Assessments / Other Assessments
SRSS-EC Screening
Overview
The SRSS-EC (Early Childhood) is the behavioral screening variant designed for PreK students. Like the SRSS-IE, it is completed by teachers and identifies students who may be at risk for behavioral difficulties. The EC variant uses age-appropriate behavioral items suited for younger children.
Who Takes It
- Grade range: PreK (early childhood programs)
- Completed by: Teachers and early childhood educators
- Frequency: Up to three times per year (Fall, Winter, Spring)
What It Measures
The SRSS-EC focuses on externalizing behaviors observable in young children. Teachers rate each child on:
- Tantrums
- Active/restless behavior
- Rejected by peers
- Ignores teacher and class rules
- Negative attitude
- Aggressive behavior
- Lies
- Shy or timid
- Sad or tearful
- Worried or fearful
- Physical complaints
Each item is rated on a frequency scale. Items are summed to produce a composite score.
Key Difference from SRSS-IE
The SRSS-EC produces an externalizing score only. Unlike the SRSS-IE (which produces both externalizing and internalizing scores), the EC variant does not calculate a separate internalizing score. However, some of the items (shy/timid, sad/tearful, worried/fearful, physical complaints) capture internalizing-type behaviors within the overall composite.
If your district screens both PreK and K-12 students, PreK results will appear under the SRSS-EC section of your dashboards, while K-12 results appear under SRSS-IE. The two variants use different item sets and scoring, so scores are not directly comparable across variants.
Scoring and Risk Tiers
Each child receives a single composite score classified into a risk tier:
| Tier | Meaning | Suggested Response |
|---|---|---|
| High Risk | Significant behavioral indicators for this age group | Refer for further assessment and consider targeted intervention |
| Moderate Risk | Some behavioral indicators present | Monitor and consider additional support |
| Low Risk | Developmentally typical behavior | Continue standard early childhood programming |
Dashboard Views
SRSS-EC results appear in the SRSS dashboards, typically in a separate tab or section from K-12 (IE) results. Available views include:
- Externalizing risk distribution (pie chart)
- Student-level table with individual scores and risk tiers
- Filters for school, term, school year, and teacher
Notes
- The SRSS-EC is specifically designed for early childhood settings. The behavioral items reflect age-appropriate expectations for PreK children.
- As with all SRSS screenings, High Risk does not equal diagnosis. It flags children who may benefit from additional observation and support.
- Screening windows must be open for teachers to submit. If the screening is not appearing, check that the current term's window is active.
- Opted-out children appear in roster counts but not in score calculations.