EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REVISED DENVER DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING-TEST IN IDENTIFYING CHILDREN AT RISK FOR LEARNING-PROBLEMS

The kindergarten population of a school district was followed for 5 years to determine the efficacy of the Revised Denver Developmental Screening Test (RDDST) as a prekindergarten screening measure. Results show significant relationships between RDDST performance and special class placement, remedial reading program assignments, Otis-Lennon IQ, Stanford Reading Achievement Test scores, and classroom grades. When classification information (i.e., specificity and sensitivity) was used, however, the RDDST consistently misclassified as normal the performance of a significant number of children requiring special help in their early elementary school years. The implications of these findings for the use of the RDDST as a screening test are discussed. © 1990 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.