Introducing the DESSA 2 - Important Updates for Raters

Overview

The newly normed, educator-completed DESSA 2 is now available for grades K-8. This updated assessment will help educators leverage highly reliable data to improve behavior, drive student engagement, and accelerate learning outcomes. Check out this video to learn more about important updates for raters. 

Video Transcript

As you complete screeners and assessments this year, you’ll notice some changes related to the release of the updated and newly normed DESSA 2.

The full DESSA 2 is now only 40 questions, cutting your rating time significantly while still guaranteeing accurate and valid results to support social, emotional, and behavioral skill development and a more positive classroom environment.

Based on teacher feedback, we’ve also updated some of the individual questions on the assessment, making the form more streamlined and easier to complete.

You’ll see some updates to the instructions on the rating form.

Remember, when responding to the items, your answers are based on how often you’ve observed the student displaying these behaviors during the past 4 weeks. A “Never” response can mean that you have not observed the student engaging in that behavior OR that the student does not engage in that behavior. Simply answer the question as carefully as possible based on how often you’ve seen the behavior – there are no right or wrong answers.

Another update is a shift from 8 competencies to 6. This change helps ensure that the DESSA is measuring resilience skills that students need to be successful in today’s world, based on the most current state and local standards.

Thank you for taking the time to identify and celebrate your students’ social, emotional, and behavioral strengths and providing insight to their developmental needs with the DESSA 2.