title: Reasons for teachers' adaptation of substance use prevention curricula in schools with non-white student populations.
abstract: In this study we investigate reasons why teachers adapt substance use prevention curricula in the nation's middle schools. We hypothesize that these reasons will be most salient in schools with racially and ethnically diverse student populations, for whom teachers may believe it appropriate to tailor their curricula. The study sample comprised a nationally representative sample of lead substance use prevention teachers in the nation's middle schools. Respondents answered questions concerning eight student problems or needs that constituted reasons why they might adapt their prevention lessons. Controlling for a variety of school and teacher characteristics, we found that teachers in high minority schools were more likely to adapt curricula in response to three of the eight characteristics presented: youth violence, limited English proficiency, and various racial/ethnic or cultural groups. We suggest that curriculum developers make a systematic effort to understand how teachers are adapting their curricula in high minority schools and incorporate these modifications, if found effective, into their curricula.
authors.affiliation: Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514-2812, USA. ringwalt@pire.org
authors.forename: Christopher L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Ringwalt
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vincus
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ennett
authors.forename: Ruby
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Louise Ann
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Rohrbach
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003479:Curriculum; D003657:Decision Making; D005178:Faculty; D006801:Humans; D008913:Minority Groups; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States