Considerations for systematic screening PK-12: universal screening for internalizing and externalizing behaviors in the COVID-19 era

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, PK-12 school buildings across the United States closed and educators quickly pivoted to remote and continuous learning opportunities to protect students and society as a whole from the deadly coronavirus. As educational leaders navigate the complexities for providing instruction during the 2020-2021 academic year, questions have arisen regarding systematic screening practices. At a time when many people—including students—are likely to be experiencing heightened emotional and behavioral challenges, educational leaders are seeking guidance on how to support students’ well-being. Systematic screening being a vital part of the response. In this manuscript, we offer considerations for conducting systematic screenings for internalizing and externalizing behaviors in the COVID-19 era. We recommend educators continue to screen, use multiple sources of data to inform programming, and screen responsibly. We close with our commitment to swiftly explore psychometric properties of the Student Risk Screen Scale for Internalizing and Externalizing (SRSS-IE) behaviors, to provide clarity on the reliability and validity of this free-access screening tool in the new and varied school contexts, and provide data-informed guidance to educational leaders.