper-proof bathroom. No one else will be present. The lab personnel will wait outside until the student can produce a specimen. The entire testing process should only take a few minutes.

The lab is a licensed collection agency operating under strict federal guidelines. There is an accurate chain of custody for each specimen. Positive samples will be automatically retested. The test checks for the presence of controlled substances, marijuana, anabolic steroids, and alcohol.

Approximately 15% of the total number of participants will be tested annually. A federal grant pays for the program. Drug testing costs are not taken out of the overall school budget. There are no charges to the family for the drug test. 

Every effort will be made to reduce instructional impact from drug testing.