Drug-use survey foulup voids results at Davis Magnet School

Results from a survey on drug use and other topics meant only for fifth-graders at Davis Magnet School were destroyed because the questionnaires were inadvertently circulated to students in other grades, school officials said this week.

The California Healthy Kids Survey is meant to help schools and districts assess any areas of need as they relate to student health and related topics.

Students, who participate anonymously, are asked to complete questions regarding their participation in school, school environment, home life and whether they’ve use tobacco, alcohol or drugs.

Data are only collected for students in grades 5, 7, 9 and 11 so the survey can target the “major transition years” that sometimes correlate with risky behavior, according to the survey’s website.

At Davis, the survey was distributed to third- and sixth-graders, in addition to fifth-graders, according to Newport-Mesa Unified School District spokeswoman Annette Franco.

Students at the Costa Mesa school were given the survey Feb. 29 and March 1.

Costa Mesa resident Jeff Wilcox, whose grandson is a Davis third-grader, said the situation concerned him.

Wilcox’s daughter told him that her son came home from school and said he had taken a survey at the direction of a substitute teacher.

“[My grandson] told the substitute teacher that he was uncomfortable taking the [survey] and that he wanted to speak to his mother, according to him,” Wilcox said. “The substitute teacher said he had to take the test and that he had no choice. I’m very concerned that there’s no accountability for anyone.”

According to Franco, Davis Magnet Principal Christy Flores issued a communication to parents March 2, apologizing for inadvertently administering the survey in the wrong grades.

“As soon as we found the error, we communicated with parents and encouraged them to contact me if they had concerns,” Flores said. “Letters were sent home to the parents of the students who took the survey. Survey results were destroyed, and we are moving forward as a school community, focusing on the high-quality education that we offer students at Davis Magnet School.”

Because the results were destroyed Davis will not participate in the California Healthy Kids survey this year.

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Alexandra Chan, alexandra.chan@latimes.com

Twitter: @AlexandraChan10