Behavior Assessment: Universal Screening
“How do I find out who needs social/emotional/behavioral help?”
The following universal screening instruments are examples of various research-based screeners:
Behavioral Screener / Description / Measures / Cost / Ease of UseSystematic Screener for Behavior Disorders (SSBD) / Grade(s): 1-6
Use: Comprehensive behavior screening tool
– Validated by the Program Effectiveness Panel of the U.S. Department of Education
– Six research studies confirm the SSBD’s ability to systematically screen and identify students at-risk of developing behavior problems
– Universal screening with the SSBD is less costly and time-consuming than traditional referral system (Walker & Severson, 1994)
– Teachers complete Critical Events Index checklist for top three internalizers and externalizers
– Internalizers with four or more and externalizers with five or more critical events immediately pass gate two and are eligible for simple a secondary intervention (i.e., CICO)
SSBD: Walker & Severson, 1994 / Externalizing & Internalizing / $131.49 (includes reproducible screening forms) / Quick
45 minutes to 1 hour per classroom
Behavioral and emotional Screening System (BASC-2/BESS) / Grade(s)- Pre-K -12
Use: School wide (Universal) screening tool
BASC-2/BESS: Kamphaus & Reynolds, 2007
§ Developed as a school-wide (Universal) screening tool for children in grades Pre-K to 12
§ Similar to annual vision/hearing screenings
§ Identifies behavioral and emotional strengths and weaknesses
§ Teachers complete scantron forms (‘bubble sheets’) for each student in their class
§ Or, for top three internalizers and externalizers if using a multi-gate approach / Externalizing behaviors (e.g., acting out)
Internalizing behaviors (e.g., withdrawn)
Adaptive skills (e.g., social and self-care skills) / Requires scantron machine
$26.25 for 25 hand-scored protocols
Online access via AIMSweb
Subscription fees apply
Software: $620 / Requires basic understanding of T-scores
Takes approximately five minutes, or less per student to complete ratings
Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) / Age(s): 3-17
Use: screening, clinical assessment, progress monitoring, research tool
• Technically sound: Large, representative normative group
• Items skewed toward externalizing behaviors
(SDQ; Goodman, 2001)
http://www.sdqinfo.org / Externalizing & Internalizing Behaviors / FREE / Pencil/paper administration or online version
Perceived length of administration time viewed as a con
Student Risk Screening Scale (SRSS) / Grade(s): K-12
SRSS: Drummond, 1993
• Easy to understand and interpret score results
• Technically-adequate
• Not as accurate as the SSBD regarding identification of internalizers / Externalizing & Internalizing Behaviors / FREE / Less than 5 minutes per student; 15 minutes for entire class
Easy to understand and interrupt scores
Social Skills Improvement System (SSIS) / Age(s): 3-18
Use: class-wide screener
SSIS: Gresham & Elliott, 2008 (originally the SRSS)
• Computer and web-based (AIMSweb) administration and scoring available / Problem behaviors, social and academic competence / Technical manual: $105.60
Rating Forms: $43.75/pkg of 25
Scoring Software: $640 / Computer and web-based (AIMSweb) administration and scoring available
Time consuming; 10-25 minutes per student
Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener (SAEBRS) / Use(s): universal screener for overall general behaviors
Grade(s): K-12 / Overall general behavior(s) / FREE / Easy to use