Early Risk Screening for School-Related Behavior Disorders

The relationship of screening to effective prevention efforts has a long and productive tradition in many fields, especially public health. Systematic screening and educative efforts have been particularly effective in the early detection of multiple forms of cancer, reduction of deaths due to vascular disease, and prevention of stroke. Within the school setting, screening efforts have been directed toward hearing and vision deficits and in detecting scoliosis. More recently, screening methods have been applied, albeit in a haphazard manner, to detecting early reading failure and the identification of students who may pose a risk to themselves or others within the school. However, the constructive use of available screening technologies by educators to provide early detection and access to services for schoolage children and youth ...