SEL screener question

[Anonymous]

I tried to find this in the FAQ but could not. Why does the company they buy the surveys from need the names of the students attached to their answers? Is there a valid reason ie the company creates some sort of individualized product for the schools that requires it? I don’t have a problem with the SEL material so please don’t take this thread there, but I don’t feel comfortable with the corporation receiving all the students names and other personal data along with their answers etc without good clear reason. I’m hoping I am missing something obvious as to why this needs to be done this way, can anyone help fill me in?

[Anonymous]

Nearly Everything you need to know about SEL screener is at https://www.fcps.edu/student-tests-and-assessments/student-assessment-details/social-emotional-screener

Good question.
Maybe they want to analyze answers based on names the same way they may want to analyze answers based on race.

[Anonymous]

This is why we opt out. It seems to me that parents didn't ask many questions and the county just outsourced the SEL piece to the high bidder (maybe just coincidence that it happens to be a company that is owned by Merrick Garland's son, but that do not seem right to me) and negotiated our kids' privacy into the deal. There is always money in targeted marketing, but my student doesn't need to add to their bottom line. Just an observation.

I didn't have big issue with the content of the questions, but the way in which they are asked is leading. How does it make a child feel who genuinely don't partake in the behavior that is being asked about (i.e., "How often do you [engage in X behavior]"? is a frequent phrasing that appears on the screener. And even though it provides a "never" option, the other 75% of the answer options to the question assumes that there is some form of partaking in X behavior.) I'd be interested to see study on whether the phrasing of the questions on the SEL have any impact on a student's perception of normalized behaviors. But that's just me.

[Anonymous]

OMG. Haven’t we done this enough already?

here, read one of these:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/jforum.page?module=search&action=search&search_keywords=Sel+screener&match_type=all&search_forum=45&sort_by=relevance

[Anonymous]

Oh. Sorry. I don't live on DCUM so was just responding to a recent thread. It is okay to scroll on.

[Anonymous]

Pp, that search link does not answer the question asked in THIS thread. Can anyone answer it?

[Anonymous]

My child answered some of the questions in a concerning way last fall which cued the school psychologist to talk to them which opened up a dialogue where they shared that they were engaging in self harming behavior. I will always be grateful and am so glad their name was attached.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child answered some of the questions in a concerning way last fall which cued the school psychologist to talk to them which opened up a dialogue where they shared that they were engaging in self harming behavior. I will always be grateful and am so glad their name was attached.

I was the PP who said we opted out. And your post is the most convincing argument to counter my position. Thank you for sharing that. I can hear the relief and gratitude in your post and so I am genuinely glad this exists for those who choose to take part in it. And I'm so happy that the information was used to help your child.

[Anonymous]

Having a unique field in the form likely prevents multiple submissions for the same student.

They can use the student ID instead of their name.

[Anonymous]

Nothing is really anonymous - don't believe it when they say it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child answered some of the questions in a concerning way last fall which cued the school psychologist to talk to them which opened up a dialogue where they shared that they were engaging in self harming behavior. I will always be grateful and am so glad their name was attached.

I had the same experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child answered some of the questions in a concerning way last fall which cued the school psychologist to talk to them which opened up a dialogue where they shared that they were engaging in self harming behavior. I will always be grateful and am so glad their name was attached.

I was the PP who said we opted out. And your post is the most convincing argument to counter my position. Thank you for sharing that. I can hear the relief and gratitude in your post and so I am genuinely glad this exists for those who choose to take part in it. And I'm so happy that the information was used to help your child.

Thank you so much for such a kind response. We truly did not know how hard our child was struggling and *thought* their mental health needs were being addressed. The phone call from the school psychologist changed everything and a year later things are very different in the best way (thanks to adding a psychiatrist and meds…they already saw a therapist). I am still so impressed that the school psychologist talked to our child the same day the SEL Screener was taken and called me that very afternoon. I know there are mixed opinions on the screeners but they do help save some kids in very dark places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child answered some of the questions in a concerning way last fall which cued the school psychologist to talk to them which opened up a dialogue where they shared that they were engaging in self harming behavior. I will always be grateful and am so glad their name was attached.

I had the same experience.

I am so sorry you have also been in this situation. Thank you for sharing. I do think it is important people hear that the screeners are helping kids like ours.

[Anonymous]

To the posters whose children received help I am so glad!!!! I do believe in these screeners. I just don’t like that personal identifying info to include names is shared with a company and think names should stay in-school only for the exact uses you described. I wish fcps did not put us in the position of having to potentially miss out on this tool because they want to sell our children’s data including name and emotional state. Anonymizing it before it goes to the corporation would be a huge step in the right direction and the right thing for all children but I see no indication of that.