2023 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 70. Schools
§70-24-158. Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment Survey.
A. The "Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment Survey" means the biennial mental health prevention survey of public school students in grades six, eight, ten, and twelve managed by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
B. Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, and biennially thereafter, public schools shall administer the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment Survey, or an alternative survey as provided in subsection D of this section, for the purpose of providing direction to schools, school districts, and communities to effectively improve the lives of students regarding a variety of issues with a focus on alcohol, tobacco, other drug use, mental health, academic failure, and violence.
C. The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services shall maintain the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment Survey and shall provide technical assistance for schools in survey administration, reporting, planning, and development of school mental health prevention and intervention strategies informed by the survey results.
D. If a school or school district chooses to administer an alternative survey or assessment tool to fulfill the purpose described in subsection B of this section, it may apply for a waiver through the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
E. The school district superintendent or his or her designee shall provide prior written notification to the parents or legal guardians of students to be administered the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment Survey or an alternative survey or assessment tool adopted pursuant to subsection D of this section. The notification shall include information to parents and legal guardians that they may opt their student out of the survey or assessment tool by providing written notice to the school district.
F. Prior to the biennial administration of the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment Survey, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services shall submit the survey to the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate, the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, the chairs of the committees with responsibility over common education in both houses of the Legislature, and the chairs of the committees with responsibility over public health in both houses of the Legislature.
G. The provisions of this section shall be subject to the availability of federal funding. If federal funding is insufficient to provide the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment Survey to public schools on a biennial basis, administration of the survey shall not be required.
H. The Board of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the State Board of Education may promulgate rules as necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
Added by Laws 2021, c. 406, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2021. Amended by Laws 2022, c. 281, § 2, eff. July 1, 2022.
NOTE: Editorially renumbered from § 24-157 of this title to avoid a duplication in numbering.
