This term is controversial, as it is seen by some as excluding – or even discriminating against – students with behavioral issues and focusing solely on emotional aspects.
Often, the DSM-IV is used by a school psychologist, whom may conduct interviews and distribute surveys as part of the social-emotional evaluation.
Effective services should focus on these, and can mandate an educational assistant for support in regular education classes, access to a resource room for individualized instruction, medication management provided by a mental health professional, as well as individual counseling.
[2] Students with ED are often considered at-risk for dropping out of school, suicide and criminal activity, as well as also being diagnosed with a learning disability.
[3] Nonetheless, with the appropriate supports in place, students with ED have been shown to have enormous potential to succeed.