To assess the performance of the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) in identifying children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), this study screened 268 children identified as receiving preschool special education services. Parent-reported ASD diagnosis, education department recorded autism special education classification, ADI-R autism,…

Universal screening of emotional and behavioral problems among students warrants further consideration by school professionals. School-based universal screening may provide opportunities for early identification and intervention, ultimately preventing the development of more severe problems and promoting more positive outcomes in the future. The…

Background: Many childhood psychiatric problems are transient. Consequently, screening procedures to accurately identify children with problems unlikely to remit and thus, in need of intervention, are of major public health concern. This study aimed to develop a universal school-based screening procedure based on the answers to three questions:…

The Development Indicators for the Assessment of Learning (DIAL), a preschool screening instrument, was administered to 436 three- to five-year-olds. Results, in terms of the number of children identified as having potential problems, and the organization of the DIAL subscales, supported the use of the DIAL. (Author/CL)

The author cites issues involved in defining learning disabilities and suggests that it is a subcategory of underachievement. He summarizes his ongoing attempt to identify underachievers in kindergarten through a regression-referenced approach. (CL)

The basic assumptions underlying the development of early identification procedures for at-risk children are reviewed. The effectiveness of screening measures designed to identify educationally "at-risk" children is critically examined. It is concluded that there is a general lack of evidence for the usefulness of such instruments. (Author)

An approach to prekindergarten screening of learning disabled students is explained to probe six areas of development: gross motor, perceptual motor, auditory perceptual, speech and language, visual motor, and social/emotional. (CL)

"Part C Updates" is a compilation of information on various aspects of the Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities (Part C) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This is the eleventh volume in a series of compilations, which included two editions of Part H Updates, the former name of the…

Scores of 189 kindergarten on the McCarthy Screening Test and the SEARCH, were compared to subsequent school progress and performance on the Metropolitan Achievement Tests Series at the end of grades one and two. Only three of the tests' subtest and total scores achieved significant correlations with the Metropolitan. (Author/CL)

The investigation explored the usefulness of the Noise Subtest of the Test of Auditory Discrimination and the Memory for Sequence subtest of the Goldman-Fristoe Woodcock Auditory Skills Test Battery for initial identification of central auditory function in normal children. (Author/CL)

Changes in visual screening procedures that may have occurred over 5 years were investigated. Parameters surveyed included procedures, times, sources of referrals, and personnel. A majority of districts continue to rely on far-point acuity testing. However, in cases where reading problems exist, greater use of vision specialists can be found.…

In its eight years of operation, a British Columbia program to identify hearing loss in newborns has been duplicated at 19 regional sites. Summary data are presented for incidence of loss as well as type (sensorineural, conductive, or mixed). (CL)

Unfortunately, racial disparities are well documented in the delivery of behavioral health services. This study examines the effects of implementing a decision support process, integrating clinical information into the administration of mental health services, on racial disparities in psychiatric hospital admissions for children in state custody.…

Authentic assessment is a growing alternative to conventional testing. This research-to-practice article describes a framework for implementing authentic assessment. The R-E-A-L framework shows how roles, equipment, assessment tools, and location can be incorporated into early childhood practices.

Performance of 136 kindergarteners on five language screening tests was compared with performance on a diagnostic criterion language measure consisting of the Test of Language Development, Test for Auditory Comprehension of Language, and Carrow Elicited Language Inventory. The Language Identification Screening Test for Kindergarten was highly…