How Do I Sign Up?

STEP 1: Review Materials

As your district's CHKS coordinator, it is essential that you understand the basic tasks involved in survey administration. Before calling your HKS Regional Center (Step 2), you MUST review:

• The Guidebook for the California Healthy Kids Survey, Part I: Administration. Part I of the CHKS Guidebook provides detailed instruction on all aspects of administering the survey in California, along with ready-to-use support materials and tools. It serves as a step-by-step guide to the tasks that need to be performed, and contains an overview to the survey’s purpose, its content and format, its requirements, the reporting process and fees, and the procedures for maintaining data confidentiality.


• The Guidebook for the California Healthy Kids Survey, Part III: School Climate Survey for Teachers and Other Staff. This short guide explains the new staff School Climate Survey - what it's about, who has to take it, and how it's administered.


• The Survey Instruments. Get acquainted with our most recent California Healthy Kids Surveys, including the Elementary Survey, the middle school and high school Modules A-F, and the new staff School Climate Survey (SCS).

STEP 2: Submit Memorandum of Understanding

The Memorandum of Understanding outlines the responsibilities of both the LEA and the CHKS service center and the conditions that must be met in administering the survey. It must be signed and returned via mail or fax to the CHKS before services can be continued. Please note: Simply submitting the MOU does NOT sign you up for the survey; you must call 888.841.7536 to do so.

Do NOT send payment in advance. A sales order (SO) for your basic costs will be mailed to you with your answer sheets. Please send us a purchase order (PO) or check based on this SO. You may order additional items such as school reports or electronic copies using the Answer Sheet Return Checklist enclosed with your answer sheets. We will issue a new SO based on your request. Again, please wait to receive this new SO before issuing a PO or check.

STEP 3: Contact your CHKS Regional Center

Next, contact your CHKS Regional Center. A staff technical advisor will help you determine the minimum requirements for your district and start the process of developing your survey plan. Be sure to be ready with the following information, especially if you plan to order your answer sheets (Note: Answer sheet orders must be placed AT LEAST two weeks before you want to receive them. Orders can take up to four weeks longer if you plan to sample.):

• For traditional schools, current enrollment by grade (5, 7, 9, and 11 only), plus the total number of students in continuation and community day schools (grades 5 and 7-12);
• The total number of staff you are targeting at each school site;
• Whether you participate in a program that requires specific CHKS questions, such as 21st Century afterschool programs;
• Which modules/surveys you plan to administer to the students; and
• Tentative dates for when you plan to administer the student and staff surveys.

STEP 4: Attend Administration Training

In California, free Administration Trainings are held monthly via webcast. Onsite, county- and district-level trainings are available for a fee. Call the toll-free number 888.841.7536 for details.