Positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBS) is the federal law's preferred strategy for dealing with challenging behaviors of students with disabilities. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires PBS to be considered in all cases of students whose behavior impedes their learning or the learning of others, reflecting IDEA's preference for use of state-of-the-art technology in special education. This article explains the legal ramifications of these requirements for responsible agencies, including schools, school boards, other local educational agencies, and state educational agencies.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Board of Education v. Rowley, 458 U.S. 176 (1982). (involving "related services" under IDEA and deferring to professional judgment concerning the necessity of those for a student)
2.
Honig v. Doe, 484 U.S. 305 (1988). (involving exclusion and procedural due process, and holding that the Education of the Handicapped Act of 1970 prohibits school officials from unilaterally excluding a disabled child from class for dangerous conduct pending review proceedings)
3.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq. (1999); 34 C.F.R. §§ 300.1 et seq. (1999); 64 Fed Reg. 12,406-12,672 (1999). (primary federal special education statute that provides funding and sets out substantive, procedural requirements for state and local special education programs)
4.
Koegel, L. K., Koegel, R. L., & Dunlap, G. (Eds.). (1996). Positive behavioral support: Including people with difficult behavior in the community. Baltimore: Brookes.
5.
Sugai, G., Horner, R.H., Dunlap, G., Hieneman, M., Lewis, T.J., Nelson, C.M., Scott, T., Liaupsin, C., Sailor, W., Turnbull, A.P., Turnbull, H.R., Wickham, D., Ruef, M., & Wilcox, B.L. (1999). Applying positive behavioral support and functional behavioral assessment in schools. Eugene: University of Oregon, OSEP Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.
6.
Turnbull, H.R., Stowe, M., Wilcox, B.L., Raper, C., & Hedges, L.P. (2000). The public policy foundations for positive behavioral interventions, strategies and supports. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 2, 218-230.
7.
Turnbull, H.R. & Turnbull, A.P. (with Stowe, M., & Wilcox, B.L.) (2000). Free appropriate public education: The law and children with disabilities (6th ed.). Denver: Love.
8.
Turnbull, H.R., Turnbull, A.P., Wilcox, B.L., Sailor, W., & Wickham, D. (1999). Positive behavioral interventions and supports under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Lawrence: University of Kansas, Beach Center on Families and Disability.
