As part of our effort to support the Whole Child, our school will be completing a universal social and emotional screening for students for the second year in a row. Universal social and emotional screening can provide a fair and impartial way of looking at how students are progressing in their social and emotional development.  Screenings can also help identify areas where school personnel can improve or adjust our supports. Universal social and emotional screening is NOT an assessment or an evaluation. Instead, screenings are a useful tool to help identify students who may need extra social or emotional support. Denver Public Schools currently uses a social and emotional screening questionnaire called the Behavior and Emotional Screening System (BESS). The online tool takes approximately ten minutes to complete and consists of 28 questions for the student to answer. The social and emotional screening may occur two or three times over the course of the school year. Repeated screening helps us determine if the supports we provide to students are effective in meeting their needs. 

 

You have the option to EXEMPT your child from participating. If you DO NOT want your child to participate in social and emotional screening, please indicate so by signing this form. If you have any questions, please email your school representative, Rachel Wilberg, school psychologist, at rachel_wilberg@dpsk12.net. 

If we do not receive an OPT-OUT form or email from you by Sunday Sept 10th, 2023, we will assume you are choosing to have your child participate in social and emotional screening. 

Want more information? Read below. 

Thank you for inquiring about the Behavior and Emotional Screening System (BESS). The BESS is an instrument designed to assist in better understanding the behavioral and emotional strengths and needs of our students. The purpose of screening all students is to provide a proactive approach to student needs. Data from the screening areas is used to drive decisions and provide students with equal access to appropriate interventions and supports. Please remember this is a screening tool and NOT an assessment or evaluation of your child. 

The BESS takes approximately 10 minutes for the students to complete a 28 question, self-report online. Teacher reports take approximately 45 minutes for a classroom of 25. If your child is in 1st-2nd grade, they will not be completing a self-report, instead, their teacher will complete a teacher-report regarding your child (see teacher-report). If your child is in 3rd-5th grade, they will be completing the self-report (see self-report). All screening results are kept confidential in a secure, online database. Only a few select administrators are able to see the results. If you would like to review your child's results on the screener, we can find a time to discuss after administration is completed. 

Teacher-report (1st or 2nd grade child). Here are some of the teacher questions that teachers will rate each, individual student with Never, Sometimes, Often, or Almost Always: 

- [The student] worries.

- [The student] tries to help others do their best.

- [The student] appears tense.

- [The student] is highly motivated to succeed.

- [The student] is sad.

- [The student] has trouble concentrating.

Self-report (3rd, 4th or 5th grade child). Here are some of the student questions that they will rate themselves with Never, Sometimes, Often, or Almost Always: 

- I have trouble staying still.

- Other people have respect for me.

- School feels good to me.

- My parents are proud of me.

- I get along with my teacher.

- I am happy with who I am.

We cannot share the actual form due to copyright.  

*Note: Please do NOT fill out this form if you want your child to be included in the screener.*