Assessments / FOCUS
FOCUS Overview
Overview
FOCUS is Standard Education's adaptive self-report screener designed for middle and high school students. Unlike SRSS (which is completed by teachers), FOCUS is completed by the students themselves. It assesses social-emotional and behavioral health through a series of questions that adapt based on student responses.
FOCUS is designed to complement SRSS screenings by capturing the student's own perspective on their emotional well-being, which can be especially valuable for identifying internalizing concerns (anxiety, depression, withdrawal) that may not be visible to teachers.
This section is still being built out
The pages below are outlined but not yet written. FOCUS implementation mechanics are not covered by the SRSS implementation guide and need to be confirmed with the FOCUS product owner.
Implementation Timeline
What happens when, and who is responsible.
Student Access and Links
How students reach the screener.
Administering FOCUS
Running a session, from the proctor's side.
Results Dashboard and Exports
Reading results and pulling raw data.
Key Differences from SRSS
| Feature | SRSS-IE | FOCUS |
|---|---|---|
| Who completes it | Teachers | Students |
| Grade range | K-12 | Middle and high school |
| Format | Fixed item set | Adaptive (questions adjust based on responses) |
| Perspective | Teacher observation | Student self-report |
How FOCUS Works
- Your district opens a FOCUS screening window
- Students are assigned to complete the FOCUS screener, typically during a designated class period
- Students answer a series of adaptive questions about their social-emotional well-being
- Results are available to administrators and counselors in Standard Education dashboards
Why Self-Report Matters
Teacher-rated screeners like SRSS are effective at catching externalizing behaviors (acting out, aggression) because these are visible in the classroom. However, internalizing concerns (anxiety, depression, loneliness) are harder for teachers to observe. A student self-report provides direct insight into how the student is feeling, filling a gap that teacher observation alone cannot.
FOCUS is a newer addition to Standard Education and may not yet be available for all districts. Contact your Standard Education representative to learn about availability and implementation for your district.
Dashboard Views
FOCUS results are accessible through Standard Education dashboards. The specific views and filters available may vary as this feature continues to develop.
Notes and Limitations
- FOCUS is designed for middle and high school students. For elementary and PreK screening, districts typically use SRSS-IE and SRSS-EC.
- Because FOCUS is student-completed, results reflect the student's self-perception, which is a different data point from teacher observation.
- Adaptive format means not every student answers the same questions, which makes the screening more efficient and tailored.
- As a newer feature, FOCUS dashboards and reporting may have fewer views than the more established SRSS dashboards. Additional reporting capabilities are being developed.
For the most comprehensive picture of student behavioral health, consider using SRSS (teacher perspective) and FOCUS (student perspective) together. The combination gives both an external and internal view of student well-being.