Effingham County schools were among the latest recipients of student drug testing program grants.

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and the U.S. Department of Education jointly announced the latest school-based random student drug-testing program grant awards. The new grants, totaling over $1.5 million have been awarded to 14 local education agencies, health facilities and non-profit organizations in six states.

One system from each state was chosen, and Effingham schools received $49,720.

“As parents prepare their children for ‘back to school’ week, I am pleased to announce these new Federal drug prevention grants that will benefit local communities,” said ONDCP Director John P. Walters. “By providing students with a reason to say ‘no,’ we empower them to resist negative peer pressure and make healthy decisions about drug use. Local communities across the country are implementing random student drug testing as an effective tool in their drug prevention strategies.”

More than 1,000 schools have developed and implemented a random student drug-testing program. The grants can be awarded to local educational agencies and public and private entities to develop, implement or expand school-based random student drug testing as part of their substance abuse prevention program.