Data collection on youth development is accomplished through the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) at the district level and the California Student Survey (CSS) at the state level. The CHKS is a voluntary, anonymous student survey of health risk behaviors and school and community assets that is administered at least once every two years in each district that accepts federal Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities funding or state Tobacco-Use Prevention Education funding. Districts use the data on health risk and protective factors collected by the CHKS to plan and evaluate their alcohol, tobacco, and other drug programs and to report on their progress in achieving their performance indicator goals.
With respect to youth development, these indicators and goals include measures of caring relationships within the school, high expectations by teachers and other adults, meaningful opportunities for participation, and overall schools assets. The CSS, sponsored by the California Attorney General, the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, and the Department of Education, collects and reports data from a representative statewide sample of schools on many of the indicators used in the CHKS.
