On December 1st and 3rd, 2021, selected classes at the Los Alamos Middle School were given the New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey (NM-YRRS), which is a tool to assess the health risk behaviors and resiliency (protective) factors. The NM-YRRS is part of the national CDC Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS).

While we appreciate the need for high participation in efforts to support at-risk students, we strongly object to "passive parental consent," which is not true parental consent, used to administer this survey. Parental consent was assumed, unless parents signed a form sent home with students. Parents were not notified in advance to expect the form, and students could easily lose this form, or neglect to give it to their parents. Active consent would have required the parents' approval and signature in order for their child to take the survey.

We as parents, grandparents, and concerned, tax-paying citizens, demand ACTIVE CONSENT for this survey, which contains sensitive topics. Many school districts use ACTIVE CONSENT to administer this survey, and although NMPED may recommend passive parental consent, local districts and schools may elect to use active parental consent.

For future surveys: we urge our LAPS superintendent, school principals, and school board to:

1. Alert all parents via email to expect a form regarding the YRBSS survey.

2. Require parental approval and signature to administer the YRBSS survey.

Passive consent is unacceptable.

Thank you