Seattle schools ask kids as young as 10 about gender identity, drugs in controversial survey

Key Highlights

• The tool is part of a grant-funded initiative called SBIRT, short for Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Services, which aims to reduce substance abuse, promote mental health and connect students to counseling and other support resources. The questionnaire includes about 40 questions on gender identity, school crushes, goals, mental health, substance use, safety and social supports.
• Some prompts ask students to indicate which gender they are "most likely to have a crush on" or how they identify their gender, while others inquire about alcohol or drug use, self-harm or suicidal thoughts.
• According to Seattle Public Schools (SPS), participation in the survey is voluntary.
• Students can decline to participate, and families are notified in advance by a letter and may opt their children out.
• The district also says the survey is not diagnostic and is intended to flag students who may benefit from additional support.