You can request the site do a FAA. Be sure whether the site is using FAA and FBA as synonyms or how they are differentiating them. For some sites, if they do an FAA it will NOT lead to a possible BIP. Also, keep in mind that the site will have 15 calendar days to provide an assessment plan or a PWN- Prior Written Notice of their denial. Assuming you get and sign an evaluation plan, the site will then have 60 calendar days (not counting breaks greater than 5 school days) to complete the evaluation and hold an IEP meeting.

Because this can be a lengthy process (2.5 months), you may want to simultaneously do one of the less intensive plans in the interim OR adjust whatever plan is currently in the IEP.

So, get an agreement on the eval that is appropriate and then, request an interim lower level behavior plan/adjustment.

Allan Roth

Alliance Resources and Associates, Inc.

Hi Allan-

Thanks for your response. Can I simply request that the District perform an FAA?

First of all, most things need to be discussed and agreed upon in an IEP meeting; even if all members are not needed and some are excused. Thus, you will likely need to make a written (email is best, and be sure to CC yourself) request to hold an IEP meeting. The district/site will have up to 30 calendar days to hold that meeting.

Behavior Plans come in three broad categories-- basic informal behavior plans whether written up or not, Behavior Support Plans (BSP), and Behavior Intervention Plans.

The first option (Basic Behavior Plan/Contract), does NOT require an IEP meeting and is the essence of what good teachers do on a regular basis for their whole class and/or for individual students. The later two option DO require an IEP meeting.

The BSP is the next level up from a basic whole class or individual behavior contract/agreement/plan and lays out formal steps tried in the past and the steps that will be used to change the behavior. The BSP also notes broad steps to take if the behavior continues. This is typically a 1-2 page document.

The Behavior Intervention Plan is the most in depth plan and requires the taking of specific data that shows all three key aspects of any behavior-- frequency, intensity, and duration. When done properly, the first step is to take sufficient data to answer the three aspects above and to create a hypothesis of why the behavior is occurring and when it might occur. An in depth plan is then written with proper reinforcement and detailed methods/steps for how to deal with the behavior and what to say, do, or avoid saying or doing. Because this plan is so intensive, it is typically used for more extreme behaviors (but, some districts have stopped using the BSP and jump from a classroom/individual basic plan straight to a BIP). The data taking process is often called a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) or a Functional Analysis Assessment (FAA). Many individuals interchange these names, even though they are technically different (but that is for another day). Because the BIP was designed for more intensive needs, it was also designed to be faded out as it succeeds in changing the behavior/s or to be adjusted, when it is not working. Therefore, when a BIP is written, it is supposed to be reviewed every 8 weeks to adjust/fade it. This type of plan is often 4+ pages.

An IEP Team will need to decide which of the above behavior options are needed and work with you, the parent, to create one or explain why one is not needed.

Best wishes,

Allan Roth, Alliance Resources and Associates, Inc.