BURLINGTON, Mass. — The U.S. Department of Education’s Student Privacy Policy Office launched an investigation into Burlington Public Schools on Monday, alleging they violated parents’ rights when they gave students a survey that asked questions about sensitive topics.
The topics included drug and alcohol use, sexual encounters, and gender identity.
The questionnaire was given during the 2025 school year as part of a “Youth Risk Behavior Survey.”
Some of the questions included in the survey were as follows, according to documents obtained by Boston 25 News:
- Which of the following terms best describes your current gender identity?
- What sex were you assigned at birth, on your original birth certificate?
- Which of the following best describes your sexual orientation?
- What is your race and/or ethnicity?
- Has anyone done sexual things to you or forced you to do sexual things that you did not want to?
- Has someone you were dating or going out with ever done sexual things to you or forced you to do sexual things that you did not want to?
- Has someone you were dating or going out with physically hurt you?
- How old were you when you had your first drink of alcohol (more than a few sips)?
- During the past month, did you ride in a car or other vehicle driven by someone who had been drinking alcohol?
- During the past month, what flavors were your tobacco products?
- During the past month, how did you get your tobacco products?
- Have you ever had sexual contact with another person?
- Have you ever had sexual intercourse?
- Have you ever sent or received sexual messages or nude or semi-nude pictures or videos electronically?
The Department of Education alleges they received several complaints from parents that even though they opted their children out of the survey, the questionnaire was still administered by district officials.
“The allegations that Burlington violated parents’ rights by administering a survey against parents’ wishes – and particularly one that is graphic, and downright inappropriate in nature – is unconscionable,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “The Department will investigate this matter thoroughly and continue to resolutely defend parents’ rights.”
Burlington Public Schools Superintendent Eric Conti says the district will cooperate fully with the investigation, though they have already taken steps as early as last year to address the survey controversy.
“Last winter, the District terminated its contract with the company that drafted the survey,” he said. “The School Committee also unanimously voted that no new student surveys will be administered until a new policy is written and approved by the School Committee. That process is already ongoing, with the assistance of legal counsel.”
Conti says parents were notified prior to April break 2025 about information on their website about the survey and the changes the district would be implementing moving forward.
“The School District also previously emailed all families acknowledging that errors and mistakes did occur and that the School District recognized the critical importance of having clear communication with families, especially regarding parents and students’ rights to opt-out of such surveys,” Conti said. “This is not a new issue, and the District has gone to great lengths to be transparent and forthcoming about the problems, unintentional as they were, with the 2025 YRBS.”
The complaint filed by parents can be seen below:
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