DARE program faces mixed reviews from RTI study
RTI finds eight studies valid and conclusions about DARE's core curriculum reliable yet notes long term effects fade as youths age. Local officers dispute results, praising experience and stressing high school needs, budgets, and training as barriers to expanding DARE beyond elementary grades.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
NIJ
Research Triangle Institute
RTI
DARE
Institute
Carmelita Wagner
Cook County Sheriffs Police
Wagner
L.A
Chicago
Dare America
National Organization
Chicago Ridge Police
James LeBarre
Matteson
LeBarre
History and evolution of the DARE program
The DARE program, born in the early 1980s under First Lady Nancy Reagan and led by LAPD founder Daryl Gates, taught about 8,000 students in 50 Los Angeles elementary schools. The core curriculum, updated in 1994 as DARE to Resist Drugs and Violence, expanded to include tobacco and inhalants, with stronger gang-violence emphasis and closer teacher collaboration.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cook County
Wagner
Steve Good
Palos Hills
Nancy Reagan
Los Angeles
Daryl Gates
National Institute of Justice
DARE
NIJ
DARE Spending Across Suburban Police Departments
Only 13 departments replied about DARE expenditures. 12 identified themselves. Several towns do not run DARE programs fully, while others allocate salaries, grants, and in‑kind support. Notable figures include Orland Hills at 3000 annually, New Lenox at 1500, Steger with 14.85 per hour for one officer and 15000 total DARE expenses last year, and Chicago Heights with three full‑time DARE officers earning 41000 each plus 1300 other costs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago
New Lenox
Peotone
Orland Hills
DARE
Palos Hills
Steger
Patrick Rossi
Rossi
Palos Heights
Blue Island
Chicago Ridge
Joseph Kosman
Chicago Heights
Harvey
John Crescenti
Oak Lawn
James Spallina
Spallina
Phil Rockrohr
Also Mentioned on This Page
Good
John Bosse
Will County Sheriffs Police
Bosse
Jim Cullen
Frankfort
UIC
Star
Illinois
Consolidated High School
Stagg
Sandburg
Andrew
Mike Zolfo
Zolfo
Brian Galske
Police Department
Galske
Charlie Parsons
Parsons
Rosenbaum
Department of Justice
U.S
Orland Square
Orland Park
Rmcil.edu
N. LaSalle St
Svall Business Management
Morris
Montvale Drive
Springfield
School OF Business Administration
Sgt
A. Quldrem
1000 East
Sibley Dolton, IL
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