Letter to Teacher

2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey
A

Dear Teacher:
We appreciate your classroom hosting the 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), sponsored by the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 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 and
nicotine use, intent to use, exposure to tobacco use, and exposure to tobacco marketing/advertising.
You play a very important role in the survey. Your class was randomly selected and cannot be replaced. Your support
and encouragement are necessary to ensure a high rate of participation among your students, which is critical to produce
valid national data.
The tablet-based survey will be administered by a specially trained survey representative and will take 20-40 minutes.
The tablets will be transported to and from the school by the survey representative; they do not need Wi-Fi or a power
source. All materials necessary for the survey will be provided.
To prepare for the NYTS administration, please follow the instructions below.
1. The enclosed Summary of School Arrangements lists the classes that were randomly selected to participate and
the date of survey administration. Other details such as administration logistics may be included as well. Thank you
for reviewing this document.
2. Distribute a parental permission form to each student in your class(es) as soon as possible, at least 10 days prior
to the survey administration date. Read to the class “Instructions to be Read When Distributing Permission Forms.”
Please remind students to return their form as soon as possible.
3. Follow the directions on the Data Collection Checklist and use it to track and record the return of all permission
forms. Please be sure to complete this form prior to the survey date so that we can easily determine which students
are eligible to participate in the survey. Our survey representative will collect this form from you, and it will be
destroyed after the completion of data collection.
4. Three days prior to the survey administration date, distribute a reminder slip and/or another parental
permission form to students who have not yet returned a form.
5. On the day of the survey, please plan an alternate activity for those students who are not participating or complete
the survey early.
Survey procedures have been designed to protect your students’ privacy and allow for anonymous participation. During
survey administration, you will be asked to remain at the front or back of the classroom to increase student candor.
Enclosed 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.
The participation of your students in the NYTS will help the CDC, educators, and public health officials assess and
improve efforts to reduce tobacco use among adolescents throughout the nation. If you have any questions, please call
me toll-free at 1-800-675-9727 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. eastern time. Thank you again for your cooperation.
Sincerely,

Alice Roberts, Project Director
National Youth Tobacco Survey

ICF * 530 Gaither Road, Suite 500 * Rockville, MD 20850 * 800-675-9727 * 877-616-4577 (fax)