No abstract

We report findings from a statewide survey of 365 site-level administrators developed to (a) learn about the extent to which schools across the state were implementing components of multi-tiered systems of support and (b) determine the areas in which these schools might need professional development or resources to support them. At least half of the administrators indicated a high level of implementation for all Tier 1 features, with the exception of instruction in school-wide behavioral expectations. Tier 2 and Tier 3 behavioral and social supports were reportedly less fully implemented than those focused on academic domains. Most differences between elementary and secondary schools existed in Tier 1 features, with implementation occurring more fully in elementary schools. More than half of the administrators indicated a high level of implementation of the 15 research-based educational practices and supports examined, with a statistically significant relation between administrators’ ratings of currently implemented practices and the desire for support for all educational practices and supports except for increasing behavior-specific praise. In terms of potential venues for professional development and learning, in-district, during-school workshops and practices guides were rated most favorably. We discuss avenues for supporting schools with implementation.

We reported findings of an exploratory validation study of a revised universal screening instrument: the Student Risk Screening Scale–Internalizing and Externalizing (SRSS-IE) for use with middle school students. Tested initially for use with elementary-age students, the SRSS-IE was adapted to include seven additional items reflecting characteristics of internalizing behaviors. The initial seven items developed by Drummond (1994) were retained, yielding a modified instrument containing 14 items (SRSS-IE14) rated by teachers on the original 4-point, Likert-type scale. First, we examined reliability of SRSS-IE14 scores by analyzing item-level data, internal consistency estimates, and factor structure with a sample of 937 middle school students. Results of a data analytic plan grounded in Classical Test Theory supported retention of five of the new seven items, producing the SRSS-IE12. Second, we established convergent validity of the SRSS-IE12 with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, 1997), a validated screening tool. We offered recommendations for addressing the limitations of this study in future research.

The authors examined the psychometric properties of the Student Risk Screening Scale, as used in three ethnically, culturally, and economically diverse urban midwestern elementary schools. The results suggest strong internal consistency (a = .81-.82) and test-retest stability (r = .86). Initial ratings of risk as measured by the Student Risk Screening Scale were statistically significant in predicting year-end office discipline referral rates and springtime oral reading fluency scores. Students with higher levels of risk at the onset of the academic year were likely to end the year with moderately higher rates of office discipline referrals and low to moderately lower oral reading fluency proficiency levels. Limitations and future directions are offered.