Salpointe Catholic High School in Arizona requires all parents to attend a two-hour forum on alcohol and drug awareness before their children are permitted to attend the prom or winter formal, the Arizona Daily Star reported on April 9.

While Salpointe is the only local school to require the class, the nearby Catalina Foothills High School is planning to require parents of incoming freshman to attend half-hour meetings which will include information about substance use.

The parental education policy at Salpointe emerged three years ago after the tragic death of a 17-year-old drunk driver, when the school realized "that the number one people who needed to be educated were the parents," said Mike Urbanski, associate head of the school.

The parent-education course is based on the "Community of Concern" program, developed by a Catholic high school outside of Washington, D.C, which includes a 32-page booklet of advice and information to improve parent-student communication. The booklet is in use at schools in 29 states, and has sold over 1 million copies since 1998.