NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Direct linkDirect link
ERIC Number: EJ1233962
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019-Nov
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2578-4218
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Universal Screening in Middle and High Schools: Who Falls through the Cracks?
Margherio, Samantha M.; Evans, Steven W.; Owens, Julie Sarno
School Psychology, v34 n6 p591-602 Nov 2019
Navigating academic demands in middle and high school may be particularly challenging for youth experiencing emotional and behavioral difficulties, and screening practices are a necessary first step in identifying youth in need of services. The goal of this study was to inform efficient universal screening practices in secondary schools by comparing 3 common methods of screening, including self- and teacher report on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and grade point average (GPA) to indicate moderate and high levels of risk. Participants were 2,350 secondary students (47% female; 94% non-Hispanic White) and their teachers in 1 socioeconomically diverse school district. Using the moderate-risk criteria, there was low agreement among methods, and almost half the sample (46%) was identified as at risk by at least 1 of the 3 methods, indicating that responding to the needs of students who cross this liberal cutoff may not be feasible given school resources. Using the high-risk criteria reduced the agreement among screening measures. Self-report identified the most students as high risk and was more sensitive to teacher-rated concerns than the converse. If students were uniquely identified by teacher report, teachers rated them at high levels of risk, and predominant concerns were related to conduct problems. GPA captured few students with self- or teacher-rated internalizing or externalizing difficulties. Implications for universal screening within secondary schools are discussed. Impact and Implications: We found grade point average had little utility for capturing secondary students at risk of emotional and behavioral difficulties, and student-report appeared to capture students with both teacher- and student-reported emotional and behavioral difficulties. Our results demonstrate reliance on teacher report and extant academic data in universal screening practices in secondary schools might allow adolescents experiencing internalizing and externalizing difficulties to fall through the cracks. Integrating self-report within universal screening practices in secondary schools is therefore an important and efficient practice in identifying at-risk youth.
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education; High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (DHHS/PHS)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Ohio
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire
Grant or Contract Numbers: U01DD001007
Author Affiliations: N/A