Youth Risk Behavior Survey To Be Conducted at 24 HCPSS Schools, September-November 2018

September 12th, 2018

The Maryland Department of Health and the Maryland State Department of Education will conduct the Youth Risk Behavior Survey/Youth Tobacco Survey (YRBS/YTS​), this fall. Classes from 24 Howard County public schools–12 middle and 12 high schools–will be selected at random by the state to participate. Surveys will be completed during the school day, between September 24-November 16, with make up dates through November 30.

Families will be notified if their student’s class has been selected to participate. Students have the option to opt out of the survey.

YRBS/YTS​ is a federal- and state-mandated survey. An independent professional survey contractor administers the anonymous and confidential surveys, collects answer sheets, and sends them to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC conducts primary data analysis using the CDC’s YRBS protocols. Survey data collected is totally anonymous, and data will not be reported for individual schools.

For more information on YRBS/YTS​, visit its Maryland Department of Health page.