Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)

YRBS results for the entire state may be affected. We cannot replace or substitute a selected classroom, school, or district that chooses not to participate.

A school-based survey provides a controlled setting under strict standardized guidelines, which is the best way to protect student privacy, ensure anonymity, and collect credible data.

Research shows that data collected from adolescents are just as reliable as data from adults. Data obtained from the YRBS are checked for conflicting and invalid responses. To obtain truthful answers, students must understand the importance of the survey and that their voice and perspectives are needed. There are procedures in place to protect their privacy and allow for anonymous participation. You can help ensure students respond honestly by letting parents and students know that the survey is important, their privacy is protected, and their participation is completely anonymous (private).

The Alaska YRBS Program provides materials and videos on our resources webpage that may be helpful.

• Partners’ video explaining the importance of YRBS results
• Student video to help students understand the importance of YRBS results

Active consent means that a signed permission form is required for a student to participate. Whether your district uses a paper-based or online registration system, a best practice is to include the YRBS permission form in registration or enrollment packets.

Participating school districts receive funding to help cover costs associated with survey administration. Organizations that use YRBS data are often interested in assisting school districts and schools with YRBS promotion and/or administration. You may contact us at YRBS@alaska.gov to find out if there is a community partner in your area willing to help.

The YRBS is usually administered January through March of odd-numbered years. Districts have flexibility to schedule the survey during a one- to two-week survey window. However, each school must administer the survey on a single day, preferably during a single class period, to ensure students are surveyed only once. We recommend conducting the survey during second period to avoid missing students who arrive late or leave early. We ask every school to select a make-up survey date within one to two weeks of their primary administration date to survey students who have permission and were absent on the primary administration day. The YRBS is easily completed in one 45-minute class period.

Alaska is excited to be moving to a web-based survey in 2025 to improve the efficiency of our survey administration process. We recognize that Alaska schools conduct academic assessments and other surveys online, and youth are more receptive to online platforms. The methods for administering the YRBS today and in the future will ensure responses are anonymous and the resulting information is representative of Alaska’s entire youth population.

We provide districts in Alaska the option of conducting a district-level survey. District-level results are only released if there are enough student responses to protect student anonymity and ensure high data quality.

Individual students cannot be tracked. However, we can look at trends over time in populations of students, such as students overall or students in a certain grade level.

Students are eligible to participate in the survey if they are in a selected class at a selected school. In larger school districts, a random sample of classes is often selected for the survey. In smaller districts, all classes are typically included.

A school-based survey provides a controlled setting under strict standardized guidelines, which is the best way to protect student privacy, ensure anonymity, and collect credible data from students.

Questions related to priority health risk behaviors — the most important health risks affecting youth today — may be considered sensitive. Questions are clear and straightforward. Students have the option to skip questions they are uncomfortable answering, withiout invalidating the entire survey.

There is no evidence that asking these questions will lead to an increase in the likelihood that youth will practice risky behaviors. To help solve health problems among youth, we need to understand their unique experiences and perspectives. The YRBS provides an anonymous tool to gather that information.

Research shows that data collected from adolescents are just as reliable as data from adults. Data obtained from the YRBS are checked for conflicting and invalid responses. To obtain truthful answers, students must understand the importance of the survey and that their voice and perspectives are needed. There are procedures in place to protect their privacy and allow for anonymous participation.

You can help us ensure that your child answers truthfully. Students must understand that the survey is important, their privacy protected, and participation is anonymous.

Alaska is excited to be moving to a web-based survey in 2025 to improve the efficiency of our survey administration process. We recognize that Alaska schools conduct academic assessments and other surveys online, and youth are more receptive to online platforms. The methods for delivering the YRBS surveys today and in the future will ensure responses are anonymous and the resulting information is representative of Alaska’s entire youth population.