The University of Connecticut has licensed a student screening tool to Metamorphix, which plans to add it to software that helps schools identify children who may need support.
The agreement covers the ESSY Whole Child Screener, developed by UConn education researchers and their collaborators. UConn announced the licensing arrangement Oct. 22. Its technology commercialization office helped negotiate the agreement.
The researchers designed the screening tool to help educators consider several influences on a child's school experience rather than respond only to the behavior they see. ESSY stands for Expanding Screening to Support Youth.
Jessica Koslouski, a UConn assistant research professor involved in the project, described a child who struggles with behavior each morning. If hunger is contributing to that difficulty, she said in the university announcement, access to school breakfast could address a need that a behavior incentive would miss.
Metamorphix will incorporate the screener into its Cascades platform. The software uses a multi-tiered system of support, an approach in which schools provide different levels of help according to student needs.
UConn said the research team sought feedback from educators, parents and students, then conducted a large pilot test. The announcement did not supply the pilot's size, validation results, licensing price or a list of districts adopting the newly combined product.