In the face of life's challenges, the ability to bounce back, adapt, and thrive is crucial. This ability, known as resilience, is a key factor in student success. But what exactly is resilience, and how can we measure it? The SSIS SaRA offers a comprehensive and research-backed approach to measuring resilience. By assessing students' social skills, emotional behavior concerns, and stress levels, we gain a holistic understanding of their resilience profile.

Stephen Elliott, Pui-Wa Lei, Christopher Anthony, and James DiPerna of SSIS CoLab conducted a research study regarding the benefits of concurrent screening of social emotional learning (SEL) skills and emotional behavior concerns (EBC). They were able to identify a more accurate, holistic understanding of a child’s social emotional well-being enabled through the use of the robust SSIS SEL Brief + Mental Health Scales, which screens for both SEL skills and EBC through one consolidated assessment. We are excited to provide a summary of their findings as well as the implications it has for schools and teachers in practice.

High-quality assessments without question all have (1) comprehensive User Guides & Technical Manuals documenting the reliability, validity, and fairness of their scores and (2) independently peer reviewed publications certifying the assessments function as reported in their technical manuals. Not all educators are steeped in technical aspects of assessments, but high-quality assessment manuals do an excellent job of translating the meaning of technical indices into practical actions!

SSIS Stress and Resilience Assessment (SaRA) is a valuable tool for educators to identify and support students' resilience. This multi-rater assessment measures various aspects of students' social-emotional health, including social skills, stress management skills, and mental health indicators. By identifying students' strengths and areas for growth, educators can develop targeted interventions to foster resilience and promote positive social-emotional outcomes.

As schools increasingly recognize the importance of Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Social Skills, and Resilience the market for SEL screeners has grown exponentially. But with so many options, how do you choose the right one for your district? This post explores why the SSIS SEL + MH Brief Scales stand out as a top contender.