BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Parents say they're "shocked" by the kinds of questions on a Youth Risk Behavior Survey distributed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and they are supporting a bill to make sure schools have parents' written permission before kids take them.
"I was sick to my stomach. I couldn't believe it. I was shocked," Jayme Allan testified before the Joint Committee on Education.
Allan said her child's school notified her about the survey, but once she saw the questions, she couldn't believe her eyes.
"They need counseling after being subjected by this questionnaire," she said.
During the Education Committee hearing, one lawmaker compared the questions to what he saw under communism.
"This is what they give at the communist country I just came from," said Rep. Rady Mom, a Democrat from Lowell.
The Dept. of Education tells FOX25 this survey goes out to high school students on odd years and it's voluntary.
Our Sharman Sacchetti found one from 2013 and went through it. The survey asked, about heroin use, pregnancies and diet pills.
Lakeilia Johnson says she was "horrified." Her son is just 11, and when we asked if she wanted to see the survey first before her son did, she responded "absolutely."
In a statement, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said, "Students do not need written parental permission to participate, however, schools must notify parents of the survey and allow them to opt their child out of the survey. There are no repercussions against the school, student, or parent if a child does not participate in the survey."
This survey is given to high school students, but the Department of Health also puts one out to middle school students.
And they say students can opt out, but data collection is critical for their work.
