Education.com

Behavior at School (page 4)

National Dissemination Center for Children With Disabilities

What's the Law Require of Schools?

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has well-specified requirements of how schools must address behavior issues with respect to students with disabilities. Find out more about those requirements via the resources we've listed below.

  • Start at NICHCY.
    www.nichcy.org/idealist.htm
    The link above leads you to what we call the "vetted" list---meaning, publications reviewed and approved by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) on the IDEA and its regulations. Click on "Behavior/Discipline/Safe Schools," and you'll jump to a description of what's been changed in IDEA's behavior/discipline provisions as a result of its reauthorization in 2004. (If you want to know about IDEA 1997 provisions on discipline and behavior, visit the "vetted" list for the 1997 amendments to the law, at: www.nichcy.org/idea1997list.htm
  • Disciplining students with disabilities: A very thorough overview from NASP.
    www.nasponline.org/publications/cq262discipline.html
    Visit all the bases in this article from the National Association of School Psychologists: positive learning environments, the IEP as a vehicle to manage behavior problems, addressing and preventing challenging behaviors, weapons and drugs, and an explanation of what IDEA requires schools to do.
  • What are the school's obligations?
    www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/ltrs/behavior_obligate.htm
    Wrightslaw answers questions from school personnel about obligations to "students who may be dangerous to us."
  • Discipline: Suspensions, expulsions, and IEPs.
    www.wrightslaw.com/info/discipl.suspend.crabtree.htm
    Parent attorney Bob Crabtree describes the school's responsibilities under IDEA, including provision of FAPE, alternative educational placements, functional behavioral assessments, and behavior intervention plans.

Using Positive Methods for Change in the Whole School

  • Good behavior for the whole school.
    www.fape.org/pubs/fape-22.pdf
    This family-friendly guide gives a quick overview on why positive behavior programs work even better when implemented on a school-wide basis. Contact information on further resources is provided.
  • School-wide positive behavior support helps individual students with disabilities.
    www.beachcenter.org/research/FullArticles
    /PDF/PBS19_Blueprint%20for%20Schoolwide%20PBS.pdf

    This 26-page how-to guide provides a case study of an eighth grader with autism, and gives concrete examples of how to implement PBS at the universal, group, and individual levels. Implementing PBS on a school-wide basis positively affected this student with autism, on an individual level.
  • What challenges do urban schools face when applying school-wide positive behavior supports?
    www.beachcenter.org/research/FullArticles/PDF/PBS23_Urban%20applications.pdf
    This high-level publication discusses the unique issues urban, lower socioeconomic areas deal with when implementing school-side positive behavior plans and the lessons that have been learned through trial and error. In addition to the general discussion, this publication highlights a particular student, and follows him through several years of school.
  • Positive Behavioral Support and the whole school.
    www.pbis.org/English/Schoolwide_PBS.htm
    This publication breaks down the process of developing a school-wide PBS system, giving specific examples of how these systems are designed and implemented. It answers FAQs regarding school-wide PBS systems, and provides links to other sites. A Spanish version is also available, at: www.pbis.org/Spanish/default.htm
  • What Works! Interventions for chronic behavior problems.
    www.nichcy.org/pubs/research/rb1txt.htm
    This publication gives an overview on what research says about promising interventions for students with a history of behavior problems. Plus, it's chock full of resources for further information.
  • Principals! Don't miss this! Defusing Violent Behavior in Young Children: An Ounce of Prevention.
    www.naspcenter.org/pdf/violent_handout.pdf
    This excellent 4-page document from the National Association of School Psychologists addresses how to handle violent outbursts in young elementary students.
  • Fight hate and promote tolerance!
    www.tolerance.org
    This site has sections for teachers, parents, teens, and kids.
  • Enhancing school staff understanding of mental health and psychosocial concerns.
    http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/enhancingschoolstaff.pdf
    This 61-page publication offers ways to address barriers for all students. Written by the UCLA Center for Mental Health in Schools.
  • Hear ye! Hear ye! Read all about it!
    www.specialednews.com/behavior/behavior.html
    The best part of this site is the news list. You'll also find links to behavior-related news articles, a reading list on behavior materials, and links to other behavior-related web sites.
  • Especially for elementary and middle schools!
    www.emstac.org/resources/social_skills.htm
    Don't miss this site! It is dedicated to social skills and discipline. Check out the links to information, organizations, and other web sites.
View Full Article

Add your own comment

Ask a Question

Have questions about this article or topic? Ask
Ask
150 Characters allowed

Today on Education.com

WE'VE GOT A GREAT ROUND-UP OF ACTIVITIES PERFECT FOR LONG WEEKENDS, STAYCATIONS, VACATIONS ... OR JUST SOME GOOD OLD-FASHIONED FUN!

We've got a great round-up of activities perfect for long weekends, staycations, vacations ... or just some good old-fashioned fun! Get Outside! 10 Playful Activities

Washington Virtual Academies

Tuition-free online school for Washington students.