This individualized plan focuses on positive behavioral supports to teach and reinforce appropriate behavior skills. Using the hypothesis statement about the purpose of the behavior from the Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA), the IEP team develops and implements the BIP which includes plans and strategies that emphasize the skills the student needs to learn as well as how to address inappropriate behavior.

If your child has a disability and his/her behavior impacts their ability or that of others to access education, the IEP team is required by IDEA law to consider the use of positive behavior interventions, strategies, and supports to address the problem.

It is important for the team to consider ways to help your child learn positive behavioral skills as well as academic skills. A BIP is developed by the IEP team with information gathered from the student, parents, teachers, and other staff who know the student well. Additionally updated evaluation information including a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA), which determines the reason for a behavior through collecting, analyzing, and reviewing data and observations is used.

A positive behavior intervention plan should include specific steps to help your child learn new behavioral skills. It should include:

• Environmental changes to reduce or eliminate challenging behaviors
• Strategies for teaching new skills to replace challenging behaviors
• Skills training to increase student understanding of positive behavior strategies
• Support that will be provided to help the student practice the new strategies across different settings within the school

Another thing to remember is that it takes time to change behavior. Sometimes when implementing a BIP, you will see what is called an extinction burst where the behavior intensifies. So it is essential that the team continues with the plan and not give up. It is important for the team to meet again after 4-6 weeks to review the data showing successes and failures, then make adjustments to the plan as needed. This may mean a team might have to meet several times in a school year, but if implemented with fidelity, a BIP can change behavior.