This document presents prepared statements and witness testimonies from the first in a series of Congressional hearings regarding the reauthorization of the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1986. The testimonies examine the progress made toward achieving the sixth of the national education goals which states, "By the year 2000 every school in America will be free of drugs and violence and will offer a disciplined environment conducive to learning." Opening statements were made by Representatives Owens, Barrett, Scott, Fawell, and Sawyer. continues to make general progress in its war against drugs, it still has a higher rate of illicit drug use than any other industrialized nation. Witnesses providing testimonies include: (1) Madeline Kunin, deputy secretary, U.S. Department of Education; (2) Eleanor Chelimsky, assistant comptroller general, Program Evaluation and Methodology, General Accounting Office; (3) Lloyd Johnston, program director of Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan; (4) Ronald Stephens, executive director, National School Safety Center, West Lake Village, California; (5) Henry Wood, chairman, National Drug Free Schools and Communities Steering Committee, Wilmington, Delaware; (6) Stephen Danish, professor and chair of the Psychology Department, director of Life Skills Center, Virginia Commonwealth University; and (7) William London, associate professor of Health Education, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio. (NB)

This legislative hearing focuses on Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, and South Dakota's drug-prevention efforts. The emphasis here is on the efforts of rural states, rural communities, rural schools, and families to combat drug and alcohol abuse. Drug-free school programs are particularly emphasized. Also discussed are the issues various drug-prevention programs face, such as funding needs, the allocation of resources, the special problems faced by Native Americans, and other concerns. In addition to personal testimonies, which are recorded here verbatim, are a number of prepared statements by educators, project administrators, and students. (RJM)