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Title
IV-A Section 4002 Purpose: The purpose of Title IV, Part A, Safe
and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (SDFSCA) is to support
programs that prevent violence in and around schools; that prevent
the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs; that involve parents
and communities and that are coordinated with related Federal,
State, school, and community efforts and resources to foster a
safe and drug-free learning environment that supports student
academic achievement.
The Principles of Effectiveness, required under the SDFSCA statute,
provide the framework to assist State and Local Education Agencies
(LEA) in designing, implementing, and evaluating high-quality
programs, and achieving measurable results. Programs or activities
must meet the following criteria.
Funding through Title IV- Part A: Safe and Drug-Free
Schools and Communities
| Principles of Effectiveness |
How Project Wisdom aligns with
these principles. |
Programs must:
-Be based on an assessment of objective data regarding the incidence of violence and illegal drug use in the elementary schools, secondary schools, and communities to be served. This assessment must include an objective analysis of the current conditions and consequences regarding violence and illegal drug use that is based on ongoing local assessment or evaluation activities. Analysis of the conditions and consequences must include delinquency and serious discipline problems among students who attend such schools. evaluated by a third party.
-Be based on an established set of performance measures aimed at ensuring that the elementary schools and secondary schools and communities to be served have a safe, orderly and drug-free learning environment. |
Project Wisdom is one of the oldest and most respected
character education programs in the nation. It was scientifically
evaluated by a third party. This evaluation was conducted
in 2004 by Dr. Beth Manke, professor at California State
University Long Beach. It reaped the following key findings,
all of which help facilitate a "safe, orderly, and
drug-free learning environment."
- Decreases incidents of student teasing and bullying.
- Decreases discipline referrals to the office.
- Affects school climate in a positive way.
- Increases students' self-awareness, social awareness, self-management skills,
relationship skills, and responsible decision making.
- Stimulates student conversation about character issues.
- Generates positive feedback from the communities being served
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Funding through Title IV- Part A: Safe and Drug-Free
Schools and Communities
| Principles of Effectiveness |
How Project Wisdom aligns with
these principles. |
-Be based on scientifically based research demonstrating that the program to be used will reduce violence and illegal drug use.
-Be based on an analysis of data reasonably available at the time, of the prevalence of risk factors including high or increasing rates of reported cases of child abuse and domestic violence; protective factors, buffers, assets; or other variables identified through scientifically based research that occurs in schools and communities.
-Include meaningful and ongoing consultation with and input from parents in the development of the application and administration of the program or activity. |
In addition to these key findings, an abundance of qualitative evidence of the positive impact on schools and the greater learning community can be found on the corporate Web site in the form of student essays, case studies, and testimonials, as well as input and testimonials from educators. This feedback includes reports by both students and educators of improved academic performance, which is in line with current evidence suggesting that good character education raises student grades and state test scores.
Project Wisdom encourages community involvement through the forming of Character Education Teams (shared decision-making committees); inviting community members to serve as guest narrators of the daily character-building broadcast messages; and the sharing of weekly and monthly character themes via school marquees, parent newsletters, homework hotlines, and school Web sites. Service learning projects and community service are also encouraged through the program.
Schools licensed to use Project Wisdom receive six assessment tools for parents, students, and staff.
A full posting of the third-party evaluation, documentation of how Project Wisdom is scientifically research based, and how it aligns with NCLB, as well as further qualitative data, can all be found at
www.ProjectWisdom.com.
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Funding through Title IV- Part A: Safe and Drug-Free
Schools and Communities
| Title IV-A: Requirements |
How Project Wisdom is meeting these requirements. |
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According to Title IV-A Section 4115 of NCLB titled “Authorized
Activities” Local Education Agencies (LEA) may use funding to implement programs that:
-Foster a safe and drug-free learning environment that supports academic achievement.
-Are consistent with the principles of effectiveness described above.
-Are designed to prevent or reduce violence, the use, possession and distribution of illegal drugs, delinquency; create a well disciplined
environment conducive to learning, which includes consultation between teachers, principals and other school
personnel to identify early warning signs of drug use and violence and to provide behavioral interventions as
part of classroom management efforts.
-Are designed to promote the involvement of parents in the activity or program; promote coordination
with community groups and coalitions and government agencies; and distribute information about the local
education agency’s needs, goals and programs. |
Project Wisdom is dedicated to reducing the disciplinary infraction rates on school campuses while simultaneously fostering a safe learning environment through a series of character education initiatives.
-Daily character-building broadcast messages which encourage 1) reflection on the benefits of respectful
and responsible behaviors, 2) critical thinking skills, 3) discussion about issues of character.
-Weekly and monthly character themes and journal topics,
e.g., Choices: Choosing What's Right, Self-Worth: Dealing
with Anger, Respecting Self and Others.
-Online Educator Resource Site, which includes tools that can be used during advisory or in the disciplinary process.
-Weekly lesson plans that integrate character education into all major academic areas.
-Weekly morale boosters for teachers delivered to all registered users via email.
-Flexible program structure that correlates with
individual campus needs.
-Intrinsic/extrinsic reward systems that are embedded in the Project Wisdom program.
Project Wisdom has developed quick-access forms to notify parents and the community about the character education that is being utilized in shaping students and ultimately the greater learning community. |
For an in-depth look at NCLB and specifically
Title IV funding, please visit http://www.tea.state.tx.us/nclb.
Please contact Project Wisdom directly should you have any further
funding questions in regard to NCLB Title IV-A funding opportunities.
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