The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) recommends that Districts engage in a local Needs Assessments to assist in identifying targets for health and wellness initiatives. Through collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Emerson Hospital, and selected surrounding communities, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) collects information regarding at-risk behaviors. Data from the surveys will be compiled to assist the Groton Dunstable Regional School District (GDRSD) in planning future health and wellness initiatives.
GDRSD will administer the YRBS to students in grades 9 through 12 on March 16, 2026 and to students in grades 6 and 8 on March 17, 2026. This year’s survey should take less than 20 minutes to complete. Participation in this survey is voluntary and anonymous. Students may choose to opt out of taking the survey altogether or they may choose not to answer specific questions. Students will be taking the surveys on a secure website.
If you would like to review the survey before the administration dates, you may do so by clicking this link: Groton Dunstable 2026 YRBS Survey Parent Preview. Once you click on this link, click on the “View Survey” button. If after previewing the survey, or for any reason, you do not want your student to take the YRBS this year, please complete the Groton Dunstable YRBS Opt Out Form by March 12, 2026 at 12:00pm.
For more information about the survey, please refer to the Frequently Asked Question Information below. If you have additional questions, please contact Jill Greene, Director of Student Services, at jgreene@gdrsd.org. Thank you for your support in this important endeavor.
Sincerely,
Jill Greene
Director of Student Services
Groton Dunstable Regional School District
YRBS Frequently Asked Questions 2026
Can parents/guardians see the survey before it is administered?
Yes, absolutely. Parent/guardians may preview the GDRSD 2026 YRBS by clicking this link: Groton Dunstable 2026 YRBS Survey Parent Preview. Please note that not all students are necessarily asked all questions. Some questions are automatically skipped based on a student’s answer to a previous question. For example, students who indicate that they have never vaped are NOT asked questions about how frequently they have vaped or how they acquired vape products.
Do students have to take the survey? Can parents exempt their children from the survey?
Participation is absolutely voluntary. Students may self-opt out the day of the survey or elect to only answer questions they feel comfortable responding to. Additionally, Parents/guardians may request to have their child exempt from taking the survey by completing the Groton Dunstable YRBS Opt Out Form by March 12, 2026 at 12:00pm
Do all students take the survey or just a small sample?
All students in grades 6, 8, and 9 through 12 take the survey unless they have been excluded because of a parent/guardian’s request, absence from school, or because they choose not to participate. Because we survey all students and not a sample, the validity of the survey is increased.
How is the survey administered?
Students complete the survey electronically. Teachers administering the survey have a script so that all students have the same directions about taking the survey. Teachers are also asked to refrain from answering questions about the survey and its content. This allows us to measure as objectively as possible. At GDRSD, students in grades 9-12 will take the survey on March 16th and students in grades 6 and 8 will take the survey on March 17th.
Is the survey available in multiple languages?
The survey platform is compatible with Google Translate, so students who have Google Translate enabled on their device should be able to complete the survey in their preferred language.
Will the survey questions encourage students to engage in the behaviors?
Research by the Massachusetts and Federal YRBS consistently shows that asking questions on a survey such as this does not encourage or increase the likelihood that a student will engage in risky behaviors. Research also indicates that teaching and talking about risky behaviors does not result in engaging in those behaviors—in fact, it reduces students’ likelihood of engaging in those behaviors. The survey is designed so that students always have the option to report that they do not participate in a particular behavior.
Is the YRBS confidential? How is a student’s privacy ensured?
The YRBS is an anonymous survey and we take student confidentiality very seriously. Students who take the survey are provided anonymous online access to it and teachers are instructed not to observe or influence the students' responses. We do not ask nor collect any identifying information from students, such as names, ID numbers or who their teachers are. We do ask general questions about student characteristics, such as how old they are and their gender, so that we can break the results down by groups—for example, students in 6th grade typically report different behaviors than students in 12th grade, and male and female students experience some of the behaviors we look at in the YRBS differently. However, there is no way for us to identify individual students from the data we collect from them.
In addition, neither Emerson Health nor GDRSD receive the raw data from the survey. The survey consultant, Market Street Research, prepares summary reports that are presented to the districts and the community once the survey is complete. It is also possible to review reports from previous YRBS studies on Emerson Health’s website by clicking HERE.
How is the survey data used?
The data provides the school district and the community with a profile of healthy and risky behaviors. The data are used to inform the health education curriculum in the school district and can be used to develop community-based prevention and intervention initiatives, including parent education and involvement.
How is the information reported (e.g., grade level, gender)?
A survey consultant, Market Street Research, Inc., compiles and analyzes the data. The aggregate data is first shared with the community-at-large by Emerson Health. Individual community data is then shared with school officials in multiple formats, including by grade level, by gender, and behavior over time.
How do you know that the students are being truthful when taking the survey?
By comparing our survey results to the Massachusetts and Federal YRBS and tracking responses over time, we are confident about the general honesty of students who respond to the survey. Further, many steps are put in place to minimize error. All administering teachers read the same instructions to students. Additionally, the surveys are reviewed before they are processed and surveys that are clearly not accurate (e.g., same response circled for every question) are removed. Both the state and the Emerson YRBS survey are based on a model from the Federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which has proven to be statistically valid. Finally, research indicates that anonymous, self-reported data provides an accurate picture of behavior.
Why does Emerson Health sponsor the Youth Risk Behavior Survey?
The Emerson Health Community Benefits Program has a strong track record of developing collaborative efforts with the communities it serves. Emerson has carried out a comprehensive community health needs assessment, developed partnerships with different groups to address public health issues and leveraged other resources. Begun in 1997, Emerson is now partnering with six school districts to develop and implement the Emerson Health YRBS as a means of improving the health status of young people in our community.
Do you have any resources to help me understand how to have conversations with my child(ren) about the types of topics covered in this survey?
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey asks students a variety of questions anonymously, some covering sensitive topics students may face as they age. Emerson Health has put together expert resources to help guide parents on ways to navigate conversations with adolescents and teens within their own homes, to help ensure students have accurate information. In addition to conversation guides, there are 2 podcast episodes, about 20 minutes each and 4 infographics that you can use as resources. To learn more and access the information: www.Emersonhealth.org/conversations