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​The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) work together to conduct one health-related student survey in the fall of every calendar year – to avoid spring school standardized testing/assessments. The health survey is a combination of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and the Youth Tobacco Survey (YTS).  The core of the survey is the YRBS, supplemented by questions from the YTS and other surveys.  An independent professional survey contractor administers the anonymous and confidential surveys, collects answer sheets, and sends them to the CDC.  The CDC scans the answer sheets, creates the database, and conducts primary data analysis using the CDC’s YRBS protocols.