Systematic Screening in Tiered Systems to Support Student’s Well-Being

In this chapter, we provide guidance for bringing systematic screening to scale within tiered systems to facilitate students’ well-being. Systematic screening is a critical feature of all tiered systems designed to prevent—and respond—to the development of learning, behavioral, and social and emotional well-being challenges. We discuss three considerations for moving forward with systematic screening in K-12 school settings to support student’s well-being. First, we recommend educational leaders establish transparent plans for intervening at each level of prevention before introducing systematic screening tools and procedures. Second, we provide guidance for selecting a reliable, valid, and practical tool for each school context. Third, we address logistical considerations for installing the tool selected, including providing guidance for implementation practices. Throughout the chapter, we emphasize the role of professional learning for educators and community members to understand the value—and practicalities—of systematic screening to support well-being. We conclude with a summary as well as a listing of resources to support screening implementation and additional learning.