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Reasons for Teachers' Adaptation of Substance Use Prevention Curricula in Schools with Non-White Student Populations

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

    Christopher L. Ringwalt & Amy Vincus

  2. Department of Health Behavior & Health Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

    Susan Ennett

  3. Research Triangle Institute International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

    Ruby Johnson

  4. University of Southern California, Alhambra, California

    Louise Ann Rohrbach

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  1. Christopher L. Ringwalt
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  2. Amy Vincus
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  3. Susan Ennett
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  4. Ruby Johnson
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  5. Louise Ann Rohrbach
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Ringwalt, C.L., Vincus, A., Ennett, S. et al. Reasons for Teachers' Adaptation of Substance Use Prevention Curricula in Schools with Non-White Student Populations. Prev Sci 5, 61–67 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:PREV.0000013983.87069.a0

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