About D.A.R.E.

The D.A.R.E. program was started by a group of Los Angeles police officers and schoolteachers that were concerned because kids were taking drugs. These drugs were destroying kids’ lives. The police officers and schoolteachers joined forces and launched D.A.R.E. to teach kids about the dangers of drugs and violence, and how to protect themselves from it.

The police wanted to steer kids away from dangerous drugs and help them make smart choices, like playing sports and starting hobbies instead of using drugs and hanging out on the streets.

D.A.R.E. was born in Los Angeles, California in 1983 and now is taught in all 50 states in the U.S., as well as in 53 countries. All in all, the D.A.R.E. program will reach 50 million children around the world this year alone.

In Cornelius, D.A.R.E. is taught to all of our community’s fifth grade students. At Cornelius Elementary and JV Washam Elementary the students receive weekly classroom lessons leading up to the final lesson, D.A.R.E. graduation. We take great pride in our community’s children and the graduation ceremony is a special time for them. During the ceremony selected students are given the opportunity to voice their opinion of the D.A.R.E. program through the reading of essays written by the student. This event is very gratifying for all in attendance. It sends a strong message out into the community that our children are special children.