Early Childhood Behavior Scale

The Early Childhood Behavior Scale (ECBS) was developed in response to frequent requests for evaluation/assessment and diagnostic input in early childhood behavior disorders. Based on the definition and criteria for emotional disturbance and behavioral disorders, the ECBS provides the standardized profile information and specific indicators necessary to determine which students are in need of intervention, behavioral support, and the opportunity to learn more appropriate behavior. Since early intervention has now gained universal support, the ECBS provides the necessary documentation and diagnostic information to begin a screening, intervention, and teaching program to improve the child’s chances of success.

The ECBS subscales, Academic Progress, Social Relationships, and Personal Adjustment were developed using behaviors appropriate for children ages 36 through 71 months in preschool and kindergarten settings. Results provided by primary observers such as teachers or mental health workers are used to document the behaviors which indicate areas of concern. Internal consistency, test-retest and inter-rater reliability; item and factor analysis; content, criterion-related, diagnostic, and construct validity are documented and reported for the scale.

Characteristics and Components of the ECBS

• The ECBS is based on the federal definition of emotional disturbance (IDEA) and the most recently approved definition of ED/BD developed by the National Mental Health and Special Education Coalition.
  
  
• The ECBS was standardized on a total of 1,314 children, including identified behaviorally disordered children.
  
  
• The standardization population included children from 17 states and 68 school districts and represented all geographic regions of the United States.
  
  
• Factor analysis confirmed the three ECBS subscales.
  
  
• The ECBS provides separate norms for male and female children 36 through 71 months of age.
  
  
• The ECBS can be completed in approximately 15 minutes and includes 53 items easily observed and documented by educational personnel.
  
  
• The Pre-Referral Early Childhood Behavior Checklist provides a format for identifying behaviors in need of intervention.
  
  
• The Early Childhood Behavior Intervention Manual includes IEP goals, objectives, and interventions for all 53 items on the scale.
  
  
• The ECBS Quick Score computer program converts raw scores to standard scores and percentiles which makes scoring efficient and convenient.

Educational Planning

The Early Childhood Behavior Intervention Manual (130 pages, © 1992) contains goals, objectives, and intervention strategies for the 53 behavior problems identified by the ECBS. The goals, objectives, and intervention strategies for the 53 behavior problems serve as an intervention guide for any teacher working with young students with behavior problems in special or regular education classrooms. The intervention strategies contained in the manual make it an extremely useful resource for the regular education teacher working with the mainstreamed behaviorally disordered student in the regular education classroom.

The Early Childhood Behavior Scale Quick Score computer program converts raw scores to standard scores and percentiles which makes scoring efficient and convenient.

SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

• Windows®-compatible Quick Score computer programs require Windows® 2000 or newer, and 10 MB of RAM, 10MB of available hard disk space.
  
  
• All Hawthorne Educational Services, Inc., software programs must be used with the companion manual and/or rating form.
  
  
• Software that has been opened or downloaded may not be returned.

View Early Childhood Behavior Scale Complete Kit Samples