The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act was created to encourage strategies that prevent violence in and around schools, strengthen programs that prevent the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco, or drugs, and increase parent involvement.

Federal assistance is provided through Title IV to the Oregon Department of Education for grants to Local Education Agencies to establish, operate, and improve local programs of school drug and violence prevention, early intervention, rehabilitation referral, and education in elementary/secondary schools. Education agencies may use these funds to contract with community-based organizations or other public and private non-profit agencies to provide these programs.