Behavior issues: FBA and BIP

We hope you will take advantage of some of the trainings opportunities that are available this spring. As much as we hope this blog gives you information you can use, it can't replace the dynamics of a live training.

We've been looking at some of the tools parents can use to ensure their child is served in the least restrictive environment and that s/he is a meaningful participant in that class. One hurdle to a less restrictive environment is often behavior issues. We'll spend the next posts looking at an FBA (functional behavior assessment) and behavior plans as a way to address those issues. We'll also look at communication because sometimes a child's behavior is his/her way of communicating.

What is an FBA?

A functional behavioral assessment is generally considered to be a problem-solving process for addressing student problem behavior. It relies on a variety of techniques and strategies to identify the purposes of specific behavior and to help IEP teams select interventions to directly address the problem behavior. Functional behavioral assessment should be integrated, as appropriate, throughout the process of developing, reviewing, and, if necessary, revising a student’s IEP.

A functional behavioral assessment looks beyond the behavior itself. The focus when conducting a functional behavioral assessment is on identifying significant, pupil-specific social, affective, cognitive, and/or environmental factors associated with the occurrence (and non-occurrence) of specific behaviors. This broader perspective offers a better understanding of the function or purpose behind student behavior. Behavioral intervention plans based on an understanding of "why" a student misbehaves are extremely useful in addressing a wide range of problem behaviors.

*from the Center for Effective Collaboration and Practice