Social/Emotional Evaluations: Identifying Emotional Disturbance

The PAR White Paper - Social-Emotional Evaluations Identifying Emotional Disturbance delves into the complexities of assessing and identifying students with emotional disturbance (ED). It highlights the outdated federal criteria for ED, written in 1957, and the subjective terms that hinder accurate service provision. The paper presents case examples to illustrate the diverse nature of ED and the challenges in distinguishing it from social maladjustment (SM). It emphasizes the importance of using proper assessment resources, such as the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Second Edition (BRIEF2), Pediatric Behavior Rating Scale (PBRS), Adolescent Anger Rating Scale (AARS), and Emotional Disturbance Decision Tree (EDDT), to gather hard data and make informed decisions. 

The white paper also discusses the need for multiple informants in evaluations to enhance accuracy and breadth of perspective. It underscores the role of well-trained school staff in administering and interpreting results with precision. For a comprehensive understanding of these assessment tools and expert insights, click the file to read the full paper:  PAR White Paper - Social-Emotional Evaluations Identifying Emotional Disturbance