The quality of early student-teacher relationships (STRs) has been shown to predict children's school adjustment, and children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at risk for poor quality STRs. The present study examined 162 children with ASD (ages 4-7) and their teachers to evaluate student, teacher, and classroom characteristics that predicted concurrent and prospective STR quality across one school year. Child oppositional behavior, autism severity and teacher degree predicted changes in student-teacher conflict over a 1-year period, while child social skills and IQ positively predicted change in student-teacher closeness. Teacher preparedness, trainings in ASD, and classroom setting were unrelated to STR quality. Implications for intervention are discussed.

There is a critical need for evidence-based, broadband behavioral, and ASD screening measures for use in pediatric and early educational settings to ensure that young children at risk for developing social-emotional disorders and/or ASD are provided with early intervention services to optimize long-term outcomes. The BITSEA is a 42-item screener designed to identify social-emotional/behavioral problems and delays/deficits in social-emotional competence among 11-to-48-month-olds; 19 items describe behaviors consistent with ASD. Secondary data analysis was employed to develop cut-scores for ASD subscales using Receiver Operating Curves, discriminating children with (n=223) and without (n=289) ASD. Cut-scores demonstrated moderate-to-high discriminative power, sensitivity, specificity, and PPV. Findings highlight feasibility of using a broadband social-emotional competence and behavior problem screener to improve early detection of ASD.

Autistic students often experience peer relationship difficulties.As peer acceptance and rejection may be malleable over time, we examined predictors of change in peer acceptance and peer rejection among early elementary-age autistic students. We followed 166 autistic children (mean age: 6.1 years [range: 4-8], 82.5% boys, grades preK-2nd) longitudinally across 2 school years. Social skills, internalizing problems, and externalizing behaviors were considered as predictors of change in teacher-rated peer acceptance and rejection, covarying IQ and autism characteristics. Autistic children experienced high rejection and low acceptance; 51.9% of children were rejected by peers in one or both school years. Results revealed distinct predictors for peer acceptance versus rejection: social skills predicted change in peer acceptance across school years, whereas externalizing problems predicted change in peer rejection. Internalizing problems did not predict change in either construct. Findings can assist school professionals in supporting social acceptance and acceptance for young autistic students.

Background and Aims-High quality student-teacher relationships (STR) are important for children's academic and social development. We explore how individual child language domains (semantics, syntax, pragmatics), teacher years of experience, and classroom placement (general or special education) relate to STR quality for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) across the school year. Methods and Procedures-191 children with ASD (M age = 5.6 years) completed a standardized language assessment and their teachers reported on STR quality twice during the school year. Outcome and Results-Pragmatics, but not semantics or syntax, had a direct effect on studentteacher closeness. The association between semantics and closeness was moderated by classroom type; for students with low semantics, teacher-reported closeness was lower in general versus special education. Teachers in special versus general education classrooms reported closer relationships. More experienced teachers reported closer and less conflictual relationships. None of the three language domains were associated with student-teacher conflict. Conclusions and Implications-Pragmatic and semantic language skills were associated with closer relationships. Language-focused therapies may be effective in carrying over to impact STR quality. Given the stability in relationship quality, targeted interventions should be delivered to teachers at the beginning of the school year to support positive relationship development.