The survey was conducted during the 1999–2000 school year. An electronic list of all public elementary schools in Washington was obtained from the Superintendent of Public Instruction. All schools with at least 25 children in 2nd or 3rd grade were included in the sampling frame. Eligible schools then were ordered by percent minority enrollment. Fifty-five elementary schools were randomly selected for participation in Smile Survey 2000. Seven of the schools refused to participate resulting in 48 schools with an enrollment of 6,814 children in second and third grade—the response rate was 40%. Only those children who returned a positive consent form were screened. Diagnostic criteria were consistent with those outlined in ASTDD’s 1999 Basic Screening Survey. In the state, 31% of schoolchildren are eligible for the free/reduced lunch program (FRL); among the students attending schools in the sample and participating in the survey, 37% were eligible for FRL. The estimates were not adjusted for nonresponse.

For more information about this survey, contact:

Tom Lockhart
Oral Health Program
Office of Maternal and Child Health
Washington Department of Health
MCH, Child & Adolescent Health
P.O. Box 47880
7171 Cleanwater Lane, Building 7
Olympia, WA 98504-7880
Telephone: 360-236-3534
Fax: 360-586-7868
E-mail: thomas.lockhart@doh.wa.gov