Evidence-Based Universal Social-Emotional Screening Programs
As a school psychology graduate student, I am compiling information on evidence-based
universal social-emotional screening programs to support schools in implementing effective
tools for early identification of students in need of additional support. The following
document provides an overview of several well-established programs, including their
background, target population, administration procedures, and psychometric properties.
Behavioral and Emotional Screening System (BESS)
The BESS, developed by Pearson, is part of the BASC-3 suite and is designed to identify
students at risk for emotional and behavioral problems. It is suitable for children and
adolescents ages 3 to 18. The BESS includes teacher, parent, and student forms and takes
approximately 5–10 minutes to complete. It demonstrates strong reliability and validity,
and it is norm-referenced.
Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener (SAEBRS)
SAEBRS is a brief, universal screening tool designed to assess student risk in the social,
academic, and emotional domains. Developed by FastBridge Learning, it can be completed
by teachers in less than 5 minutes per student. It aligns well with MTSS frameworks and
offers strong reliability and predictive validity.
Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)
The SDQ is a free, widely used screening tool that assesses behavioral and emotional
functioning in children ages 2 to 17. It includes teacher, parent, and self-report versions.
The SDQ evaluates five domains: emotional symptoms, conduct problems,
hyperactivity/inattention, peer relationship problems, and prosocial behavior. It has been
validated across numerous populations.
Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA)
The DESSA is a strength-based social-emotional assessment developed by Aperture
Education. Designed for K–8 students, it assesses competencies related to social-emotional
learning (SEL). It is completed by teachers and takes about 5–8 minutes. The DESSA has
strong psychometric support and aligns with CASEL’s SEL framework.
Systematic Screening for Behavior Disorders (SSBD)
SSBD is a multiple-gating screening procedure used to identify elementary-aged students at
risk for externalizing and internalizing behavior disorders. It involves teacher nominations,
behavior ratings, and direct observations. Although more time-intensive, it is one of the
most researched screening tools in school psychology.