The adolescent behavioral index: Identifying students at risk for disengagement in high school

BACKGROUND: Proposed frameworks of college and career readiness include aspects school climate perceptions behavioral engagement. School initiatives emphasize the importance healthy learning environments; while indicators tend to be used identify students at-risk for disengagement, established early warning systems few, if any, indicators. A promising useful screening mechanism that combines along with may enhance identification adolescents at risk academic failure, dropout, ultimately improve readiness. OBJECTIVE: The purpose this study was examine relationship between self-reported adolescent extant high data create an index score which could as system student disengagement. METHODS: To accomplish stated objective, we employed structural equation modeling estimate a multiple causes model using sample (n = 5039) without disabilities. Extant included grade point average, attendance, tardies, office discipline referrals, measured Georgia Brief Climate survey. RESULTS: Findings show evidence robust Adolescent Behavioral Index when controlled disability status those disabilities are expected have lower scores indicating greater CONCLUSION: Implications research practice focused on systematic collection underlie in schools specifically designing interventions identifying who