Duval County

Florida Department of Education recommends replacement of ‘appalling’ middle and high school survey

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Youth Risk Behavior Survey has long caused controversy, debate and community discourse due to its sexual history questions aimed towards Duval County middle and high school students. Now, the Florida Department of Education is making its stance on the survey clear: it needs to be removed.

The survey includes questions asking Duval County middle school students how old they were when they first had sex, as well as a question asking how many sexual partners they’ve had. The Centers for Disease Control survey has sparked extensive controversy in the Jacksonville community and now is drawing outspoken dissention from the Florida Department of Education.

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“It’s just appalling that it was done,” Florida Department of Education commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. said. “And so I’m glad we brought it to the attention of the superintendent and the decision to maybe pull it back, because it’s honestly harmful to kids.”

However, the survey also includes questions about the students’ mental health history and experience with bullying, among other topics. For example, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey also asks middle and high school students if they’ve attempted suicide or made a plan to commit suicide in the twelve months leading up to the survey, or ever.

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Action News Jax spoke with clinical psychologist Justin D’Arienzo, who said data like this is incredibly invaluable to local health care and mental health professionals.

“This information identifies what the problem is and then we’re able to use whatever intervention we need to meet that specific problem,” D’Arienzo said. “And we get that from the survey data.”

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D’Arienzo said the loss of mental health survey data such as mentioned in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, is detrimental to mental health professionals.

However, Diaz has clarified that the recommendation is not to remove youth health surveys from the district -- simply to replace the Youth Risk Behavior Survey with “valid questions” aimed at helping students receive the services they need. Nonetheless, it remains to be seen just how different that survey will look. Diaz said a new survey can be expected to be ready this upcoming Spring.

A copy of the questionnaires for the current Youth Risk Behavior Survey can be found by clicking here.

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