The First District Regional Educational Service Agency Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Program was established in 1989. This education consortium provides services to eighteen school systems in the First District: Appling, Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Candler, Effingham, Evans, Glynn, Jeff Davis, Jenkins, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Screven, Tattnall, Toombs, Vidalia City and Wayne. Effective instruction and learning require climates that are safe and drug free. Safe and Drug Free Schools funds provide opportunities for each school system to identify their unique needs and target these funds to impact instruction and learning.
The First District RESA Safe and Drug Free Schools Program assists school systems to coordinate prevention initiatives to prevent school violence and provide programs that prevent the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. These programs, strategies, and skills are based on target needs and use nationally recognized scientifically based approaches. The Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Title IV Safe and Drug Free Communities Act. Title IV is a part of the No Child Left Behind legislation.
The consortium allows RESA to be the fiscal agent for the program. The First District RESA Program provides planning, training/staff development, curriculum implementation and technical assistance to schools in order for them to meet federal and state Drug Free Schools guidelines. There are four prevention education consultants and one administrative assistant that provide services to the fifteen school systems.