Lexington County School District One Board of Trustees approved a student drug testing policy which went into effect during the 2015–2016 school year. This policy authorizes district administrators to implement a random drug testing program that screens students participating in school-sponsored interscholastic athletic competitions for the use of several drugs.

These random drug screenings test for any substance defined as a controlled substance by either South Carolina or federal law, to include:

• marijuana (THC)
• opiates
• cocaine
• methamphetamines
• phencyclidine (PCP)
• MDMA (Ecstasy)
• unauthorized prescription medications

This program is designed to deter drug use among students participating in school-sponsored interscholastic athletic competitions with drug abuse and counseling. While the misuse of drugs is a potential problem for all students, unique pressures and risks exist for students participating in athletics.

Before a student can become eligible for participation in a school-sponsored interscholastic athletic competition in grades 7–12, the student and parent/legal guardian must complete a signed consent form consenting to testing. Failure to consent to participation in the drug testing program automatically excludes the student from participation in any school-sponsored interscholastic athletic competition.

DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

For those students who test positive for any qualifying controlled substances will be subject to disciplinary actions. Discipline will be given based on the number of offenses as detailed below:

• First offense — When a student tests positive, the principal, parent and student will meet. The student will be ineligible to participate in all school-sponsored interscholastic athletic competitions and school practices for 14 calendar days from the date of notification of positive test results, the student must test negative for drugs using the district’s testing agency before resuming participation in any practice or competition, and the student will participate in drug counseling provided by a certified clinical counselor.
• Second offense — When a student tests positive a second time, the principal, parent and student will meet. The student will be ineligible to participate in all school-sponsored interscholastic athletic competitions and school practices for 90 calendar days from the date of notification of positive test results, the student must test negative for drugs using the district’s testing agency before resuming participation in any practice or competition, and the student will participate in drug counseling provided by a certified clinical counselor.
• Third offense — When a student tests positive a third time, the principal, parent and student will meet. The student will be ineligible to participate in all school-sponsored interscholastic athletic competitions and school practices for one calendar year from the date of notification of positive test results, the student must test negative for drugs using the district’s testing agency before resuming participation in any practice or competition, and the student will participate in drug counseling provided by a certified clinical counselor.
• Fourth offense — When a student tests positive a fourth time, the principal, parent and student will meet. The student will be declared permanently ineligible to participate in all school-sponsored interscholastic athletic competitions and school practices from the date of notification of positive test results.