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Elizabethtown board approves Pennsylvania Youth Survey for 2025-26 school year
Summary
The board approved administration of the Pennsylvania Youth Survey for the 2025-26 school year after discussion of uses, opt-out provisions, and how survey data supports grant narratives and student services.
The Elizabethtown Area School District board voted June 24 to administer the Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) during the 2025-26 school year.
Director Mrs. Carter moved to approve the survey; the motion carried on roll call after administrative staff described how the district uses PAYS data to support programming and grant narratives. The administration expects the survey to be administered in November and emphasized that participation includes parental consent and that students may skip any questions.
Superintendent Dr. Nell and administrative staff described programs the district has implemented or supported using past PAYS data, including Link Crew, a bullying-prevention program, positive behavioral interventions and supports, and a crisis counselor position. School officials said the data also supports narrative evidence for federal Title IV and other grant requests and has been used in applications to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD).
Board discussion included a question about whether failure to administer the survey would result in lost funds. District officer Mr. Schwarzman said there is not a guaranteed, direct funding cutoff tied to doing the survey, but the data has helped substantiate funding requests and program justifications in prior grant applications. He said the district cannot confirm a specific funding penalty for not administering the survey but that the available evidence shows the data strengthens grant narratives.
During the roll call vote, most board members voted yes; one director voted no. Mrs. Carter stated that parental consent is included and students can opt out or skip questions. The board approved the motion to proceed with administering PAYS for the coming school year.
The board asked administration to schedule the survey window (likely November) and to present a summary of how the district will collect parental consent and accommodate opt-outs.
