2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)-Monday, February 11
January 3, 2018
Dear TSA Families,
Students in grades 9-12 at The Sharon Academy will be taking part in the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) this upcoming February. This survey is sponsored by the Vermont Department of Health and Agency of Education. The YRBS gathers information about health risk behaviors of adolescents across the state. The survey will ask about nutrition, physical activity, injuries, sexual behaviors, tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use, and is administered every other year. We find the results quite valuable as we plan for the academic, social and emotional support of our students.
TSA is planning to administer the survey on the morning of Monday, February 11.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in conjunction with state and local school officials, developed the YRBS. It has been administered in schools nationwide since 1991. The YRBS has the support of many national organizations including the National PTA.
The YRBS is anonymous and survey procedures have been designed to protect your child’s privacy. It is important that all students, regardless of whether they have engaged in health-risk behaviors, are given an opportunity to participate in the survey. Students will not put their names on the survey. Individual survey responses will not be disclosed to any school employee nor will any student’s name or survey responses be divulged in a report of the results. We would like all students to take part in the survey; however, the survey is voluntary. No student is required to take the survey. Students may skip any questions they do not wish to answer. In addition, students may stop taking the survey at any point without penalty.
As a parent/guardian, federal law affords you the right to inspect the survey before it is administered and to opt your child out of participating in the survey. If you would like to see the survey, a copy is available with Kara Toms, our School Based Clinician. More information about the Vermont YRBS and previous reports are available on the VDH website http://healthvermont.gov/stats/surveys .If you have any questions or concerns, please call Kara Toms at 802-763-2500 ext 234.
Should you decide to opt your child out of taking the survey please inform us in writing by returning the enclosed form or a letter to us by Monday, January 14, 2019.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Michael Livingston
Head of School