The Burlington school district faces two federal complaints concerning its administration of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Parents object to the survey's graphic content, particularly questions about sexual activities posed to students as young as 11. The complaints also cite the district's handling of opt-out requests, with some parents reporting their children received the survey despite opting out.
The survey included detailed questions about oral and anal sex, and the use of sex toys, prompting parental outrage. Parents argue the wording and descriptions were inappropriate for young adolescents. The district acknowledges areas for improvement in the opt-out process and delivery of the proctor script.
Parents express concerns about their children's exposure to explicit content and the lack of clear communication regarding the survey. One parent reports receiving 20-25 notifications daily through the school's communication platform, making it easy to miss critical information about the survey. Despite opting out, some students were still exposed to the survey via conversations with peers or screenshots shared on social media.
The Burlington school district, while acknowledging areas for improvement, maintains that the survey is part of a nationwide data collection effort by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Legal counsel anticipates filing additional complaints against the district. The controversy also highlights the broader debate around parental rights and federal data collection on sensitive topics, with the Trump administration’s past actions mentioned in the context.