Introduction: Few studies have examined the psychological and mental health effects of visual impairments (i.e., blindness and low vision) on youths. Our objectives were to describe the behavioral and emotional profile of students with visual impairments, compare the BASC-2 composite scores for youths with visual impairments with the normative…

Behavior rating scales represent one of the most commonly used types of assessments in school psychology. Yet, they suffer from a fundamental limitation: They are an indirect methodology influenced partially by student behavior and partially by rater perspectives. Thus, the current study utilized advanced analytic approaches to evaluate rater…

The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of the Systematic Observation of Red Flags as an observational level-two screening measure to detect risk for autism spectrum disorder in toddlers when used with a video-recorded administration of the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales. Psychometric properties of the Systematic…

Data assessment is critical for determining student behavior change in response to individualized behavior interventions in schools. This study examined the interrater agreement of the Individualized Behavior Rating Scale Tool (IBRST), a perceptual direct behavior rating tool that was used by typical school personnel to record behavior occurrence…

Teacher preparation programs, in part due to national accreditation mandates, are beginning to examine assessment and instruction of teacher trainees' professional behavior and dispositions more carefully than in the past. The faculty at University of South Florida St. Petersburg developed the Professional Behavior Assessment tool (PBA) for rating…

The importance of the beliefs and attitudes of teachers and building-level administrators in achieving school reform has come to be widely acknowledged. As University of Wisconsin professor Kent Peterson put it: "You can implement a good-quality improvement plan and knowledgeable, data-driven decision making, but if the [staff] doesn't…

A project was developed and implemented to help correct the behavioral problems most commonly found in the kindergarten classroom in a central Florida school. Three literature-based units were produced and used by a target group of six kindergarten teachers and their students. The objectives were to increase positive behaviors in listening,…

THIS PORTION OF AN "INVESTIGATION OF OBSERVER-JUDGE RATINGS OF TEACHER COMPETENCE" WAS PRIMARILY DEVOTED TO STATISTICAL ISSUES IN ASSESSING THE RELIABILITY OF OBSERVATIONS OF TEACHERS' CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR. FROM 67 TO 130 STUDENT TEACHING SUPERVISORS, ACADEMIC PROFESSORS, AND EDUCATION PROFESSORS FROM TWO LARGE MIDWESTERN UNIVERSITIES AND…

Monies granted under Title VI-B of the Education of the Handicapped Act funded an accountability study of the Duval County Program (Jacksonville, Florida) for trainable mentally handicapped (TMH) children and youth. An organized collection of approximately 675 behavioral objectives and accompanying criterion test items was developed for evaluating…

This report presents initial findings of a field study which focused on the academic achievement and behavioral and social adjustment of 148 kindergarten children who entered first grade early. The study took place in Broward County, Florida, following implementation of the 1973 state legislation permitting early entrance into first grade for…

The purpose of this three-part report is to identify the competencies of high-performing principals, based on a study conducted by the Florida Council on Educational Management (FCEM). Part I reviews the background that led to the study of the principalship. It describes the factors leading to the creation of legislation that focused on the role…