Functional behavioral assessment was mandated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Amendments of 1997 as a behavioral evaluation for students who display behaviors that are likely to result in school exclusion. Functional behavioral assessment is not intended to be used solely as a reaction to chronic and serious behaviors. Rather, functional behavioral assessment is most effective when used proactively at the first display of challenging behaviors by students. Through case examples, this article presents step-by-step procedures for conducting functional behavioral assessment and developing effective intervention plans for students in public school classrooms.
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