THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

51

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE YOUTH RISK BEHAVIOR SURVEY TO STUDENTS IN GRADES SIX TO TWELVE IN SELECT SCHOOLS.

 

 


     WHEREAS, more information is needed about youth behavior and health in order to assess the leading factors of death, disability, and health complications among youth and to improve health education programs; and

 

     WHEREAS, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System to collect data about youth behavior and health; and

 

WHEREAS, one vital part of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System is a nationwide school-based surveying effort using the Youth Risk Behavior Survey to monitor students' health risks and behaviors; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey monitors students' health-risk behaviors in the areas of weight and diet, physical activity, injury and violence, tobacco use, alcohol and other drug use, and sexual behaviors; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2011, forty-seven states participated in the high school Youth Risk Behavior Survey and sixteen states participated in the middle school Youth Risk Behavior Survey; and

 

     WHEREAS, data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey is valuable and can be used to:

 

     (1)  Measure progress toward achieving state and national health objectives;

 

     (2)  Assess trends in priority health-risk behaviors among students;

 

     (3)  Evaluate the impact of broad school and community interventions at the national, state, and local levels; and

 

     (4)  Set and track progress toward meeting school health and health promotion program goals; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2014, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Education is requested to administer the Youth Risk Behavior Survey to a sample of students in grades six to twelve in select department schools; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Public Charter School Commission is requested to administer the Youth Risk Behavior Survey to a sample of students in grades six to twelve in select charter schools; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that select private schools be given the opportunity to administer the Youth Risk Behavior Survey to a sample of students in grades six to twelve; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Youth Risk Behavior Survey be administered only in odd-numbered years; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a student be excused from participating in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey if the student's parent or legal guardian submits written notification to the school stating that the parent or legal guardian does not give permission for that student to participate in the survey; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education, Superintendent of Education, Chairperson of the State Public Charter School Commission, Executive Director of the State Public Charter School Commission, and Executive Director of the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools.

Report Title: 

Youth Risk Behavior Survey; Department of Education