The Butler Area School District will get financial help from Butler County to gather information about the social and emotional wellness of students.
Superintendant Dr. Brian White will meet with principals later this week to discuss how best to administer the PAYS, or Pennsylvania Youth Survey. It’s administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and gathers information on substance abuse and other issues affecting young people.
The survey for students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12 is anonymous and will be administered this fall. The test will be made available to parents first and parents, or students, can opt out of taking it.
Even though the test is made available for free, the Butler County Department of Human Services has pledged $2,000 to help pay for the administration of the test and formulation of results into usable data.
The Pennsylvania Youth Survey is administered by the state Commission on Crime and Delinquency. Students in other districts, including Karns City, Moniteau and Slippery Rock, are also participating.