The functioning of children with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) is a concern for parents and educators. Screening focuses efforts to identify and prevent/remediate EBD for students most at risk. Current screening instruments fail to meet three factors that may be related to successful early identification. The three factors are universality (rates all students), brevity, and identification of internalizing and externalizing symptoms. This thesis began the construction of a screener with all three factors. The thesis determined a conceptual basis for the instrument and created an item pool. The conceptualization was based on a literature review. The item pool was obtained by looking at current assessments and screeners, research studies, and teacher focus groups and email surveys. The item pool should be test piloted and compared against reliable and valid assessments to further reduce the number of items.

The transition of students with emotional and behavioral disorders has often been difficult when the move is made from self-contained classes to a less restrictive environment in general education classes. This study analyzed the perceptions of students and teachers when six middle school students with emotional and behavioral disorders moved from self-contained classes to inclusive placements in general education classes in three schools that were part of a large metropolitan school district in the southeastern United States. Data were collected over a 2 month period using semi-structured student interviews and teacher surveys, as well as student records and other school reports and observations. Data were analyzed to develop a grounded theory that explained the differences between students who had successful experiences (no discipline referrals or failing grades) and students who experienced problems with inclusion. The students attributed their success to: (a) support from their teachers, (b) quiet, well-managed inclusive classrooms, and (c) planned systems for the inclusion process. The teachers attributed student success to: (a) general education teacher willing to take a student with EBD into their class, (b) academic and behavioral support systems, and (c) positive home-school relationships between the teacher and the child's family. The grounded theory developed in this study predicted that students have a greater chance of successful inclusion if they have (a) behavioral supports aimed at managing academic frustration, (b) a plan that encourages and rewards self-determination and (c) supportive teachers or family members. These findings also related important elements of research and provided insight on current practice for the inclusion of students with emotional and behavioral disorders.

Students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) have traditionally been educated in self-contained special education settings. Recent legislative changes such as the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 2004 have led to increased inclusion of students with EBD in general education classrooms. Because of these changes, general educators need to know which research-based interventions are effective in improving academic performance with these students. This systematic review examined the literature to identify research-based effective interventions for students with EBD served in general education settings. Studies included in this review had to meet the following criteria: research sample includes students identified with EBD as their primary disability who are being educated full time in general education settings; description of intervention and implementation are thorough enough to allow replication; documented relationship between intervention and academic performance is clearly established; and data documenting intervention effect is provided. The focus of interventions for students with EBD is too often only on controlling behavior, whereas this review focused on improving academics. Studies not meeting these criteria were excluded from the review. These inclusion and exclusion criteria were necessary to identify studies relevant to current practice of inclusion, as well as to provide information to educators on interventions having an effect on academic performance. Five studies met all inclusion criteria. Effective interventions included: writing instruction, discovery teaching, teacher modeling, cross-age tutoring, and guided notes. Nineteen studies met all inclusion criteria except setting, with intervention and data collection performed in self-contained special education classrooms. These studies suggest that peer-tutoring and self-management interventions may also be effective if introduced into general education classrooms. The study concludes by suggesting specific methodological criteria needed for future research in this area.

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This descriptive study provides insight on the prevalence of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD) screening and school psychologists' roles in that screening process in Utah schools. EBD screening plays an important role in implementing Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). An electronic questionnaire was sent to 260 practicing Utah school psychologists. A total of 89 of those school psychologists completed the survey resulting in a 34% participation rate. Twelve percent (n=11) of participants reported that EBD screening was happening in their schools. Participants reported that the lack of resources to address student needs, the lack of administrative support, and the school having too many other concerns were barriers to EBD screening implementation. Survey results also reported that successful EBD screening consisted of a combined effort consisting of teams, administration, and school districts. Additionally, school psychologists reported that their role in EBD screening should mainly be focused on data interpretation and intervention implementation. The goal of this thesis project was to increase awareness of how universal EBD screening was occurring in Utah schools.

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Researchers have noted that by providing formal and informal social skills training (SST), the school can become a potential optimal setting that fosters the development of social competence in students with behavioral problems. Indeed, learning to get along with people is one of the most important skills that we can teach students. In order to maximize its effectiveness, SST must be motivating and personally relevant enough for students to want to use the skills. In addition, it must provide opportunities for learned skills to be practiced under varying conditions and in as close to natural situations as possible in order to enhance the transfer of training. The purpose of the study was to investigate the social competence of students aged from six to twelve, diagnosed with emotional/behavioral disorders (E/BD) in a public self-contained school setting, and to increase the students' social competence by using a literature-based method that employs multiage grouping, impersonation, and telecommunications. By providing intensive, literature-based training in a multiage classroom, the SST gave students opportunities to practice skills in a natural, real-life environment and, therefore, increased the likelihood of generalizing these skills in other settings. The employment of impersonation and telecommunications also enhanced students' acquisition of social skills and their interests to learn.