Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener
The Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener (SAEBRS) is a universal screening tool designed to assess student functioning in the area of social, academic, and emotional behavior. To complete the SAEBRS, a teacher uses a 4-point Likert scale (0 = Never, 1 = Sometimes, 2 = Often, 3 = Almost Always) to indicate how often they have observed a student engaging in a series of behaviors during the previous month. Each of the 19-items falls within one of three subscales. These three subscales then combine to form an overall scale. See below for information regarding each:
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SAEBRS scores can then be used to both (a) determine student risk status and (b) identify areas of concerns for a particular student. This process follows a two-step approach:
- For each student, determine whether or not the student is at risk on the overall Total Behavior scale.
- If yes, examine on which of the three subscales the student is at risk. Use this information to generate hypotheses regarding the best approach to provide support and/or intervention(s) for that student. For example, if that student is at risk in the area of Social Behavior, he or she may be a good candidate for social skills training. If the student is at risk across multiple areas, consider prioritizing the subscale where the student scored the lowest.
Alternative Tools
Instrument |
Administration Information |
Comparison to SAEBRS Domains (Social, Academic, & Emotional Behavior) |
Interpretation |
Pros and Cons |
BASC-3 Behavioral and Emotional Screening System (BESS-3) |
Ages 3-18 Teacher, Parent, Self-Report (grades 3+) 5-10 minutes to complete 25-30 items |
Teacher and Parent form: Internalizing problems Adaptive skills Externalizing problems Teacher and Student form: School problems |
Behavioral and Emotional Total Score (T-score): 40-60: Normal Range 61-70: Elevated Risk 71+: Extremely Elevated Risk |
Pros: Online scoring, validity indices, representative norm-based sample from U.S., brief Cons: Cost, 5-10 minutes to complete per student |
Devereux Student Strengths Assessment –mini (DESSA-mini) |
Grades K-8 Teacher Report 1 minute to complete 8 items |
Social-emotional competency |
Social-Emotional Total Score (T-score): <40: Need for instruction 40-59: Typical 60+: Strength |
Pros: Brief, includes strengths, online scoring Cons: Cost, no subscales or subdomains |
Social Skills improvement System (SSiS) Rating Scales |
Ages 3-18 Teacher, Parent Report 10-25 minutes to complete |
Social Skills Competing Problem Behaviors Academic Competence |
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Pros: Online scoring, Intervention associated with rating scale, national norms Cons: Cost, 10-25 minutes to complete per child |
Strengths & Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) |
Ages 2-17 Teacher, Parent, Self Report (11+ years) 5 minutes to complete 25 items |
Emotional Symptoms Conduct Problems Hyperactivity/ inattention Peer Relationship Problems Prosocial Behavior |
Average Slightly Raised High |
Pros: Low cost, includes strengths, can be online or paper Cons: developed on sample from United Kingdom |
Student Risk Screening Scale (SRSS) |
Grades K-12 Teacher or other school professionals ~1 minute to complete 12 items |
Externalizing and Internalizing Behavior |
Low Risk Moderate risk High Risk |
Pros: Brief, low cost Cons: Only problem-focused items, no subscales/ subdomains |
Systematic Screening for Behavioral Disorders (SSBD) |
Grades PreK-9 Teacher |
Pros: multiple gating procedure Cons: Cost, more complex procedure, may take more time |