Selective Behavior Screening – FastBridge

Do teachers need to assess ALL of the students in their classroom using SAEBRS or just the ones they feel may be at risk?

A Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) intentionally includes a universal screening of all students so that no student can "slip through the cracks." Universal behavior screening is particularly helpful for preventing later problems by noting the earliest possible indicators. Still, teachers often wonder if screening selected students, especially for behavior concerns, can be done. Selective behavior screening will generally take less teacher time and can focus resources quickly for students with the greatest behavior needs. It is acceptable to conduct selective behavior screening as long as cautions are in place to prevent disproportionate identification of students from a specific background as having behavior problems. Below are the benefits and concerns to universal and selective behavior screening.

Screening Method

Benefits

Concerns

Universal

Is equitable and inclusive because all students are included

Provides data for preventing later problems

Supports systemic approaches to social-emotional behavior and learning supports (e.g., PBIS)

Takes too much time

Might identify more students than there are resources to support

Ignores other sources of information

Selective

Takes less time

Focuses on the most immediate student needs

Builds from other data about student behavior

Not as equitable and inclusive because all students are not included

Could miss early indicators of problems that can be prevented

Does not support a systemic approach to supporting student behavior

By conducting universal behavior screening of all students, there is an improved ability to identify at-risk students early and prevent bigger problems later. In addition, universal behavior screening is the most equitable and inclusive practice and supports systemic behavior supports that boost learning outcomes for all students. When used to screen all students, mySAEBRS and SAEBRS data might also prove useful in program evaluation, and in determining what types of Tier 1 core social-emotional behavior instruction is needed by most students.

Nonetheless, universal behavior screening requires more time and resources than selective screening. In situations when a school has very limited resources to address behavior problems, using selective screening might be a more efficient way to identify and allocate resources and supports for the students who need them most. FastBridge recommends that school-level teams of general and special educators, mental health specialists, leaders, and others discuss the benefits and concerns associated with universal and selective behavior screening in order to select the best practices for the students attending the school.