Latest news with #2025YouthRiskBehaviorSurvey
New York Post
25-04-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Parents outraged after school gives middle school kids explicit sex survey — despite opt-out
A Massachusetts school district is at the center of a battle over parental rights after it administered a health survey to middle school students in late March that asked children as young as 11 sexually explicit questions despite parents opting their child out. Burlington Public Schools (BPS) notified parents on March 6 via an app called ParentSquare about its plans to administer the 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey to students at Marshall Simonds Middle School. Advertisement The survey, which is part of a national initiative developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asked students sensitive questions about alcohol, drug use and gender identity. One question in the 2025 survey asked students if they've ever had sexual intercourse, describing the act in detail and providing the definitions of oral and anal sex. It also asked about the use of sex toys. Fox News Digital spoke with three parents whose children took the controversial survey, two of whom opted their child out and have since filed federal complaints with the U.S. Department of Education with the help of the Massachusetts Liberty Legal Center (MLLC), an organization that defends free speech, religious liberty and parental rights. 8 The 2025 survey asked students about alcohol, drug use and sexual intercourse, providing definitions for oral and anal sex. Fox News Digital / Keri Malm Advertisement 8 Massachusetts parents were shocked by a sexually explicit health survey sent to their children despite the parents opting them out. Fox News Digital / Keri Malm 'I felt absolutely sick to think that they were asking such explicit questions to children,' said Adrianne Simeone, a Burlington mother who opted her 13-year-old son out of the survey. 'I've talked to my kids about sex. My children know about sexual reproduction, but I have not talked to them about anal sex or oral sex or sex toys. I don't think those were appropriate for minors of any age, let alone children as young as 11.' MLLC alleges that BPS violated the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), which stipulates that K-12 schools that receive federal funding must notify parents and allow them to opt their children out of surveys involving sensitive topics. 'In not opting out students who had been opted out by their parents, [they] actually violated federal law,' said Sam Whiting, legal counsel for MLLC. 'We're very hopeful that the Department of Education, especially under the Trump administration, will follow through and enforce that law against the district.' Advertisement 8 'I felt absolutely sick to think that they were asking such explicit questions to children,' said Adrianne Simeone, who opted her 13-year-old son out of the survey. Fox News Digital Some students who had been opted out of the survey by their parents were still forced to take it, despite protesting, because their names were not on the opt-out list. Teachers did not inform students that the survey was voluntary, according to a demand letter sent to members of the BPS School Committee by MLLC. David Hanafin told Fox News Digital he's furious with the school district after his 11-year-old son was also forced to take the survey despite being opted out. Advertisement Start and end your day informed with our newsletters Morning Report and Evening Update: Your source for today's top stories Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters 'We don't send our kids to school to be indoctrinated. We don't send our kids to school to have these discussions. You don't need to open their mind. You need to teach them to read, to write, math, accurate history, accurate science, and you send them home, and we'll take care of the rest,' he said. Hanafin, who has six children in the school district between elementary, middle and high school, said he had an agreement with Superintendent Eric Conti and Assistant Superintendent Laura Chen about opting his children out of all surveys that touch on sensitive topics. 'My daughter's 11 years old. She still writes her list to Santa Claus every year and she can't wait for Santa Claus to come and bring her presents. And then they're asking her questions about anal sex and about sex toys and that — how anybody in their right mind could say this is in any way shape or form appropriate, or what information they're trying to glean from it, makes no sense,' he told Fox News Digital. 8 'You need to teach them to read, to write, math, accurate history, accurate science, and you send them home, and we'll take care of the rest,' David Hanafin, another parent, said. Fox News Digital The Youth Risk Behavior Survey has been used nationwide since 1991 to monitor health behavior changes over time and to collect data to guide policies on issues like teen substance abuse, suicide and sexual health. The 2023 version had questions about alcohol and prescription drug use, as well as questions about gender identity, but the definition of sexual intercourse was changed in 2025 to be more inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community, according to JSI, the healthcare research and consulting organization that created the survey. Simeone and Hanafin have both signed onto federal complaints filed with the Education Department. They also spoke out against the survey alongside more than a dozen other parents at a school committee meeting on April 1. Advertisement 8 Parents spoke out against the survey at a school committee meeting on April 1. YouTube / BCAT Government A third parent who spoke with Fox News Digital but requested anonymity out of fear of backlash said she hasn't signed onto the federal complaint but plans to do so. She missed the notification in ParentSquare about the survey due to the large number of messages the school sends in a day, so her daughter took it. She said she felt 'sick' after seeing the questions. School Response Superintendent Conti apologized at the April 1 meeting for the opt-out policy not being honored, saying it was a 'mistake.' Advertisement He claimed that some of the definitions in the survey were changed and added without BPS' consent after their Wellness Committee had reviewed them. 8 Superintendent Conti said it was a 'mistake' for the opt-out policy not to be followed, and that definitions in the survey were changed and added without Burlington Public Schools' consent. YouTube / BCAT Government Conti also stated that he was informed by Marshall Simonds Middle School Principal Tim McMahon that only four opt-out policies were not honored, a claim disputed by other parents and MLLC. School Committee Member Christine Monaco told parents that she found some of the survey definitions 'awful,' 'inappropriate' and 'disgusting.' Advertisement 'Some students knew their parents' wishes and advocated for themselves, only to be ignored, which is totally unacceptable. This cannot happen again. We as a committee need to revisit our policies and explore greater protections for our students and their families regarding student surveys and parental consent,' said another member. 8 Members of the Burlington Public School Committee during a meeting on April 1. YouTube / BCAT Government The school committee voted unanimously on April 8 to suspend all student surveys until a new policy is adopted and to remove all funding for JSI from the upcoming budget. BPS announced additional steps it was taking in the wake of the survey fallout, including hiring an independent consultant to review the administration of the 2025 survey. Advertisement 'We remain committed to transparency, accountability, and the well-being of all students, and we value our continued collaboration with families and the broader community,' read an announcement on the district's website. One parent at the April 8 meeting made it clear that she didn't have a problem with the survey questions, nor did she find them 'disgusting,' only a little 'surprising.' 'I believe in the positive information the survey provides,' she said, arguing for more representation of all groups of people. Hanafin and Simeone told Fox News Digital the school district has a history of disrespecting parental rights and pushing inappropriate content on students, and they want someone to be held accountable. 'I'm really exhausted by the lack of respect for parents and our right to decide when and how we talk to kids about these things,' said Simeone. She recalled her push for greater transparency from the school district regarding the Spectrum Club, a student organization that promotes LGBTQ+ rights. Simeone said the club was not listed publicly on the ParentSquare app and she had to fight to make it publicly listed and to require parental permission. 8 BPS notified parents about its plans to administer the survey to students at Marshall Simonds Middle School. Google Maps 'I think what's most important for parents to take home from this is that you need to be an advocate for your child. Don't wait for something to go wrong,' she told Fox News Digital. 'Take this lesson right here, this example, and bring it to your school system, your school committee, your superintendent, your principal, and say to them, 'I want to know exactly what's going on in our school system if you're participating in activities like this.'' Hanafin echoed similar sentiments about the power of parents' voices, arguing they shouldn't be afraid to speak up for their children. 'People are so afraid to speak out against the orthodoxy, and they make that very, very clear. And so, the school is always pushing this one side of the gender, and parents are afraid to speak out against it because they're going to be labeled bigoted, they're going to be labeled homophobic, transphobic, whatever it is,' he said. Superintendent Conti and Assistant Superintendent Chen did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the incident. Julie Hartman, a spokeswoman for the Department of Education, said the federal agency is committed to protecting parental rights: 'Children do not belong to the government; they belong to parents. Parents should be the primary decision makers when it comes to their child's education. The Department will not tolerate abuse of parents' rights – or of students who are victims of predatory behavior by adults who are supposed to protect them.'
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Massachusetts parents outraged after middle school gives explicit health survey to students despite opt-out
A Massachusetts school district is at the center of a battle over parental rights after it administered a health survey to middle school students in late March that asked children as young as 11 sexually explicit questions despite parents opting their child out. Burlington Public Schools (BPS) notified parents on March 6 via an app called ParentSquare about its plans to administer the 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey to students at Marshall Simonds Middle School. The survey, which is part of a national initiative developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asked students sensitive questions about alcohol, drug use and gender identity. One question in the 2025 survey asked students if they've ever had sexual intercourse, describing the act in detail and providing the definitions of oral and anal sex. It also asked about the use of sex toys. The Supreme Court Appears To Side With Parents In Religious Liberty Dispute Over Storybooks Fox News Digital spoke with three parents whose children took the controversial survey, two of whom opted their child out and have since filed federal complaints with the U.S. Department of Education with the help of the Massachusetts Liberty Legal Center (MLLC), an organization that defends free speech, religious liberty and parental rights. Read On The Fox News App "I felt absolutely sick to think that they were asking such explicit questions to children," said Adrianne Simeone, a Burlington mother who opted her 13-year-old son out of the survey. "I've talked to my kids about sex. My children know about sexual reproduction, but I have not talked to them about anal sex or oral sex or sex toys. I don't think those were appropriate for minors of any age, let alone children as young as 11." MLLC alleges that BPS violated the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), which stipulates that K-12 schools that receive federal funding must notify parents and allow them to opt their children out of surveys involving sensitive topics. "In not opting out students who had been opted out by their parents, [they] actually violated federal law," said Sam Whiting, legal counsel for MLLC. "We're very hopeful that the Department of Education, especially under the Trump administration, will follow through and enforce that law against the district." Some students who had been opted out of the survey by their parents were still forced to take it, despite protesting, because their names were not on the opt-out list. Teachers did not inform students that the survey was voluntary, according to a demand letter sent to members of the BPS School Committee by MLLC. David Hanafin told Fox News Digital he's furious with the school district after his 11-year-old son was also forced to take the survey despite being opted out. "We don't send our kids to school to be indoctrinated. We don't send our kids to school to have these discussions. You don't need to open their mind. You need to teach them to read, to write, math, accurate history, accurate science, and you send them home, and we'll take care of the rest," he said. Hanafin, who has six children in the school district between elementary, middle and high school, said he had an agreement with Superintendent Eric Conti and Assistant Superintendent Laura Chen about opting his children out of all surveys that touch on sensitive topics. "My daughter's 11 years old. She still writes her list to Santa Claus every year and she can't wait for Santa Claus to come and bring her presents. And then they're asking her questions about anal sex and about sex toys and that — how anybody in their right mind could say this is in any way shape or form appropriate, or what information they're trying to glean from it, makes no sense," he told Fox News Digital. Group Of Dei Workers Sue To Stop Trump Executive Orders The Youth Risk Behavior Survey has been used nationwide since 1991 to monitor health behavior changes over time and to collect data to guide policies on issues like teen substance abuse, suicide and sexual health. The 2023 version had questions about alcohol and prescription drug use, as well as questions about gender identity, but the definition of sexual intercourse was changed in 2025 to be more inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community, according to JSI, the healthcare research and consulting organization that created the survey. Simeone and Hanafin have both signed onto federal complaints filed with the Education Department. They also spoke out against the survey alongside more than a dozen other parents at a school committee meeting on April 1. A third parent who spoke with Fox News Digital but requested anonymity out of fear of backlash said she hasn't signed onto the federal complaint but plans to do so. She missed the notification in ParentSquare about the survey due to the large number of messages the school sends in a day, so her daughter took it. She said she felt "sick" after seeing the questions. Superintendent Conti apologized at the April 1 meeting for the opt-out policy not being honored, saying it was a "mistake." He claimed that some of the definitions in the survey were changed and added without BPS' consent after their Wellness Committee had reviewed them. Conti also stated that he was informed by Marshall Simonds Middle School Principal Tim McMahon that only four opt-out policies were not honored, a claim disputed by other parents and MLLC. School Committee Member Christine Monaco told parents that she found some of the survey definitions "awful," "inappropriate" and "disgusting." "Some students knew their parents' wishes and advocated for themselves, only to be ignored, which is totally unacceptable. This cannot happen again. We as a committee need to revisit our policies and explore greater protections for our students and their families regarding student surveys and parental consent," said another member. The school committee voted unanimously on April 8 to suspend all student surveys until a new policy is adopted and to remove all funding for JSI from the upcoming budget. BPS announced additional steps it was taking in the wake of the survey fallout, including hiring an independent consultant to review the administration of the 2025 survey. "We remain committed to transparency, accountability, and the well-being of all students, and we value our continued collaboration with families and the broader community," read an announcement on the district's website. One parent at the April 8 meeting made it clear that she didn't have a problem with the survey questions, nor did she find them "disgusting," only a little "surprising." "I believe in the positive information the survey provides," she said, arguing for more representation of all groups of people. Hanafin and Simeone told Fox News Digital the school district has a history of disrespecting parental rights and pushing inappropriate content on students, and they want someone to be held accountable. "I'm really exhausted by the lack of respect for parents and our right to decide when and how we talk to kids about these things," said Simeone. She recalled her push for greater transparency from the school district regarding the Spectrum Club, a student organization that promotes LGBTQ+ rights. Simeone said the club was not listed publicly on the ParentSquare app and she had to fight to make it publicly listed and to require parental permission. "I think what's most important for parents to take home from this is that you need to be an advocate for your child. Don't wait for something to go wrong," she told Fox News Digital. "Take this lesson right here, this example, and bring it to your school system, your school committee, your superintendent, your principal, and say to them, 'I want to know exactly what's going on in our school system if you're participating in activities like this.'" Hanafin echoed similar sentiments about the power of parents' voices, arguing they shouldn't be afraid to speak up for their children. "People are so afraid to speak out against the orthodoxy, and they make that very, very clear. And so, the school is always pushing this one side of the gender, and parents are afraid to speak out against it because they're going to be labeled bigoted, they're going to be labeled homophobic, transphobic, whatever it is," he said. Superintendent Conti and Assistant Superintendent Chen did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the incident. Julie Hartman, a spokeswoman for the Department of Education, said the federal agency is committed to protecting parental rights: "Children do not belong to the government; they belong to parents. Parents should be the primary decision makers when it comes to their child's education. The Department will not tolerate abuse of parents' rights – or of students who are victims of predatory behavior by adults who are supposed to protect them."Original article source: Massachusetts parents outraged after middle school gives explicit health survey to students despite opt-out
Fox News
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Massachusetts parents outraged after middle school gives explicit health survey to students despite opt-out
A Massachusetts school district is at the center of a battle over parental rights after it administered a health survey to middle school students in late March that asked children as young as 11 sexually explicit questions despite parents opting their child out. Burlington Public Schools (BPS) notified parents on March 6 via an app called ParentSquare about its plans to administer the 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey to students at Marshall Simonds Middle School. The survey, which is part of a national initiative developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asked students sensitive questions about alcohol, drug use and gender identity. One question in the 2025 survey asked students if they've ever had sexual intercourse, describing the act in detail and providing the definitions of oral and anal sex. It also asked about the use of sex toys. Fox News Digital spoke with three parents whose children took the controversial survey, two of whom opted their child out and have since filed federal complaints with the U.S. Department of Education with the help of the Massachusetts Liberty Legal Center (MLLC), an organization that defends free speech, religious liberty and parental rights. "I felt absolutely sick to think that they were asking such explicit questions to children," said Adrianne Simeone, a Burlington mother who opted her 13-year-old son out of the survey. "I've talked to my kids about sex. My children know about sexual reproduction, but I have not talked to them about anal sex or oral sex or sex toys. I don't think those were appropriate for minors of any age, let alone children as young as 11." MLLC alleges that BPS violated the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), which stipulates that K-12 schools that receive federal funding must notify parents and allow them to opt their children out of surveys involving sensitive topics. "In not opting out students who had been opted out by their parents, [they] actually violated federal law," said Sam Whiting, legal counsel for MLLC. "We're very hopeful that the Department of Education, especially under the Trump administration, will follow through and enforce that law against the district." Some students who had been opted out of the survey by their parents were still forced to take it, despite protesting, because their names were not on the opt-out list. Teachers did not inform students that the survey was voluntary, according to a demand letter sent to members of the BPS School Committee by MLLC. David Hanafin told Fox News Digital he's furious with the school district after his 11-year-old son was also forced to take the survey despite being opted out. "We don't send our kids to school to be indoctrinated. We don't send our kids to school to have these discussions. You don't need to open their mind. You need to teach them to read, to write, math, accurate history, accurate science, and you send them home, and we'll take care of the rest," he said. Hanafin, who has six children in the school district between elementary, middle and high school, said he had an agreement with Superintendent Eric Conti and Assistant Superintendent Laura Chen about opting his children out of all surveys that touch on sensitive topics. "My daughter's 11 years old. She still writes her list to Santa Claus every year and she can't wait for Santa Claus to come and bring her presents. And then they're asking her questions about anal sex and about sex toys and that — how anybody in their right mind could say this is in any way shape or form appropriate, or what information they're trying to glean from it, makes no sense," he told Fox News Digital. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey has been used nationwide since 1991 to monitor health behavior changes over time and to collect data to guide policies on issues like teen substance abuse, suicide and sexual health. The 2023 version had questions about alcohol and prescription drug use, as well as questions about gender identity, but the definition of sexual intercourse was changed in 2025 to be more inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community, according to JSI, the healthcare research and consulting organization that created the survey. Simeone and Hanafin have both signed onto federal complaints filed with the Education Department. They also spoke out against the survey alongside more than a dozen other parents at a school committee meeting on April 1. A third parent who spoke with Fox News Digital but requested anonymity out of fear of backlash said she hasn't signed onto the federal complaint but plans to do so. She missed the notification in ParentSquare about the survey due to the large number of messages the school sends in a day, so her daughter took it. She said she felt "sick" after seeing the questions. Superintendent Conti apologized at the April 1 meeting for the opt-out policy not being honored, saying it was a "mistake." He claimed that some of the definitions in the survey were changed and added without BPS' consent after their Wellness Committee had reviewed them. Conti also stated that he was informed by Marshall Simonds Middle School Principal Tim McMahon that only four opt-out policies were not honored, a claim disputed by other parents and MLLC. School Committee Member Christine Monaco told parents that she found some of the survey definitions "awful," "inappropriate" and "disgusting." "Some students knew their parents' wishes and advocated for themselves, only to be ignored, which is totally unacceptable. This cannot happen again. We as a committee need to revisit our policies and explore greater protections for our students and their families regarding student surveys and parental consent," said another member. The school committee voted unanimously on April 8 to suspend all student surveys until a new policy is adopted and to remove all funding for JSI from the upcoming budget. BPS announced additional steps it was taking in the wake of the survey fallout, including hiring an independent consultant to review the administration of the 2025 survey. "We remain committed to transparency, accountability, and the well-being of all students, and we value our continued collaboration with families and the broader community," read an announcement on the district's website. One parent at the April 8 meeting made it clear that she didn't have a problem with the survey questions, nor did she find them "disgusting," only a little "surprising." "I believe in the positive information the survey provides," she said, arguing for more representation of all groups of people. Hanafin and Simeone told Fox News Digital the school district has a history of disrespecting parental rights and pushing inappropriate content on students, and they want someone to be held accountable. "I'm really exhausted by the lack of respect for parents and our right to decide when and how we talk to kids about these things," said Simeone. She recalled her push for greater transparency from the school district regarding the Spectrum Club, a student organization that promotes LGBTQ+ rights. Simeone said the club was not listed publicly on the ParentSquare app and she had to fight to make it publicly listed and to require parental permission. "I think what's most important for parents to take home from this is that you need to be an advocate for your child. Don't wait for something to go wrong," she told Fox News Digital. "Take this lesson right here, this example, and bring it to your school system, your school committee, your superintendent, your principal, and say to them, 'I want to know exactly what's going on in our school system if you're participating in activities like this.'" Hanafin echoed similar sentiments about the power of parents' voices, arguing they shouldn't be afraid to speak up for their children. "People are so afraid to speak out against the orthodoxy, and they make that very, very clear. And so, the school is always pushing this one side of the gender, and parents are afraid to speak out against it because they're going to be labeled bigoted, they're going to be labeled homophobic, transphobic, whatever it is," he said. Superintendent Conti and Assistant Superintendent Chen did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the incident. Julie Hartman, a spokeswoman for the Department of Education, said the federal agency is committed to protecting parental rights: "Children do not belong to the government; they belong to parents. Parents should be the primary decision makers when it comes to their child's education. The Department will not tolerate abuse of parents' rights – or of students who are victims of predatory behavior by adults who are supposed to protect them."
Boston Globe
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Burlington parents express outrage over detailed sex questions in middle school health survey
Advertisement The survey, which has been administered in grades 6-12 at the middle school and high schools for more than a decade, asked a wide range of questions regarding sexual behavior, mental health, substance abuse, bullying, discrimination, nutrition, and violence as part of a nationwide data collection effort by the Related : Parents said this year's survey in Burlington contained changes in wording, which were made by a private consultant working with Burlington officials, resulting in definitions of various sexual activities that were far too graphic for students as young as 11. The survey for middle school students, for instance, asked students whether they had engaged in oral or anal sex and included detailed descriptions of each. It also asked students if they had used sex toys 'vaginal or anal.' Advertisement Adrianne Simeone, whose eighth-grade son was given the survey last month over her objections, said she was shocked when he came home and told her about the 'weird' questions he was asked on the survey. He is one of the students represented in one of the complaints. 'I talk to my son about sex,' she said. 'It's not like it's a foreign concept to him, but anal sex, oral sex, sex toys — no. Even though my son is in eighth grade, that's pretty horrific to me.' Superintendent Eric Conti declined an interview request. He instead referred to a statement the district posted on its website Wednesday that briefly addressed the issue and also included extensive information on the survey, including copies of questions posed to students this year and in previous years. 'Burlington Public Schools acknowledges that during the administration of the 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), there were areas for improvement, particularly in the opt-out process and delivery of the proctor script,' the statement said. 'We recognize the importance of clear communication with families regarding student participation in surveys of this nature.' Controversy over the Burlington youth risk survey comes as the Trump administration has been cracking down on federal data collection on sexual orientation and gender identity. In January, data from the youth risk surveys had been The president also has been pushing to expand parental rights. David Hanafin, whose son is at the center of the other federal complaint, said his concerns, as well as other parents', are unrelated to Trump's actions. Instead, they center on the values and sensibilities of individual parents and the kinds of information their children are exposed to. Hanafin said he opted his son out of the survey, but the school still gave it to him. Advertisement Other parents, he said, didn't know about the survey and their right to opt out because the district notified them through Parent Square, an online communication platform the district uses to inform parents about a range of items during the day, making it easy for parents to miss critical information. Hanafin said there are days he receives between 20 to 25 notifications. Even when parents do opt out, he said, the decision still doesn't fully shield their children from the survey because other students frequently talk about it afterward during lunch or on the bus. Some children also have been taking screenshots of the questions. He wants Burlington to stop administering the surveys. 'The surveys are wholly inappropriate,' he said. 'They push it way too early and way too much.' He said the schools should stick with teaching reading, writing, math, history, and science. The Burlington controversy erupted soon after the survey was given last month. The mother of another student who took screenshots of the questions later posted them on social media, asking other parents if they knew their children were taking a survey with those kinds of questions. Sam Whiting, legal counsel for the legal center, said his organization anticipates filing additional complaints against Burlington schools from other parents with concerns about the survey's content and the district's mishandling of the opt-out requests. Advertisement He said even though the survey is administered as part of the federal data collection process and under the oversight of the state's education agency, districts have the discretion to adjust the survey for its specific student populations. 'I don't think I've ever seen one this graphic in the questions, and certainly we've never seen a school district not comply with parental opt-out,' he said. James Vaznis can be reached at
