Constructing a roadmap for future universal screening research beyond academics

The majority of the literature on universal screening in education is devoted to academic screeners. However, research clearly indicates that other aspects of student functioning are closely associated with outcomes inside and outside of school. As a result, there are gaps in the current literature that call for additional research extending beyond academics to explore the development and use of other screening tools to better detect students who are at risk for difficulties. Consistent with the purpose of this special series, the aim of this article is to establish a roadmap for future research on universal screening efforts beyond academic domains. The following six themes were integrated into a roadmap that will serve as a guide for future research directed at improving the accuracy, feasibility, effectiveness, and breadth of screening practices in education: (a) universal screening research across multiple domains; (b) determination of the optimal informant; (c) linking screening results to problem-solving efforts; (d) moderators of universal screening outcomes; (e) cost-benefit analyses involving technical adequacy, classification accuracy, and feasibility; and (f) the application of advanced measurement and statistical procedures. These themes represent the foci of the current special issue.