Exploring Views and Professional Learning Needs of Comprehensive, Integrated, Three-Tiered (Ci3T) Leadership Teams Related to Universal Behavior Screening Implementation

Research conducted to date has highlighted barriers to initial adoption of universal behavior screening in schools. However, little is known regarding the experiences of those implementing these procedures and there have been no studies conducted examining the experiences of educators in different stages of implementing various tiered systems of supports. Universal screening is foundational to a successful Comprehensive, Integrated Three-Tiered (Ci3T) model of prevention-an integrated tiered system addressing academics, behavior, and social and emotional well-being. Therefore, the perspectives of Ci3T Leadership Team members at different stages of Ci3T implementation were solicited through an online survey that sought to understand (1) current school-based screening practices and (2) individual beliefs regarding those practices. A total of 165 Ci3T Leadership Team members representing five school districts from three geographic regions across the United States, all of whom were participating in an Institute of Education Sciences Network grant examining integrated tiered systems, reported the screening procedures were generally well-understood and feasible to implement. At the same time, results highlighted continuing professional learning may be beneficial in the areas of: (1) integrating multiple sources of data (e.g., screening data with other data collected as regular school practices) and (2) using those multiple data sources to determine next steps for intervention. We discuss educational implications, limitations, and directions for future inquiry.

Project ENHANCE: Assessing Professional Learning Needs for Implementing Comprehensive, Integrated, Three-Tiered (Ci3T) Models of Prevention

We report findings from a multistate survey of 720 faculty and staff from 25 elementary schools in five districts across three states and geographic regions participating in an IES Network grant examining integrated tiered systems. In this preregistered study, we replicated and extended previous inquiry examining educators' views of (1) implementation of core components of their school's Comprehensive, Integrated, Three-Tiered (Ci3T) model of prevention; and (2) preference for professional learning (content and avenue). Results indicated more than half of respondents indicated high levels of implementation of core features of Ci3T across Tiers 1, 2, and 3. Educators reported high levels of implementation for 10 out of 19 research-based educational practices used within tiered systems with a statistically significant relation between ratings of implemented practices and the desire for support with most practices. Respondents identified their top three areas for professional development needed in the coming year as behavior deescalation techniques, small-group social skills instruction, and strategies for supporting students with internalizing behavior patterns. For potential professional learning avenues, respondents' top ratings were in-district, during-school workshops, course for college credit on-line, teacher collaboratives/networks, and one-to-one coaching or mentoring. There were many similarities among educators' ratings across implementation year and state. Low levels of implementation across many core Ci3T and common educational practices were reported by educators working within the most experienced schools. We conclude with a discussion of implications, limitations, and future directions.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43494-021-00049-z.

Improving Educators' Knowledge, Confidence, and Usefulness of a Comprehensive, Integrated, Three-tiered (Ci3T) Model of Prevention: Outcomes of Professional Learning

We examined shifts in educators' perceived knowledge, confidence, and usefulness and actual knowledge of concepts in the Comprehensive, Integrated, Three-tiered (Ci3T) model of prevention before and after participation in a practice-based professional learning series to design, implement, and evaluate a Ci3T model for their school. Participants completed the Knowledge, Confidence, and Use (KCU) survey prior to and at the conclusion of the year-long, six-part Ci3T Professional Learning Series. Results indicated participants demonstrated statistically significant increases in perceived and actual knowledge, perceived confidence, and perceived usefulness of concepts measured, with effect sizes suggesting large effects. Implications for supporting educators in designing a Ci3T model of prevention to meet students' educational needs using a practice-based professional learning series are discussed along with limitations and considerations for future research.

Building Strong Partnerships: Education and Mental Health Systems Working Together to Advance Behavioral Health Screening in Schools

In this article, we have introduced a key challenge confronting the fields of education and mental health: the need for early detection of EBDs among students and a framework for early response to their needs. Next, we offered a potential solution: prioritizing strong, integrated partnerships between education and mental health systems. Following this discussion, we provided two illustrations (1) teacher-completed behavior screening within a Ci3T model of prevention in an elementary school setting and (2) student self-reported mental health screening in the high school setting. The differences in the screening measures used in the two illustrations are important. The first illustrates universal behavior screening conducted as part of regular school practices to inform instruction. Teacher-completed screeners are based on observed student behaviors, with screening as a way to measure and monitor teachers' observations. The second illustrates the use of mental health screening (student self-report). Additional protections for self-report measures must be afforded, such as parent/guardian permission and opt-out options as discussed in the high school illustration. Finally, we have offered a call to action, posing considerations for next steps for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. We hope this concluding article in the four-issue 2017 volume of the Report on Emotional & Behavioral Disorders in Youth will help to propel improvements in research, practice, and policy of the foundational issue of early identification of students in need of successful school behavioral health programs.