All students in grades 9-12 who participate in interscholastic sports, extracurricular activities, and/or drive and park on campus are required to participate in random drug testing. The policy governing this requirement is linked below, followed by the form and notice that is required for all high school students.

Policy 4300: Random Student Drug Testing

Random Student Drug Testing Form (for parent and student acknowledgement and signatures)

Notice of Wilkes County Schools Random Student Drug Testing Policy

The Board of Education recognizes that drug and alcohol use by students results in a significant health and safety risk to students and the educational environment. The Random Student Drug Testing Policy is intended to be a helpful part of the overall physical, mental and health education of students. In addition to the alcohol and drug testing program, the school district will continue to utilize the school health curriculum and local community substance abuse education and treatment providers to teach students about the harmful effects of drug and alcohol use and to prevent students from using drugs and alcohol.

• All students in grades 9-12 who desire to participate in any of the following voluntary school activities or privileges must agree to participate in the random student drug testing program:
  • Extracurricular activities, interscholastic athletics, campus driving, and parking privileges.
• Once written consent for participation in the drug testing program has been granted, it will remain valid for the duration of the student's enrollment with Wilkes County Schools. Should a parent/guardian decide to withdraw their student from the testing selection pool, they may do so at any time by choosing the "opt-out option" (located at the bottom of the Statement of Participation form). Should the parent/guardian choose this option, the student will immediately be excluded from participating in the privileged activities included in this policy.
• This program is not intended to punish students, but to help them. However, students who test positive will be excluded from participation in extracurricular activities included in this policy until the student completes a comprehensive substance abuse assessment, provides a medical doctor's release for participation in the activities included in this policy, and has a negative drug test to protect his/her safety and health and that of others in the school environment.
• Any parent of a student in grades 9-12 may consent to the student voluntarily participating in the random drug testing program, whether or not the student is a participant in any of the privileged activities listed above. The same procedures will apply to all students participating in random student drug testing.
• Nothing in this policy is intended to alter other school district policies or practices in dealing with drug or alcohol use or possession. No OSS or charges will be filed based on the results of a random drug test.
• Wilkes County School personnel shall not assist with the actual testing or physical collection of the student samples, shall have no access to the test samples, and shall not select the students who will be randomly tested.
• The contracted test administrator (vendor) will randomly select the students to be tested. Only the MRO (Medical Review Officer, provided by the vendor) and the District Drug Test Coordinator will know the results.
• In the event that a student tests positive for a prohibited substance, the MRO will inform the District Drug Testing Coordinator of the positive test result. The District Drug Testing Coordinator will contact the parent/guardian of the student and give them the opportunity to explain the positive result (through prescription or other medical information), to have the remaining sample retested (if available and at the student and parent/guardian's expense), or to have a new sample tested, pursuant to procedures established for this policy. Any expense incurred in an attempt to refute a positive drug test will be assumed by the parent and/or guardian.
• If a student refuses to participate when selected to be tested, it will be treated as a positive test. If a student leaves school or skips class without a valid excuse after it becomes known that students are being tested, this shall be considered a refusal to be tested. If a student indicates that he/she is physically unable to be tested due to medical reasons, the medical review officer will consult with the student's physician and determine whether or not the student has a legitimate medical reason for being excused from the testing.
• Students will be subject to a mandatory drug retest within 60 calendar days of the first positive test by the school system's contracted provider to be paid for by WCS.
• If a student fails a drug test for the second time during the same academic year, whether from a subsequent random test or the mandatory follow-up test, the student will be excluded from participation in the privileges named in this policy for the remainder of the semester.