Coalition urges district to run Arizona Youth Survey; board seeks clarity on data sharing and consent

The Fountain Hills Coalition asked the board to support administering the Arizona Youth Survey (AYS) to collect student substance‑use data the coalition uses to measure prevention outcomes. Tammy Bell, director of the Coalition, described AYS as "free" and useful to demonstrate grant impact: "We use AYS to show our impact. That's the only way we can say that this is what the kids know..." and said the survey helps the coalition and funders track changes over time.

Board members asked several implementation and privacy questions: who receives results, whether the district can run results at the school or ZIP‑code level, whether the 2024 administration will be online, and whether analysis would be shared with Arizona State University or other partners. Staff said 2024 will be the first year the survey is entirely online.

Members pressed whether participation is opt‑in or opt‑out, noting recent statute changes may require an opt‑in signature; a board member asked Tammy Bell to provide the underlying legislation or documentation. Tammy said she had asked for the legislation and would follow up with documentation.

District staff and the coalition agreed to clarify data‑sharing practices, the level of report aggregation (school vs. ZIP code), and the consent process prior to moving forward.

Next steps: coalition and district staff will provide statutory references and a plan for administration, consent and data‑reporting levels so the board can make an informed decision.