This study examines the effect of increasing literacy skills during incarceration to improve adult inmate behavior, defined as a reduction in disciplinary reports received by participants. Male offenders, 18 years or older, housed in the Iowa Department of Corrections between July 1, 2017-June 30, 2019 who completed two or more TABE Reading…

Restorative justice is a non-punitive form of discipline and is applied in educational settings to address discipline disparities. This qualitative descriptive single case study explored how high school teachers describe restorative justice practices as an influence on the behavior of Hispanic students in an urban high school in Iowa. Data were…

Functional communication training (FCT) is a widely used and effective function-based treatment for problem behavior. The purpose of this article is to present two cases in which FCT was unsuccessful in reducing the occurrence of problem behavior displayed by two young children with an autism spectrum disorder. Both children received the same…

This study reports evaluation data from the statewide School-Wide Positive Behavior Supports (SWPBS) initiative in Iowa. The study shows initial positive results over a 3-year period. The School-Wide Evaluation Tool, Team Implementation Checklist, and office discipline referral data were monitored to assess progress. Suggestions for connecting…

The author describes an educational program developed by the Iowa Association of Community College Trustees for chronic traffic offenders. The program helps offenders examine the relationship between their attitudes and their behavior as drivers. Program implementation and results are discussed. (CH)

This article discusses some of the major challenges school districts face in implementing functional behavioral assessments (FBAs). A school improvement initiative, "Success4," is presented to illustrate an Iowa approach. Arguments are presented for fundamental changes in order to enhance school district effectiveness and accountability…

Describes a study assessing the effectiveness of an intervention program for youthful offenders in Iowa based on a cognitive approach to rehabilitation, which pivots on the theme that "bad thinking leads to bad behavior." There were gains in prospects for improving life goals and empathy toward victims. Other results were mixed. (LKS)

A boot camp is a military style correctional facility in which inmates are subject to a highly structured and challenging regimen of physical training, in addition to vocational, educational, and therapeutic programming (Cronin and Han, 1994; Austin, Jones, and Bolyard, 1993; Mackenzie and Souryal, 1991). Originally introduced to rehabilitate…