A functional behavioral assessment (or FBA) is a process that identifies a specific or target behavior that interferes with a student's education. The assessment attempts to designate the particular behavior, identify the factors that support the behavior, and determine the purpose of the behavior. The basic idea is that a student’s behavior serves a purpose. Whether they
A Behavior Intervention Plan (or BIP) is a written plan that teaches and rewards good behavior. It can be a single page or many pages. The purpose is to prevent or stop misbehavior, not simply punish the child. A Behavior Intervention Plan can also be used as a “proactive action plan to address behavior(s) that
A cornerstone of IDEA, our nation’s special education law, is that each eligible child with a disability is entitled to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet the child’s unique needs and that prepares the child for further education, employment, and independent living. Defined in IDEA
The hearing, a Manifestation Determination Review (MDR), is a process to examine all relevant information and specifically the relationship between the child's disability and the behavior. Consequences for problem behaviors should not discriminate against a child based on a disability. The MDR is conducted when the exclusion of a child for disciplinary purposes would constitute
In 2017, a case before the U.S. Supreme Court, Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District, sought to bring clarity to the IEP process by answering the following question: What is the level of educational benefit school districts must confer on children with disabilities to provide them with a FAPE guaranteed by the IDEA? In a
In special education, disproportionality generally occurs in two primary areas. One, the over- or under-representation of children with disabilities in specific disability categories is of particular concern. Two, the over-representation of students with disabilities in the discipline process is of considerable concern. With regard to tracking disproportionality, school districts are most often tasked with the
An IEP -- Individualized Education Program -- is an overall approach to meeting the needs of a child with a disability, as required by IDEA (2004). The IEP has become the center point of special education. Developed via a team process, many stakeholders, including parents, have a role in the determination of content and services
A 504 plan is a blueprint for how schools will support a student with a disability and remove barriers to learning. The goal is to provide the student equal access at school. In contrast, IEP stands for Individual Education Program and centers around academic achievement and determining whether a student qualifies for special education services.
Due process is the formal route to resolving conflicts in special education. When a parent disagrees with a school district, the parent has specific rights and processes to follow in order to resolve the issue. Often known as parental rights, due process is unique to special education; the same rights are not available to the
The Rowley case concerned a hearing-impaired girl named Amy Rowley who was a student at the Furnace Woods School in Hendrick Hudson Central School District, Peekskill, N.Y. Amy had minimal residual hearing and was an excellent lip reader. During the year before she began attending school, a meeting between her parents and the school administrator
