Student Risk Screening Scale for Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors: Preliminary Cut Scores to Support Data-Informed Decision Making in Middle and High Schools

Abstract

We report findings of a convergent validity study examining the internalizing subscale (SRSS-16) of the Student Risk Screening Scale for Internalizing and Externalizing (SRSS-IE) with the internalizing subscale of the Teacher Report Form (TRF; Achenbach, 1991). Participants included 227 sixth- through 12th-grade students from nine schools across two states. Results of logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curves suggest the following cut scores for the SRSS-16 for middle and high school students: 0–3 (low risk), 4–5 (moderate risk), and 6–18 (high risk) for internalizing behavior patterns, relative to the internalizing subscale of the TRF subscale. We conclude with a discussion of the findings and illustrations of how to use screening scale scores for decision making in a tiered system of supports, offering limitations and future directions for consideration.