D.A.R.E Curricula

The Massachusetts D.A.R.E. program is more than a curriculum; it’s a community-driven movement committed to safeguarding our youth from drug abuse’s devastating impact. Our achievements showcase what’s possible when a united community strives to create a safer, healthier environment for our children.

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The Impact of Massachusetts D.A.R.E.

Backed by research from Pennsylvania State and Arizona State Universities, with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, along with contributions from Rutgers University and the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, the Massachusetts D.A.R.E. program’s success is largely attributed to the innovative and effective keepin’ it REAL (kiR) curriculum. The kiR program’s strength lies in its proven effectiveness, with studies showing a significant decrease in drug use, bullying, and other negative behaviors among participating students.

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Elementary School Curriculum

The keepin’ it REAL elementary curriculum is the core program for early grades (K-3) and elementary school students (5-6 grades).

Middle School Curriculum

D.A.R.E.’s keepin’ it REAL middle school curriculum serves as an extension of the elementary program, building on previously learned lessons.

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Enhanced Lessons

The keepin’ it REAL curriculum offers three comprehensive and enhanced lessons aimed at educating kindergarten through 8th-grade students.

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Elementary School Curriculum

The D.A.R.E. elementary school program offers customized, age-specific curricula for students ranging from pre-K to 6th grade.

Younger students (pre-K to 2nd grade) are introduced to safety and basic Social Emotional Learning (SEL) concepts through engaging poster lessons. The keepin’ it REAL elementary curriculum is the core program for early grades (K-3) and elementary school students (5-6 grades), focusing on social skills, drug facts, and decision-making to prevent substance abuse.

With a flexible approach, the D.A.R.E. program promotes active learning and allows customization to meet individual school district needs.

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Middle School Curriculum

D.A.R.E.’s keepin’ it REAL middle school curriculum serves as an extension of the elementary program, building on previously learned lessons. It equips students with R.E.A.L. substance refusal strategies to help them make healthy decisions in challenging situations.

The flexible approach allows customization by D.A.R.E. officers and schools to suit their specific needs, encouraging active learning over traditional lecture methods. This research-backed curriculum has been proven effective in influencing attitudes toward substance abuse.

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Enhanced Lessons

The keepin’ it REAL curriculum offers three enhanced lessons for students in kindergarten through 8th grade:

Elementary & Middle School Opioid & OTC/Rx: Educating K–8 students about medication risks, including opioids.
Middle School Vaping Prevention: Equipping 7th–8th graders with knowledge about vaping risks for informed decision-making.
Middle School Online & Social Media Safety: Addressing online and social media safety for 7th–8th graders in collaboration with the Organization for Social Media Safety (OFSMS). These lessons empower students to protect their mental health, identity, and guard against online fraud and manipulation.

These lessons inform students about the potentially harmful uses of social media and provide tools to safeguard their mental health, protect their identity, and avoid online fraud and manipulation.

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