Teacher Letter On-Campus Passive Permission

2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey
To prepare for the NYTS
administration, please:
1. Review the enclosed Summary of
School Arrangements (SSA)
form, which confirms the
classes that were randomly
selected to participate and the
date(s) of the survey
administration.
2. Log into nyts.cdc.gov using your
teacher code (found on the SSA)
and watch “Pre-Survey Teacher
Video.” This 2-minute video will
help you be prepared for survey
administration.
3. Distribute a parental permission
form to each student in your
selected class as soon as
possible. We have provided
“Instructions to be Read When
Distributing Permission Forms.”
Note: A signed permission
form needs to be returned only
if a parent/guardian does NOT
want their student to
participate.
4. On the day of the survey, log
back into nyts.cdc.gov and
watch the “Day of Survey
Video” and follow the
instructions.
5. Pass out student sign-in cards
and earbuds and encourage
students to complete the
questionnaire. Students will need
an internet-connected device.

P_IP

Dear Teacher,
We appreciate your classroom hosting the 2021 National Youth
Tobacco Survey, sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), Office on Smoking and Health. The survey
is designed to collect comprehensive data on the attitudes,
knowledge and behaviors of middle and high school students
(grades 6-12) with respect to tobacco product use, exposure to
tobacco use, and exposure to tobacco marketing/advertising.
Results from the NYTS enable states, school districts, schools,
and communities to adapt their tobacco prevention and control
programs to combat the most prevailing issues at hand. A report
summarizing the results will be published later this year and your
school will be notified when the report is available.
You play a very important role in the survey. Your support and
encouragement are necessary to ensure a high rate of participation
among your students, which is essential to produce valid national
data. Your class was randomly selected and cannot be replaced.
The survey will be administered electronically on an internetconnected device. The survey will take approximately 20-35
minutes to complete. Please follow the instructions on your left
in order to prepare for the survey administration.
Survey procedures have been designed to protect your students’
privacy and allow for anonymous participation. Attached is a
summary fact sheet about the study. A copy of the questionnaire
is available with your school’s contact person, if you would like
to view it. Please do not log into the NYTS website to see the
student survey, as your log in or any information you enter
will be counted as a student’s response.
The participation of your students in the NYTS will help the CDC,
educators, and public health officials improve efforts to reduce
tobacco product use among adolescents throughout the nation. If
you have any questions, please call me toll-free at 1-800-287-1815
between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. eastern time. Thank you again
for your cooperation.
Sincerely,

6. Plan an alternate activity for
those students who are not
participating or finish early.
Alice Roberts, Project Director

National Youth Tobacco Survey