Universal Behavior Screening for Middle & High School Students
Q: What is the Houston Universal Behavior Screening Scale?
The Houston Universal Behavior Screening Scale (HUBSS) is a brief universal student wellbeing and safety screening tool completed by students in grades 6-12. It is a proactive way to identify emotional, behavioral, social, and safety-related concerns that may be an obstacle to learning; the HUBSS is not a diagnostic tool. Students complete the HUBSS independently using a 5-point Likert scale (Never, Occasionally, Sometimes, Often, Always), and the process typically takes about 10–15 minutes per student.
The information gathered is not used to label students, but to guide district and school decisions around student supports, services, and overall school climate improvement.
The HUBSS allows the Houston County School District to understand how safe, connected, and supported students feel at school so that staff can plan positive instructional and environmental experiences that support long-term success.
Q: What behaviors does the HUBSS measure?
The HUBSS is a 25-question screener that measures internalizing and externalizing risk factors, as well as school climate and support, using 5 core sections:
- Emotional/Behavioral Concerns (Internalizing risk)
- Aggression, Conflict, and Safety Threats (Externalizing risk)
- Withdrawal, Isolation, and School Avoidance (Internalizing risk)
- Bullying, Peer Mistreatment, and Help-Seeking (Externalizing risk)
- School Climate and Support (Protective factors)
Q: What kinds of questions are on the HUBSS?
The HUBSS is a 25-question screener that measures for emotional, behavioral, social, and safety-related concerns using 5 sections.
The sections are listed below along with a preview of questions from the corresponding section (example wording):
- Emotional/Behavioral Concerns
- Example: I feel sad or down, even when things are going ok.
- Aggression, Conflict, and Safety Threats
- Example: I get into arguments or fights at school.
- Withdrawal, Isolation, and School Avoidance
- Example: I would rather be alone than spend time with other students.
- Bullying, Peer Mistreatment, and Help-Seeking
- Example: I’m picked on, teased, or excluded by other students.
- School Climate and Support
- Example: There is an adult at school I trust and can go to for help.
Q: How is the HUBSS data used?
The encrypted data is accessible to the current teacher, counselor, and school administration. It is used to determine socio-emotional supports and services that may be needed by students. The HUBSS is one piece of data that helps to drive education decisions.
Any student who appears to need additional support or services may be referred to student support personnel regardless of the results of the HUBSS.
Q: Can I opt out of the HUBSS?
Yes. Parents may opt out of the HUBSS by following the procedures outlined in the district’s Student Handbook that parents/guardians review and sign at the beginning of the school year.