Functional Behavior Plan: Yes or No?

According to New York State regulations, a Functional Behavior Plan is an assessment of behavior. Why is the student behaving in such a way that it interferes with a school day. The assessment looks at all factors that may affect your child during the school day such as academic, emotional or cognitive triggers. The goal of the assessment is to understand what the desired outcome is for your child when their behavior is inappropriate.

Examples of inappropriate behavior

For example, a student has a hard time during math and crumples up his work and throws it at the teacher. The teacher then sends the student to the principals office. The behavior is not appropriate, but it serves a purpose of getting out of doing a difficult math problem. Or, a student yells at another student during lunch and is asked to go have lunch in the school social worker’s office. Perhaps the student was yelling because he/she was overwhelemed with all of the noise in the cafeteria and preferred to eat alone and in a quiet venue.

Sign Consent Form

Before your child can be assessed, make sure to sign a parent consent form. This enables the school to gather the necessary information to figure out what the triggers are that causes the inappropriate behavior. Lots of information is gathered, such as where, when, how and why. And the information is placed on an ABC chart which shows (A) antecedent behaviors, (B) what specific behavior occured and (C) consequence.

Developing a Behavior Intervention Plan

Once all of the information is gathered and there is a rationale that explains the behaviors, a behavioral specialist, school social worker or school psychologist will see how to change the environment to change behaviors. This is called a behavior intervention plan or BIP. A BIP is a behavior plan that both teachers and rewards positive behaviors. It also offers suggetions that might affect change such as changes to the physical environment, presesnting information using different modalities, changes to routine, or highlighting positive behaviors

Now your on your way

Although a FBA/BIP is not the absolute answer, it can provide both the school and parents with a plan of action. When behaviors are understood, it is easier to help your child manage themselves during times of stress and anxiety.