CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - All middle schools and high schools in Illinois are invited to participate in the 2024 Illinois Youth Survey, an anonymous online survey that assesses a variety of health and social indicators among eighth, 10th and 12th grade students. The IYS collects data on factors such as drug use, violence, bullying, depression, school climate and nutrition, some of which contribute to risky behaviors and can impede learning in young people.
Administered by the Center for Prevention Research and Development at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the IYS assesses the prevalence of substance use and other issues at the school, district, community, county and state levels. These reports aid administrators in applying for grants, implementing comprehensive prevention programs and conducting evaluations. A sample school report can be viewed online.
"This nonpartisan survey is so important because it helps us demonstrate that state-funded prevention services are, in fact, keeping eighth graders off drugs," said principal investigator Doug Smith, the director of CPRD and a professor of social work at the university. "The survey helps us make good policy decisions. For example, we used IYS data to show that Illinois' cannabis laws are not increasing cannabis use among young people in the state so far. We also used IYS data to study how the opioid crisis is affecting Illinois teens."
Available in both English and Spanish, and in separate versions for eighth grade and high school students, the survey takes about one class period to administer. All IYS reports are available free of charge to principals at participating schools roughly four to six weeks after the survey is administered.
Smith said there has been some confusion about the survey's purpose and the usage of the data collected.
"Some people mistakenly think it's part of a new law requiring mental health screening in schools," he said. "Others wonder if we are selling the data to third parties, but neither of these is true. It is not a mental health screening, and we don't profit from any child's data."
Questions also sometimes arise about students' willingness to answer questions honestly, such as those about their alcohol, drug and tobacco use. "A very small percentage of youths are not forthcoming," Smith said.
Student confidentiality is a priority and the identities of those who participate are not recorded, he said.
By law, schools' participation in the IYS is tracked as part of the Illinois Report Card, the state's official source of information on the academic performance and environments of its public schools and school districts.
School administrators can register online or by phone with an IYS coordinator at 888-333-5612. Registration is open until April 30.
