Described are the development and field testing of the Revised 1977 Behavior Checklist, one component of a multidisciplinary batter to assess social and emotional dysfunction in populations of 4- and 5-year-old children entering kindergarten. The total screening battery is outlined and development of the 1976 Pilot Version of the Behavior checklist is reviewed. Considered are the following steps in the Revised 1977 Behavior Checklist development: item selection, pretest of the First Revision with parents of 16 children, field testing of second and third revised editions, use of the finalized instrument with parents of 750 children entering kindergarten, and utilization of clinically-based tools to evaluate validity of the checklist. Tables with statistical data are included. (SBH)