NEW ALBANY, Ind. (AP) — A southern Indiana school board has approved a policy allowing drug testing for students reasonably suspected of using illegal substances.

The board of trustees of the New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp. passed the policy 5-0 Monday night.

The News and Tribune reports students who test positive would be referred to a drug intervention program for counseling. The program also will train administrators and teachers to recognize drug issues.

Assistant Superintendent Bill Briscoe said the policy is meant to help students, not punish them. He said the policy defines what reasonable suspicion is and covers events on school grounds, away from them and while traveling to them.

Several sections of the policy allow administrators to consider a refusal to submit to testing as a positive result.