Public concern about substance abuse, fueled by political and media attention, is causing school administrators to consider a variety of approaches beyond traditional drug education. No procedures, methods, or rules regarding drug testing should be established in the absence of clear school board policy, and no policy decisions should be made before the ethical, legal, practical, and financial issues are carefully considered. Among the legal considerations are the constitutional rights of students and employees, particularly the right to freedom from unreasonable search and seizure and to due process and equal protection of the law. Practical issues include the significant number of safeguards required to ensure the accuracy and reliability of drug testing and related record keeping. Although there are several kinds of tests available, the most commonly preferred method is also the most expensive and complex. None of the available tests serves as more than an indicator of possible substance abuse, and no single test covers all possible situations, conditions, or materials. When considering adoption of drug screening policy, school board members should consider whether the procedures will protect personal rights, what use will be made of test results, and whether the resulting benefit is worth the costs and the risk of litigation. (PGD)