The saga over the sexually explicit survey scandal in the Burlington school district continues. Last month, we told you that district parents alerted us that their middle and high school students had been given a survey that included graphic content. Some parents had intentionally opted their students out, but they were forced to take the survey anyway. Understandably, parents were outraged, not only by the inappropriate content but also by the school’s blatant disregard for their rights. Upset parents showed up in force and spoke out at the April 1^stand April 8^th school committee meetings to address the issue with school officials. But parents have remained unsatisfied with the district’s response to the growing controversy and are doubling down on demanding accountability.

Following the April 8^th meeting, Burlington Public Schools (BPS) Superintendent Dr. Conti sent a letter to parents acknowledging that errors occurred during the administration of the 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), including “flaws and inconsistencies” in the opt-out process and poor communication between the district’s Wellness Committee and its public health consultant, JSI. Conti emphasized the district’s commitment to transparency and accountability, noted that an independent investigator had been hired, and directed parents to a new YRBS information page on the BPS website.

While the new webpage contained some useful information, such as the full 2025 survey and versions from prior years, it lacked many of the key details and any real accountability that parents were hoping for. On top of that, less than a week after Dr. Conti pledged his commitment to “transparency” in his letter to parents, he informed MFI that the district would only release the modest list of public records we requested regarding the 2025 YRBS if we paid $875. This response raised serious doubts about whether Dr. Conti was very concerned with “transparency” after all.

With these developments in mind, and the YRBS on the agenda, concerned parents once again filled the room at the Burlington School Committee meeting this past Tuesday. The standing-room-only crowd came ready to demand real transparency, accountability, and meaningful change. Before public comment began, the School Committee chair read a statement from school counsel noting that, due to the ongoing investigation and pending federal complaints, the committee is limited in what it can currently discuss. However, parents were assured that more information and further discussion would follow. You can watch the full meeting, including the statement, here.

Burlington parents are shown raising their hands during the Tuesday, April 29^th school committee meeting, indicating that they wished to make a public comment regarding the graphic survey.

Public comment began with a parent of a Burlington middle schooler, who spoke strongly in favor of accountability. “What happened with the survey was not a minor mistake or a minor oversight,” he said. “This was a gross lapse in judgment, a fundamental breach of trust, and a failure to uphold the most basic responsibility that falls on this Administration – to protect the children in our school system.” He also criticized the Superintendent’s lack of transparency and urged the School Committee to consider a vote of no confidence at a future meeting. Many other parents spoke passionately and articulately, calling attention to the lack of representation felt by conservative families and staff, the district’s slide in academic achievement, and the urgent need for course correction. Two students, a 7^th grader and a 9^th grader, also addressed the committee, describing the harmful effects of the survey on their peers and questioning the reliability of the data, given that many students don’t answer honestly. While a handful of speakers defended the survey, the overwhelming majority in attendance opposed it. Watch highlights of the public comment below. 

When it was time for the agenda discussion, Superintendent Conti reiterated that an outside evaluator had been hired to review the survey development and interview people involved in the process. He stated that he expects the reporting to be finalized within the next week and intends to add the information to the YRBS page on the BPS website once it has been reviewed by the School Committee. Dr. Conti also indicated that he anticipates having policy and implementation recommendations ready within the same timeframe.

The outcome of the evaluation remains to be seen, but Burlington parents already know what needs to happen next: administration must be held accountable for breaking the law, and the School Committee must pass a new policy that protects students from sexualization through surveys like the YRBS. On April 8th, Attorney Whiting sent a legal letter to BPS notifying them of the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) complaints filed by the Massachusetts Liberty Legal Center on behalf of Burlington parents. That letter included a sample policy designed to safeguard students, which every School Committee member should now have in hand. We urge Burlington parents to contact their School Committee members and ask them to adopt this policy.

We will continue to follow the developments in Burlington and keep you updated on what happens next. MFI also encourages parents across MA to reach out to their districts regarding the YRBS survey and other similar surveys. What happened in Burlington can happen in any city or town that institutes graphic and inappropriate surveys. Find out if your district intends to implement a survey with sensitive topics. If so, opt your child out, and then advocate for a policy that puts a stop to the surveys altogether. If you believe your rights under the PPRA have been violated, contact the Massachusetts Liberty Legal Center today by emailing [email protected].

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