Assessments are designed to determine the student’s abilities and needs in relevant aspects of the curriculum and instruction. Educators need this essential tool to guide day-to-day instruction. The range of assessments may range from classroom assessment practices all the way to district and statewide assessment programs. Regular  progress monitoring valuable information on teaching effectiveness and is the basis for informed instructional decisions.

All team members need to monitor progress on an ongoing basis. Data collection must be regular and consistent, and the data collection tools must be individualized to the student’s goals. Assessment for effective behavior support consists of comprehensive analysis and ongoing monitoring at both the school and student levels. 

This two-page publication Formative Assessment: Monitoring the Progress of Students with IEPs shared more information on assessment.

School/System Level

Through quantitative and qualitative evaluations, school-wide effective behavior support team members must analyze data to determine both the strengths and needs specific to their school building. Teams must complete a comprehensive assessment that will typically involve assessing indicators of program quality and performing quantitative data collection. Following the initial assessment, teams develop school-wide effective behavior support plans along with an ongoing data collection system so that progress can be monitored, and plans can be adapted as necessary.

Universal Screeners

Screeners are essential for effective schoolwide prevention systems. They are the tools for early and accurate identification of at-risk students across the K–12 continuum. Screeners should be used at each level of schooling, elementary, middle, and high school, as each level has unique demands that students must negotiate.

Lane, K.; Oakes, W.; and Menzies. H. (2010). Systematic screenings to prevent the development of learning and behavior problems: Considerations for practitioners, researchers and policy makers. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 21  160-172.

The following webinars, presented by Dr. Kathleen Lane, University of Kansas, at Pennsylvania’s PBIS Implementers’ Forum address universal screeners. Click on the hyperlink to access the webinars via streaming media.

Behavior Screening: If You Screen…You Must Intervene! 

Systematic Screening Tools: Taking Data Based Decisions One Step Further 

Systematic Screening for Behavior Challenges: The Importance of Intervening 

Universal Screening – Hot Topics in Behavior