The State College Area School District will implement Project DARE, Drug Abuse Resistance Education, as a pilot program in the fall, officials said. The public school system is currently examining the extensive drug awareness program, planned as part of the next school year's curriculum.

State College Bureau of Police Services officers involved with project DARE will meet with State College Area School District officials this week to consider the different aspects of the project -- the grade levels it will reach, how it will fit into the school day and benefits for the district's elementary schools, said Patricia Best, spokeswoman for the school district.

DARE graduation ceremonies will be held tomorrow night for the sixth grade class at Our Lady of Victory School, 800 Westerly Parkway. The 27-student class is the first to complete the local preventive education program.

DARE assists students in resisting peer pressure as they enter junior high school where drugs and alcohol are more likely to tempt them, said State College DARE Coordinator David Caster.

The Los Angeles-based program provides students with information on drugs, alcohol and tobacco while teaching them decision-making skills, Caster said.