Gathering data from Utah students, including information about substance use, relationships and social and mental health, could become more difficult in schools across the state.
That’s because, under HB182, students would be required to get parental consent before they can fill out certain “non-academic” surveys in class, including the state-administered Student Health and Risk Prevention Survey (SHARP), which can help inform public health measures.
“The genesis of the bill is responsive to some parental concerns about surveys being administered to their children in an academic setting,” the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, R-Clearfield, told House Education Committee members Tuesday afternoon.
Teachers have also told Lisonbee that such surveys take up valuable instruction time, she said.
The bill applies to a large swath of non-academic surveys, including those that collect data on student political affiliations; religious beliefs; mental or psychological problems; and sexual behavior, orientation, gender identity or attitudes.
Under the proposed changes, local education agencies — such as school districts — would also be prohibited from penalizing students who don’t participate, and wouldn’t be allowed to reward students who do.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, R-Clearfield, at a meeting of the House Education Committee where HB0182 (Student Survey Amendments) was passed, at the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024.
Melanie Mortenson, speaking on behalf of conservative parents’ rights group Utah Parents United, testified Tuesday that “we do not desire our children to be research subjects.”
She said the surveys not only take time away from academics, but also, parents “rarely see the results.”
“Parents should always have a say in which surveys they participate in,” she said.
Dalaine England, with conservative organization Utah Eagle Forum, argued the surveys can also do more harm than good. A survey that asks how often students drink alcohol, for example, “insinuates that everyone is drinking at least once a week,” she said.
“It actually puts ideas into children’s minds,” England said.
But others Tuesday testified to the importance of the data collected in such surveys, including Mara Hammer, with Layton Communities that Care — a coalition of mayors, community partners and other representatives in Layton, under the direction of the Davis County Health Department.
Hammer said the coalition uses SHARP data to help shape preventative measures. She said the survey’s questions and results are accessible online and posted annually, with breakdowns by county; student race and ethnicity demographics; and gender and sexual orientation.
“Without evidence, how can you run an evidence-based program?” Hammer said. “It’s how we know what kids are doing and how kids are feeling.”
The data is also considered crucial to Rep. Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, who works in preventative programming. She voted against passing the bill in the House Education Committee on Tuesday.
“We need to know what’s going on in our community; we need to know what we need to do and to be able to provide preventative services,” she said, explaining her vote.
Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Holladay, also voted against the measure, but all other committee members voted in favor.
Lisonbee did not respond to a request for comment. The Utah Education Association and Utah State Board of Education declined to comment, because neither had developed a position on the bill by Tuesday evening.