According to federal mandates, if a student's behavior impedes their learning or the learning of others, the individualized education program team is required to address this with a functional behavioral assessment (FBA). The intent of the FBA is to determine the function, or reason, of the impeding behavior for the development of a behavioral…

Culturally responsive positive behavioral interventions and supports (CRPBIS) is a statewide research project designed to renovate behavioral support systems to become more inclusive, adaptive, and supportive for all. The CRPBIS methodology, called "learning lab," provides a research-based process to bring together local stakeholders and…

Functional behavior assessment (FBA), although mandated by federal law in situations involving students with emotional and behavioral disorders, is not well defined in the literature in terms of how it should best be undertaken in widespread practice in schools. Functional behavior assessment can be defined as a process for determining the reason…

School-based response to intervention (RTI) teams must gather, organize, chart, and interpret essential instructional information to make effective adjustments to meet the academic needs of struggling learners. Quantified data such as student proficiency scores, rate of progress trends, and achievement gap results provide the foundation for making…

The primary approaches of programs to prevent alcohol and other drug abuse are discussed, along with general problems of these programs. Key weaknesses of program evaluations are discussed, and suggestions and recommendations are made for special educators to implement prevention programs with their students with disabilities. (JDD)

This article highlights how instructional management differs from behavior management in terms of common practice, and demonstrates how an instructional strategy used to address persistent academic errors, called "precorrection," can be applied to change chronic problem behaviors. Seven basic correction and precorrection steps are…

The following stages in planning a token economy with students having behavior problems are discussed: (1) identifying target behaviors; (2) specifying and selecting reinforcers; (3) identifying token types and schedules; (4) planning token distribution and redemption; (5) initiating and implementing the token economy system; and (6) planning…

A collaborative project to build a productive, trusting relationship among university staff and an elementary school staff consisted of initial meetings, involvement with the principal, availability of university staff at the school, classroom visits, classroom management assistance, workshops, and development of classroom projects and a…

This article describes an elementary school's use of a curriculum-based measurement (CBM) system that allowed teachers to develop reading and mathematics interventions to assist students with and without disabilities. Presents a step-by-step approach to developing CBM and guidelines for implementing CBM in entire classrooms or for individual…

Explains how cognitive behavior modification (CBM) can be used to teach students self-control through increased awareness of cognitive processes and effects of behavior. Briefly describes three CBM procedures: (1) observational learning, (2) self-instruction, and (3) self-monitoring. Offers specific guidelines for implementing self-instruction and…

This article describes a nonviolence model program used in 26 schools. The program identifies positive and negative student leaders who then spend an entire day together working on developing relationships, responsibility, respect, and conflict resolution skills. Specific activities of the "lock-in" day and ongoing activities such as development…

The Instructional Priority System is presented as a collaborative approach in which teachers, specialists, students, and their parents participate in the instructional decision-making process for developing, implementing, and generalizing learning strategies. The skills needed by the student are identified and prioritized, and responsibilities…

This article defines, provides a rationale for, and describes the implementation of a classroom management level system in a middle school program for students with severe behavior disorders. The system is a motivational plan for behavioral improvement based upon a graduated series of levels with increasing student responsibility and privileges.…

This article reviews the literature on curriculum-based assessment (CBA) with students who have special education needs. Features of CBA common to various approaches and contributing most to its instructional effectiveness include teachers' evaluative attitudes and behaviors, focus and sustained attention on student performance, and facilitation…

A model secondary program designed to support students with learning disabilities in the regular classroom is described. Disadvantages of pull-out programs are examined and expansion of learning resource center services to all students is discussed. The role of collaboration among teachers, counselors, principals, and parents in the model program…