This year, millions of students worldwide will benefit from D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), the highly acclaimed program that gives kids the skills they need to make good choices.

D.A.R.E. was founded in 1983 in Los Angeles and has proven so successful that it is implemented in 75 percent of our nation’s school districts and more than 50 countries worldwide.

D.A.R.E. is a police officer-led series of classroom lessons that teaches children from kindergarten through 12th-grade good decision-making skills to lead productive drug—and violence-free lives.

Specially Trained Officers Assigned D.A.R.E. Classroom “Beats”

The D.A.R.E. curriculum is designed to be taught by police officers whose training and experience gave them the background needed to answer the sophisticated questions often posed by young students about drugs and crime. Before entering the D.A.R.E. program, officers undergo 80 hours of special training in areas such as child development, public speaking, brain-based learning, facilitation, active learning, classroom management, teaching techniques, and communication skills.

D.A.R.E.’s primary mission is to provide children with the information and skills they need to make good decisions.

The mission is to equip kids with the tools that will enable them to avoid negative influences and, instead, allow them to focus on their strengths and potential. And that’s exactly what D.A.R.E. is designed to do.

Additionally, it establishes positive relationships between students and law enforcement, teachers, parents, and other community leaders. Every young person should be able to grow up healthy, safe, secure, and equipped with the skills needed to succeed. Contemporary America, however, is rampant with challenges that could keep children from a positive life path.

D.A.R.E. Officers undergo a two-week training where they are taught (and get to practice) public speaking, classroom management techniques, lesson planning, team building, and much more. The officers spend many hours working with trained staff and Educators on the latest brain research, brain-based learning, youth culture trends, drug information, learning styles, facilitation/effective questioning, and active listening. They also learn and practice the D.A.R.E. curriculum material.

D.A.R.E. is not just a “say no” program. D.A.R.E. focuses on many aspects, such as decision-making, consequences, risks, health effects, friendships, peer pressure, personal pressure, confidence in refusing offers, and ways to be in charge. There are enhancement lessons that can be added for bullying, recognizing role models, meth, gangs, and internet safety that are now available.

D.A.R.E. does not just target one grade! There is a curriculum for K-4th grades, 5/6th grades, 7/8th grades, and even high school. There are also parent/community components, too!