Screening for Understanding

Abstract

Education teams have the responsibility for implementing the critical components of functional behavioral assessment (FBA) into practice. For many people who are unfamiliar with the assessment-intervention design process, the comprehensiveness of FBA can appear overwhelming. Teams need a practical and time-efficient starting point to begin gathering initial information about problem situations. Screening for Understanding of Student Problem Behavior: An Initial Line of Inquiry is one example of an initial information-gathering format for beginning a comprehensive FBA. This article illustrates the use of the Initial Line of Inquiry within school-based settings when using a team planning process for students engaging in challenging behavior. A case illustration demonstrates the process that guides application of the Initial Line of Inquiry, along with key questions and guiding thoughts pertinent to the design of effective behavioral support plans for focus students.