Developmental and Behavior Screening

A timely and systematic approach toward screening indicates which children require a formal assessment of their developmental needs. In collaboration with each child’s parent and within 45 calendar days of the child’s entry into the program, staff will administer the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) Developmental Screening Tool and the Ages & Stages Social Emotional (ASQ:SE) Behavior Screening Tool. 

1. Prior to screening, parents must sign Permission to Screen for Developmental Screening and Behavioral Screening. Consent for Mutual Exchange of Information with Early Childhood CARES and the school districts listed is needed for any subsequent referrals for further evaluation. If parent refuses, written documentation of the refusal is required. The refusal must then be noted in the child’s electronic record.
2. When children come into the program on an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) their information will be reviewed on a case by case basis to determine if they need to have additional developmental and behavior screening
   1. The most recent screening or evaluation information will be added to the child’s electronic file.
3. Teams will consult with their Regional Manager (RM) to develop a screening plan for the beginning of the year. They can choose between one of two options below.
   1. Screening Appointments: Group screening days where the parent and child come in at an appointed time during pre-service or the first weeks of school and complete a whole menu of screenings which may include but are not limited to the following:
      1. Developmental –ASQ
      2. Vision
      3. Hearing
      4. Height and weight
   2. Embed Screening into Classroom Schedule: The DST will incorporate the mandated screenings into their classroom schedule during the first several weeks of the program year.
   3. Screenings may also be completed virtually with parent via phone or video during public health or weather emergencies or to meet the needs of children and families in unique circumstances.
   4. All program models will complete developmental screening within the 45 day time frame.

1. Educational staff will complete the ASQ within 45 days of child’s first day of class. Re-enrolling children will be re-screened when staff and/or parents have concerns about a child’s developmental progress
   1. ASQ should be administered in child’s home language whenever possible.  ASQ is available in English or Spanish version. 
      1. Copies of the ASQ in Arabic, French and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) can be accessed through the ECE Coordinators. 
   2. Calculate the child’s age in months and verify that the appropriate version of the ASQ is being used for the child’s age.
   3. Include speech screening tool developed by Early Childhood CARES as part of developmental screening.
   4. Competed Developmental screenings are documented in the Child Plus Education Domain as a “Development” event in the Events tab.
   5. Scores in the “monitor” or “refer” zones should have a status of “Concern.”  If concerns are indicated, include an action plan note to document the plan for follow up. 
   6. Teacher will place ASQ in the child’s paper file, in the Screening section upload a copy of completed screening tool into Child Plus as an Attachment in the Education Domain. The paper copy can be kept in a locked filing cabinet and shredded at the end of the program year. 

1. Educational staff will complete the ASQ:SE with the parent during an interview within 45 days of child’s first day of class. Re-enrolling children will be re-screened when staff and/or parents have concerns about a child’s developmental progress.
   1. ASQ:SE is available in English or Spanish version.
      1. Copies of the ASQ:SE in French can be accessed through the ECE Coordinators.
   2. Calculate the child’s age in months and verify that the appropriate version of the ASQ-SE is being used for the child’s age.
   3. Completed Behavior screenings are documented in the Child Plus Education Domain as a “Behavior” event in the Events tab. Document the screening and results in the child’s electronic record. 
   4. Indicate if Follow-up is necessary and include a note to document the plan for follow up.
   5. Teacher upload a copy of completed screening tool into Child Plus as an Attachment in the Education Domain. The paper copy can be kept in a locked filing cabinet and shredded at the end of the program year.

1. At the beginning of each program year, the Early Childhood Education & Disabilities Consultant will schedule training on how to use the ASQ and the ASQ:SE. All DST are required to be able to administer this developmental screening instrument.

This complies with Head Start Performance Standards 1302.33, 1302.42
Policy Council approved on March 9, 2004
Updated June 12, 2003. August 24, 2006. October 2008. October 2009. October 2010. August 2011. September 2013. August 2017. July 2021. January 2022.

REVIEWED: July 2021. January 2022

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