It is critical for young children to develop social-emotional competence, as delays in this area are associated with negative social and behavioral outcomes, and the preschool classroom is a natural setting for children to build these skills. However, for many children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), this can be a challenging task, as…

We present a dynamic systems perspective for the intensification of interventions for students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). With this framework, we suggest behavior involves the contributions of multiple factors and reflects the interplay between the characteristics of the student and the ecologies in which he or she is embedded.…

We present a dynamic systems perspective for the intensification of interventions for students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). With this framework, we suggest behavior involves the contributions of multiple factors and reflects the interplay between the characteristics of the student and the ecologies in which he or she is embedded.…

The purpose of this study was to determine the relative efficacy of non-contingent reinforcement (NCR) and differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) after behavioral functions were identified through indirect, descriptive, and experimental assessment. Participants included three preschool-age children in three center-based classrooms in a…

Research in education and developmental psychology indicates that behavioral engagement in learning is a critical predictor of children's academic success. In an effort to improve academic achievement, school administrators are continually in search of methods to increase behavioral engagement. Previous research has indicated that classroom-based…

Students at risk for behavioral difficulties have unique needs that affect their academic, behavioral, and social skills. Many of these students are served in various educational settings, possibly transitioning back and forth from traditional schools to alternative settings. As they transition, there is a chance that the students' behavioral data…

Functional communication training (FCT) is a commonly used, often recommended intervention that involves teaching a functionally equivalent communicative response to replace challenging behavior. The purpose of this literature review was to evaluate the strength of the evidence for the use of FCT. A systematic review of the literature resulted in…

Check-in/check-out (CICO) is widely used as a Tier 2 intervention within school-wide positive behavior interventions and supports. Evidence suggests that traditional CICO is primarily effective for students demonstrating problem behavior maintained by adult attention. A growing body of research has investigated function-modified CICO to address…

Families that have children with ASD may experience increased stress due to a variety of factors, one of these factors being managing difficult behaviors. One area of behavioral difficulty that children with ASD experience is transitioning between activities. The Social Story is one intervention that has been studied as a transition support both…

In the context of best practices consultation with high needs teachers, we examined (1) relations between teachers' appropriate response to student rule violations and rates of rule violations, and (2) rates of student misbehavior among teachers who do and do not achieve various benchmarks of integrity and/or growth in skills. Participants were 48…

Positive perceptions of school climate are associated with lower frequency of peer victimization and aggression in children. Understanding "how" school climate influences aggression and victimization is essential to guiding school-level interventions to enhance character strengths such as social responsibility. In this short-term…

Research conducted to date provides a limited understanding of the landscape of school-based screening practices across academic, behavioral, and health domains, thus providing impetus for the current survey study. A total of 475 K-12 school building administrators representing 409 unique school districts across the United States completed an…

This study examines differential effects of the Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) program on behavioral and academic outcomes of middle school students. Researchers administered screenings to grade 6 students to assess traumatic stress and then randomized those with elevated levels to the CBITS treatment (n = 150; 47%…

The Minnesota's School-Based Diversion Model (SBDM) is a student-centered plan to keep youth from entering the criminal justice system due to arrests at school or during school hours. Wilder Research is working with the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) to help collect and analyze information about how the SBDM is helping each pilot…

The Minnesota's School-Based Diversion Model (SBDM) is a student-centered plan to keep youth from entering the criminal justice system due to arrests at school or during school hours. Wilder Research is working with the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) to help collect and analyze information about how the SBDM is helping each pilot…