California Healthy Kids Survey
What is the California Healthy Kids Survey?
The California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) is an anonymous, confidential student
and school staff report of attitudes, health risk behaviors, and protective
factors. The survey gathers information on behaviors such as physical activity
and nutritional habits; alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use; school safety;
and environmental and individual strengths. Used by California schools since
1997, the CHKS consists of age-appropriate survey instruments for students in
grades five, seven, nine, and eleven and is designed in a flexible, modular
format that can be customized to meet local district needs. The CHKS is intended
for use in planning and evaluating student support programs, primarily alcohol,
tobacco, other drug, and violence prevention programs.
Why is the CHKS Required?
The CHKS is a requirement of funding for districts that accept federal Title
IV Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities (SDFSC) funds or state Tobacco-Use
Prevention Education (TUPE) funds. Title IV Section 4112 requires the California
Department of Education (CDE) to implement a Uniform Management Information
and Reporting System that collects information on the incidence and prevalence
of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and violence by youths in schools and
communities that shall be collected through anonymous student and teacher surveys.
Title IV Section 4115 requires that school districts plan, implement, and evaluate
their programs using the Principles of Effectiveness. These principles include
conducting a needs assessment through data gathering and analysis, choosing
a science-based program proven to be effective in reducing the problem behaviors
identified through data analysis, establishing performance objectives for reducing
the problem behaviors, and using data to evaluate progress and improve the program.
The CHKS is integral to the Principles of Effectiveness because it provides
data for program planning, performance objectives, and program evaluation
To view the California Healthy Kids Survey, click on the link below: