The Federal Government's major program designed to help local school districts create safe, disciplined, and drug-free learning settings is the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1994. This program provides financial aid for drug prevention and violence prevention education programs to 97 percent of all school districts; these districts serve more than 40 million students. The funds are also used to create partnerships with police agencies. Funded initiatives focus on alternative school programs for students who are expelled from school; the development of a manual to help educators and community groups select and implement a conflict resolution program; and the safe schools model in six schools in Washington, D.C. Other initiatives focus on suicides and homicides of youth or adults in school, on the way to school, or at a school function; training in violence prevention; assistance to schools to prepare for natural or human disasters; a manual on school uniforms; handgun prevention materials for schools; and handgun tracing. Among six challenges that school districts must address are the need to convince school officials that they can create safe, disciplined, and drug-free settings without infringing on the rights of students or teachers; funding support for drug and violence prevention programs; and the development and support of programs that are effective. 12 references