Student Universal Wellness Screener See Every Student. Support Them Early.

Just like vision and hearing screening, SUWS gives your staff a quick, reliable way to identify which students are thriving and which need additional support, so no student falls through the cracks.

Let’s Discuss Your Needs

SEL and behavioral screeners help schools assess students’ social-emotional skills and behavioral health before a small concern becomes a crisis. Used well, they give schools early visibility into how students are coping, interacting, and engaging, so support reaches a student who is struggling quietly, not just the ones whose struggles are already visible.

Most screeners rely on a teacher's best guess about forty other students' inner lives. CEE built the Student Universal Wellness Screener (SUWS) around a simpler idea: ask the student. SUWS is a validated, research-based screener that measures student well-being directly, in the student's own words, and turns that into data a school can actually act on.

The CEE Approach

How SUWS Supports SEL and Behavioral Screening in Schools

CEE’s Student Universal Wellness Screener helps districts run SEL and behavioral screening at scale without losing the nuance that makes screening useful in the first place. Real-time data, the option to layer in secondary screening for flagged students, and an inclusive, equity-driven design mean SUWS supports MTSS, PBIS, and SEL frameworks instead of sitting next to them as one more disconnected tool.

What SUWS Measures

SUWS uses student self-reporting to evaluate four core domains:

Academic Behavior

Social Behavior

Emotional Health and Regulation

Sense of Belonging and School Connectedness

Students complete the brief screener quickly and confidentially. The results feed into a live dashboard for real-time visibility and progress tracking.

Key Features of SUWS

Dashboard updates with real-time student data
Filters by grade level, gender, ethnicity, and program
Option to conduct secondary screening for flagged students
Inclusive design that supports accessibility and equity
Backed by over 20 years of research from CEE

SUWS integrates smoothly into existing SEL, MTSS, and PBIS systems and helps schools monitor trends across the year, not just at a single point in time.

Educator reviewing SEL screener data to identify student needs and support interventions
Why It Matters

The Role of SEL and Behavioral Assessment Tools in Schools

Why should schools use SEL and behavioral screener tools?

SEL and behavioral screeners help schools identify students needing additional support, track competencies like empathy or resilience, and strengthen MTSS or PBIS systems. Implementing these screeners helps schools:

Identify students in need of Tier 2 or Tier 3 supports
Track SEL competencies like empathy, resilience, or cooperation
Strengthen MTSS and PBIS frameworks through early warning systems
Guide student support meetings and family communications
Enhance Tier 1 instruction with real student data
Real Results

Real Examples of SUWS Driving Impact

Middle school students participating in an advisory group formed after SEL screener results

Improving Belonging Through Data

A large district screened all students three times per year. When SUWS results flagged low belonging scores in middle schools, leaders launched new student voice panels and advisory groups. Engagement scores rose steadily by year’s end.

A diverse group of eight people sitting in a circle on the floor, holding hands in a team-building activity or support circle

Using Data for Tiered Supports

In another district, high emotional behavior scores triggered small group counseling and family outreach. Within months, participating students showed marked improvements in emotional regulation and classroom engagement.

Teacher training session on SEL screener implementation and data privacy protocols
Implementation

How to Implement SEL Screeners Effectively

How can schools implement SEL screeners effectively?

Effective SEL screening requires staff training, clear communication with families, data privacy safeguards, structured follow-up systems, and consistent screening schedules. Best practices include:

Train school staff to administer and interpret results
Communicate the purpose of screening to students and families
Protect data privacy and limit access appropriately
Create structured follow-up systems for Tier 2 and Tier 3 supports
Establish regular screening cycles, typically 2 to 3 times per year

CEE provides onboarding support and ongoing technical assistance to help districts implement screening with fidelity and purpose.

FAQs

They are brief tools that assess students’ emotional, behavioral, and social well-being, helping schools identify those who may need support.
SUWS is built for K–12 use, uses self-reported data, includes real-time dashboards and equity filters, and gives districts the option to conduct secondary screening for flagged students, all backed by 20+ years of research.
Yes. It aligns with tiered systems of support, informing interventions at every level.
Most schools use SEL screeners two to three times per year, though SUWS allows flexible scheduling and continuous progress monitoring.

Bring SUWS to Your School or District

CEE partners with schools and districts nationwide to implement the Student Universal Wellness Screener, ensuring every student is seen, heard, and supported. Complete the form below to schedule a demo or talk about how SUWS fits your SEL and wellness strategy.

Ready to see how SUWS fits your SEL and wellness strategy?

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