Welcome to our guide on the important role that state associations play in the NFHS Participation Survey! This document will help you understand how state associations manage participation data and the responsibilities they hold in this process. Let's dive in!

State associations are pivotal in leading the NFHS Participation Survey. While the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) coordinates the survey on a national level, each state retains the authority and control over how participation data is collected, reviewed, and submitted.

State associations maintain full authority over several key aspects of the participation survey process:

States have the flexibility to determine their internal timelines for:

• School submissions

• Review processes

• Final submission to NFHS

States decide how and when to communicate expectations, instructions, and reminders to their member schools. This ensures that everyone is on the same page and understands the requirements.

States have the option to choose their preferred method for collecting participation data:

• Submit aggregate participation data (which may maintain existing processes), or

• Utilize the FinalForms, school-to-state, workflow to streamline collection and validation.

Before submitting data to the NFHS, state associations are responsible for:

• Reviewing participation data for completeness and accuracy

• Resolving discrepancies as needed

• Ensuring that the data accurately reflects state-level totals.

Once the data has been finalized, states submit the participation data to the NFHS. It's important to note that the NFHS does not collect data directly from schools. The most recent submission received before the deadline is used for national reporting.

There are no changes to the following areas:

• State governance authority

• State decision-making rights

• State control over participation requirements

The Participation Survey remains a state-led process, supported by the infrastructure and tools provided by the NFHS.

We hope this guide has clarified the essential role of state associations in the NFHS Participation Survey. If you have any questions or need further information, feel free to reach out at support@finalforms.com.