Information for Parents & Students
The survey asks questions about risks for injury, health outcomes, and alcohol and drug use. Schools, and state
and local agencies use survey results to support our youth and reduce their risks. The Healthy Youth Survey is
voluntary and anonymous and provides important information to guide policy and programs that serve our
youth.
Please share this information with your student.
Then talk about the survey and decide if your student will participate.
Q: Who will be asked to take the survey? A:
Students in Grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 across Washington
State and students in Grades 7, 9 and 11 in small
school districts.
Q: Is the survey voluntary?
A: Yes! Students taking the survey can skip questions
and stop taking the survey at any time. If you do not
want your student to participate in the survey, you can
call the school to excuse your student. Students can also
tell their teacher that they do not want to take the
survey. Students not taking the survey will take part in a
different activity, such as studying or reading in the
library. There is no penalty for not taking part in the
survey. Your student’s grades will not be affected.
Q: What questions are on the survey? A: Survey
questions come from surveys across the nation and in
Washington. Parents or guardians can contact their
school office to see a copy of the questionnaire or
review the questions on www.askhys.net. Some topics
include:
• Information, such as age, sex, race and ethnicity •
Feelings about school and community
• Relationships with parents, friends, and
neighbors
• Eating habits, physical activity
• Health education
• Attitudes about and the use of tobacco, alcohol
and other drugs
• Behaviors and feelings related to safety
• Behaviors related to violence
• Gender identity (optional and simplified version
available for Grades 6 and 7*)
• Sexual orientation (not for Grades 6 and 7) •
Sexual behavior, abuse and exploitation (not for
Grades 6 and 7)
* Unless schools specifically opt into asking this
question, students will not be asked to report their
gender.
Q: How is student identity protected? A: The
HYS is always voluntary, and students will not put
their names on the survey. There are no codes or
information to match a survey to a student. No one
from the school will look at their answers. Students
will submit their completed surveys confidentially
when they are done.
If there were unauthorized access to students’
answers, someone might try to identify a particular
student using information like school, grade, and
race/ethnicity. However, we take confidentiality very
seriously and there are several steps we use to prevent
unauthorized access to students’ answers and to
ensure that the sensitive information collected on the
survey remains anonymous. You can learn more at:
https://www.AskHYS.net/HYS/HYS...
Q: How are the survey results used? A:
Schools, school districts, counties and state agencies
use the results to understand our students and to
provide them with the services they need. Results
are used for planning, evaluating, and improving
programs, and getting the money to support them.
Anonymous data are also shared with local health
departments, Tribal Epidemiology Centers, and
approved researchers.
Need More Information?
If you have any questions about the purpose of
the survey or survey procedures:
• Call toll-free 1-877-HYS-7111
• Email healthy.youth@doh.wa.gov
Information about the Healthy Youth Survey can
be found at: www.AskHYS.net
The Washington State Institutional Review Board
has approved the procedures for the Healthy Youth
Survey that are described in this letter. If you believe
these procedures have not been followed, please call
1-800-583-8488. You do not have to leave your
name. All messages will be returned.
Students have been taking the Healthy Youth Survey since 2002. The number of students
has grown from only a few thousand students to over 230,000 a year!