Pennsylvania Youth Survey Action Plan
The Comprehensive Prevention and Positive Youth Outcomes Action Plan was created in the 2024 school year in review of the 2019, 2021, and 2023 Pennsylvania Youth Survey administration data. A team of Pottsgrove administrators, school counselors, school social workers, and nurses, came together to create this goal focused multi-year action plan. This plan was also developed in partnership and with support from The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Drug and Alcohol and the Office of Mental Health.
The plan is a preventative and proactive planning project focused on developing, implementing, and monitoring a five year comprehensive goal based prevention plan for the district to address youth identified behaviors they shared in the Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) report and other identified district mental health data sources. It is important because it represents the voices of our students and will result in increasing early prevention and access to needed services. The plan is focused on strategic measurable goals and will help us better align services and supports to meet student identified needs.
During the 2025-2026 school year the Pennsylvania Youth Survey was administered again to students in grades 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12. The results were analyzed in the spring of 2025 against the goals established in the action plan and updates were made to show progress and outcomes to date.The plan will be reviewed again in the 2027 school year after the 2027 administration of the PAYS survey.
Check out the action plans:
PAYS Original Community Sharing of the Action Plan Developed 2023
What is the PAYS Survey?
The Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS), administered to students in grades 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12, delves into attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge on alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and violence. Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, PAYS aids school administrators, state officials, and lawmakers by providing insights into evolving substance use trends. It identifies risk and protective factors, helping community leaders allocate prevention resources efficiently. During the 2025-2026 school year the PAYS will be administered again to all students in the cohorts above, including our 4th graders.
Facts about the PAYS
- Surveys are anonymous and confidential—no individual student information can be obtained from the data set.
- For more information, visit www.pays.pa.gov.