What is universal screening?

• A. Looking at everybody and not just one specific child, and don't need parental consent.
• B. Testing only children who are referred.
• C. Diagnostic procedure for confirmed disorders.
• D. A form of ongoing progress monitoring.

Answer: (A)

Universal screening means screening every student in a setting to identify those who may be at risk, rather than focusing on just one child or waiting for a referral. It’s a broad first step designed to catch difficulties early by casting a wide net, not to diagnose or confirm a disorder. It differs from testing only children who are referred and from conducting a diagnostic procedure, which confirms a disorder after more in-depth evaluation. It’s also different from ongoing progress monitoring, which tracks how a student responds to intervention over time rather than identifying who might need help in the first place.