The Minnesota Student Survey (MSS) is a triennial survey of young people regarding a variety of risk and protective factors. The survey asks young people questions about their activities, opinions, behaviors and experiences. It includes questions on an array of issues, such as substance abuse, school climate, violence and safety concerns, healthy eating, out-of-school activities, connections to school, community and family and many other questions. The survey is administered in schools, alternative learning centers and juvenile correctional facilities. The purpose of the survey has been to:
• Provide data for program planning and evaluation.
• Meet state and federal student survey requirements.
• Address relevant issues confronting students.
• Mark trends over time.
• Involve schools/other educational settings statewide and provide data for local use.
The 2013 survey will include students in grade 5, 8, 9 and 11, and all students in grades 7 through 12 in area learning centers and juvenile correctional facilities. The survey instruments have been designed for the developmental stages of the participating students. Level I is for grade 5; Level II is for grade 8; and Level III is designed for grades 9 and 11, alternative learning settings, and juvenile correctional facilities. It will include both online and paper survey administration options. The preferred administration window for the 2013 survey is January through March 2013. The exact survey administration dates are determined locally.
Schools, alternative learning centers and juvenile correctional facilities must register and order surveys to participate. Information about online registration and survey ordering will be available in early December 2012. If you have questions regarding 2013 survey, contact Deb Loy at 651-582-8306.
The survey is made possible through a partnership between the Minnesota Departments of Education, Health, Human Services, and Public Safety. These agencies provide funding and staff time to develop, administer and analyze the survey.
Protection of Pupils Rights Amendment
All schools and districts participating in the Minnesota Student Survey must follow federal law regarding parental notification identified in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA). PPRA requires that schools who participate in the Minnesota Student Survey notify parents of the survey administration, allow parents the opportunity to review the survey instrument, and have the option to opt their child out of participating.
Read more on these laws on the U.S. Department of Education’s website.
Sample parental notification letters in English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali and Russian are available below.
