FastBridge users often ask how to communicate behavior screening results with family members. In most respects, such data should be shared with family members in the same way that academic screening results are shared, however, there are some additional considerations for sharing behavior screening results. The following information relates to the devMilestones, mySAEBRS and SAEBRS screening assessments.
What behavior screening information is best shared with family members?
Like academic screening results, behavior screening data are part of the student's record and, as such, should be made available to the student's parent(s) or legal guardian(s). Important details to convey about FastBridge behavior screening scores are:
- FastBridge behavior screening measures are SCREENERS and not clinical diagnostic tools.
- Scores from behavior screeners can be used to identify which students might need social-emotional behavior support. Before providing such support, teachers will compare the screening score with other sources of information to develop the best plan for a student.
- When explaining risk on the mySAEBRS and SAEBRS, it is helpful to define what each of the subscale risks means. The language that may help parents better understand these better includes:
- Risk for Social Behavior Problems: The student displays behaviors that limit his/her ability to maintain age-appropriate relationships with peers and adults.
- Risk for Academic Behavior Problems: Student displays behaviors that limit his/her ability to be prepared for, participate in, and benefit from academic instruction.
- Risk for Emotional Behavior Problems: The student displays actions that limit his/her ability to regulate internal states, adapt to change, and respond to stressful/challenging events.
- Definitions for the terms used in the devMilestones are found in the online course for that assessment.
What screening scores should be shared?
- First, share the student's overall total scale score. This is the most reliable indicator of possible risk.
- If the total scale score indicates possible risk, then share the sub-scale scores. The sub-scale scores should only be interpreted if the total score indicates risk.
- Include in the information, the benchmarks for the total scale and sub-scales so that readers can compare student performance to the expected score.
How should behavior screening scores be shared with family members?
- At this time, FastBridge does not have a family report for behavior. Instead, schools will need to decide how to incorporate the screening scores into their other reports and family communications.
- Behavior assessment data can sometimes be more sensitive to family members than academic scores. For this reason, it can be helpful to share behavior screening information and scores with family members in person, such as during a family-teacher conference meeting. It can be accompanied by a written summary, however, hearing the information in person when it's possible to ask immediate questions can alleviate worry and prevent back-and-forth phone calls or messages.
- In cases when additional questions or supports are likely, it can be helpful to have the school psychologist, social worker, or school counselor facilitate the dialogue and next steps with family members. This will also ensure that when schools are determining the best methods for supporting a student, family input is incorporated from the start.
As with all FastBridge student data, schools are reminded to review and utilize both the FERPA and any state or local student education data privacy rules and regulations prior to sharing information with family members or others.