A scale to identify important behaviors in preschool children was developed, and ratings were related to more traditional indices of development and academic readiness. Teacher interviews were used to identify 62 specific behaviors related to maximally adapted and maximally maladapted kindergarten children. These were incorporated into a five-point rating scale consisting of all positive statements which was used in the study as the Adaptive Behavior Rating Scale (ABRS). The resulting scores of two studies using this scale were correlated with the results of Stanford-Binet and Draw-a-Line child assessment measures. The study found a significant but not high relationship, indicating that social competency provides some evidence about the child's intellectual functioning. (DJ)