Journal of Educational Technology Systems, May 28, 2021
The purpose of this article is to describe the adaptation process of an evidence-based early chil... more The purpose of this article is to describe the adaptation process of an evidence-based early childhood Tier-2 intervention program, BEST in CLASS-Prekindergarten, from a face-to-face format to a web-based delivery format called BEST in CLASS-Web. We describe the three-phase iterative development process used to adapt the parent program for delivery via the web. Activities in these phases included focus groups, interviews, an expert panel review, alpha and beta testing (Phase 1), feasibility testing (Phase 2), and a pilot promise study (Phase 3). Each phase included a series of refinements and improvements to materials based on data and stakeholder feedback. Lessons learned and implications for developing and implementing professional development services via online platforms are discussed.
Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, May 10, 2022
Evidence-based programs (EBPs) delivered in elementary schools show great promise in reducing ris... more Evidence-based programs (EBPs) delivered in elementary schools show great promise in reducing risk for emotional and behavioral disorders (EBDs). However, efforts to sustain EBPs in school face barriers. Improving EBP sustainment thus represents a priority, but little research exists to inform the development of sustainment strategies. To address this gap, the Sustaining Evidenced-Based Innovations through Multi-level Implementation Constructs (SEISMIC) project will (a) determine if malleable individual, intervention, and organizational factors predict EBP treatment fidelity and modifications during implementation, sustainment, or both; (b) assess the impact of EBP fidelity and modifications on child outcomes during implementation and sustainment; and (c) explore the mechanisms through which individual, intervention, and organizational factors influence sustainment outcomes. This protocol article describes SEISMIC, which builds upon a federally funded randomized clinical trial evaluating BEST in CLASS, a teacher-delivered program for K to Grade 3 children at risk for EBDs. The sample will include 96 teachers, 384 children, and 12 elementary schools. A multi-level, interrupted time series design will be used to examine the relationship between baseline factors, treatment fidelity, modifications, and child outcomes, followed by a mixed-method approach to elucidate the mechanisms that influence sustainment outcomes. Findings will be used to create a strategy to improve EBP sustainment in schools.
Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, Nov 5, 2022
Home–school partnerships between teachers and caregivers of students with or at risk of emotional... more Home–school partnerships between teachers and caregivers of students with or at risk of emotional/behavioral disorders (EBD) are critical to support positive student outcomes. Yet, effective home–school partnerships may be particularly challenging to foster for students with or at risk of EBD, and little is known about how teachers and caregivers view these partnerships. We used a directed content analysis qualitative approach to examine the presence or absence of components of a conceptual model, the CARES framework, within home–school partnerships from the perspectives of both teachers and caregivers of students with or at risk of EBD. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six U.S. teachers and 11 U.S. caregivers who had participated in a study examining the promise of a Tier 2 intervention. Findings highlight themes unique to specific components of the CARES framework and themes common across components, with authentic relationships and effective communication emerging as particularly salient for both caregivers and teachers. Results suggest critical directions for future research and essential lessons for researchers developing interventions to support positive home–school partnerships for caregivers and teachers of students with or at risk of EBD.
ABSTRACT The primary purpose of this paper is to review how BEST in CLASS, an evidence-based pro... more ABSTRACT The primary purpose of this paper is to review how BEST in CLASS, an evidence-based program targeting children at risk for emotional and behavior disorders, interacts with a diverse range of social ecological factors to promote successful implementation. Recent findings from two BEST in CLASS studies (BEST in CLASS-Prekindergarten and BEST in CLASS- Elementary) are reviewed in relation to barriers and facilitators of high quality implementation. The importance of taking into account factors associated with teacher delivery of interventions in classrooms, particularly for children with and at-risk for emotional and behavioral disorders, when designing and evaluating interventions is discussed. Implications for future research and practice are provided.
Advancing inclusive and special education in the Asia-Pacific, 2019
Students’ early experiences at school and home are critical to their social, emotional, and behav... more Students’ early experiences at school and home are critical to their social, emotional, and behavioral development. Research has found that family engagement in their child’s school experience can positively impact a child’s educational experience. Unfortunately, research has also demonstrated that teachers and families of students who engage in chronic problem behavior are less likely to develop positive relationships with their teachers. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the BEST in CLASS-Elementary Home-School Partnership (HSP) designed to support teachers, students who engage in chronic problem behaviors, and family members to create positive home-school relationships and communication. First, an overview of the development process of the BEST in CLASS-Elementary HSP component is described. Next, a description of the HSP component is provided. Finally, results from a pilot investigation are shared.
Many young children entering early childhood programs demonstrate challenging behaviors that plac... more Many young children entering early childhood programs demonstrate challenging behaviors that place them at risk for emotional/behavioral disorders (EBDs), which impact their future success in school. The purpose of this study was to conduct a conceptual replication of BEST in CLASS by examining child outcomes from BEST in CLASS—Web, a web-based professional development intervention supporting teachers’ use of effective practices for ameliorating young children’s challenging behaviors. Participants included 29 early childhood teachers and 54 children (ages 3–5 years old) who were identified at-risk for EBD. Positive outcomes were found for both BEST in CLASS—Web and BEST in CLASS in reductions of children’s problem behaviors and conflictual relationships with their teachers as well as increases in social skills, engagement, and closeness with teachers in comparison to children who did not receive the intervention. In some cases, positive child outcomes were greater when teachers received professional development in the web-condition as compared to the onsite condition. Future research directions and implications are discussed.
This article will provide a brief reflection on Garwood’s summary of research on special educatio... more This article will provide a brief reflection on Garwood’s summary of research on special education teacher burnout and fidelity of implementation in delivery of evidence-based behavioral interventions. Subsequently, we provide a conceptual and empirical summary of key issues for supporting teachers of students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBDs) through the lens of BEST in CLASS (a Tier 2 intervention supporting teacher’s use of evidence-based practices with students with or at risk for EBD). This summary will (a) outline the theoretical structure that supports how BEST in CLASS may improve teacher–student relationships and reduce teacher burnout, (b) demonstrate the influence of BEST in CLASS on teacher burnout in a sample of elementary school teachers and discuss findings, (c) propose that researchers consider burnout within the context of dynamic classroom systems, and (d) link these suggestions to theoretical frameworks. We conclude with a discussion of Garwood’s call...
The Social Skills Improvement System–Teacher Rating Scale (SSIS-TRS) has been widely used to meas... more The Social Skills Improvement System–Teacher Rating Scale (SSIS-TRS) has been widely used to measure the social skills and behaviors of children and adolescents that are challenging. Studies examining the psychometric properties of the SSIS-TRS have been conducted, but the dimensional structure and item properties of the SSIS-TRS have not been extensively examined with samples of preschool-age children at risk for social-emotional and behavioral difficulties. This current study was designed to examine (a) the dimensional structure of the Social Skills scale and Problem Behaviors scale of the SSIS-TRS and (b) the item function of the SSIS-TRS using item response theory analyses with data collected from teachers of a sample of 469 preschool-age children at risk for social–emotional and behavioral difficulties. A four-dimensional structure (i.e., Cooperation, Empathy and Relationship, Engagement and Interaction, and Self-Control) and a three-dimensional structure (i.e., Aggression and ...
Journal of Educational Technology Systems, May 28, 2021
The purpose of this article is to describe the adaptation process of an evidence-based early chil... more The purpose of this article is to describe the adaptation process of an evidence-based early childhood Tier-2 intervention program, BEST in CLASS-Prekindergarten, from a face-to-face format to a web-based delivery format called BEST in CLASS-Web. We describe the three-phase iterative development process used to adapt the parent program for delivery via the web. Activities in these phases included focus groups, interviews, an expert panel review, alpha and beta testing (Phase 1), feasibility testing (Phase 2), and a pilot promise study (Phase 3). Each phase included a series of refinements and improvements to materials based on data and stakeholder feedback. Lessons learned and implications for developing and implementing professional development services via online platforms are discussed.
Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, May 10, 2022
Evidence-based programs (EBPs) delivered in elementary schools show great promise in reducing ris... more Evidence-based programs (EBPs) delivered in elementary schools show great promise in reducing risk for emotional and behavioral disorders (EBDs). However, efforts to sustain EBPs in school face barriers. Improving EBP sustainment thus represents a priority, but little research exists to inform the development of sustainment strategies. To address this gap, the Sustaining Evidenced-Based Innovations through Multi-level Implementation Constructs (SEISMIC) project will (a) determine if malleable individual, intervention, and organizational factors predict EBP treatment fidelity and modifications during implementation, sustainment, or both; (b) assess the impact of EBP fidelity and modifications on child outcomes during implementation and sustainment; and (c) explore the mechanisms through which individual, intervention, and organizational factors influence sustainment outcomes. This protocol article describes SEISMIC, which builds upon a federally funded randomized clinical trial evaluating BEST in CLASS, a teacher-delivered program for K to Grade 3 children at risk for EBDs. The sample will include 96 teachers, 384 children, and 12 elementary schools. A multi-level, interrupted time series design will be used to examine the relationship between baseline factors, treatment fidelity, modifications, and child outcomes, followed by a mixed-method approach to elucidate the mechanisms that influence sustainment outcomes. Findings will be used to create a strategy to improve EBP sustainment in schools.
Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, Nov 5, 2022
Home–school partnerships between teachers and caregivers of students with or at risk of emotional... more Home–school partnerships between teachers and caregivers of students with or at risk of emotional/behavioral disorders (EBD) are critical to support positive student outcomes. Yet, effective home–school partnerships may be particularly challenging to foster for students with or at risk of EBD, and little is known about how teachers and caregivers view these partnerships. We used a directed content analysis qualitative approach to examine the presence or absence of components of a conceptual model, the CARES framework, within home–school partnerships from the perspectives of both teachers and caregivers of students with or at risk of EBD. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six U.S. teachers and 11 U.S. caregivers who had participated in a study examining the promise of a Tier 2 intervention. Findings highlight themes unique to specific components of the CARES framework and themes common across components, with authentic relationships and effective communication emerging as particularly salient for both caregivers and teachers. Results suggest critical directions for future research and essential lessons for researchers developing interventions to support positive home–school partnerships for caregivers and teachers of students with or at risk of EBD.
ABSTRACT The primary purpose of this paper is to review how BEST in CLASS, an evidence-based pro... more ABSTRACT The primary purpose of this paper is to review how BEST in CLASS, an evidence-based program targeting children at risk for emotional and behavior disorders, interacts with a diverse range of social ecological factors to promote successful implementation. Recent findings from two BEST in CLASS studies (BEST in CLASS-Prekindergarten and BEST in CLASS- Elementary) are reviewed in relation to barriers and facilitators of high quality implementation. The importance of taking into account factors associated with teacher delivery of interventions in classrooms, particularly for children with and at-risk for emotional and behavioral disorders, when designing and evaluating interventions is discussed. Implications for future research and practice are provided.
Advancing inclusive and special education in the Asia-Pacific, 2019
Students’ early experiences at school and home are critical to their social, emotional, and behav... more Students’ early experiences at school and home are critical to their social, emotional, and behavioral development. Research has found that family engagement in their child’s school experience can positively impact a child’s educational experience. Unfortunately, research has also demonstrated that teachers and families of students who engage in chronic problem behavior are less likely to develop positive relationships with their teachers. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the BEST in CLASS-Elementary Home-School Partnership (HSP) designed to support teachers, students who engage in chronic problem behaviors, and family members to create positive home-school relationships and communication. First, an overview of the development process of the BEST in CLASS-Elementary HSP component is described. Next, a description of the HSP component is provided. Finally, results from a pilot investigation are shared.
Many young children entering early childhood programs demonstrate challenging behaviors that plac... more Many young children entering early childhood programs demonstrate challenging behaviors that place them at risk for emotional/behavioral disorders (EBDs), which impact their future success in school. The purpose of this study was to conduct a conceptual replication of BEST in CLASS by examining child outcomes from BEST in CLASS—Web, a web-based professional development intervention supporting teachers’ use of effective practices for ameliorating young children’s challenging behaviors. Participants included 29 early childhood teachers and 54 children (ages 3–5 years old) who were identified at-risk for EBD. Positive outcomes were found for both BEST in CLASS—Web and BEST in CLASS in reductions of children’s problem behaviors and conflictual relationships with their teachers as well as increases in social skills, engagement, and closeness with teachers in comparison to children who did not receive the intervention. In some cases, positive child outcomes were greater when teachers received professional development in the web-condition as compared to the onsite condition. Future research directions and implications are discussed.
This article will provide a brief reflection on Garwood’s summary of research on special educatio... more This article will provide a brief reflection on Garwood’s summary of research on special education teacher burnout and fidelity of implementation in delivery of evidence-based behavioral interventions. Subsequently, we provide a conceptual and empirical summary of key issues for supporting teachers of students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBDs) through the lens of BEST in CLASS (a Tier 2 intervention supporting teacher’s use of evidence-based practices with students with or at risk for EBD). This summary will (a) outline the theoretical structure that supports how BEST in CLASS may improve teacher–student relationships and reduce teacher burnout, (b) demonstrate the influence of BEST in CLASS on teacher burnout in a sample of elementary school teachers and discuss findings, (c) propose that researchers consider burnout within the context of dynamic classroom systems, and (d) link these suggestions to theoretical frameworks. We conclude with a discussion of Garwood’s call...
The Social Skills Improvement System–Teacher Rating Scale (SSIS-TRS) has been widely used to meas... more The Social Skills Improvement System–Teacher Rating Scale (SSIS-TRS) has been widely used to measure the social skills and behaviors of children and adolescents that are challenging. Studies examining the psychometric properties of the SSIS-TRS have been conducted, but the dimensional structure and item properties of the SSIS-TRS have not been extensively examined with samples of preschool-age children at risk for social-emotional and behavioral difficulties. This current study was designed to examine (a) the dimensional structure of the Social Skills scale and Problem Behaviors scale of the SSIS-TRS and (b) the item function of the SSIS-TRS using item response theory analyses with data collected from teachers of a sample of 469 preschool-age children at risk for social–emotional and behavioral difficulties. A four-dimensional structure (i.e., Cooperation, Empathy and Relationship, Engagement and Interaction, and Self-Control) and a three-dimensional structure (i.e., Aggression and ...
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