FBA and IDEA in Our School District The functional behavioral assessment (FBA) is a method of solving a problem of student behavior by determining the cause of the problem and developing an intervention to address and correct it. It includes identifying the behavior that is the target and how it can be reached based on the information gathered about the student. Ideally, the entire school will participate in the process of addressing the issue, as each member of the school body brings a perspective and shared level of experience that can positively shape outcomes (Sugai et al., 2000). Likewise, based on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendents (IDEA), the need to implement an IEP (individualized education program) is imperative and should be aligned with the FBA (Drasgow, Bradley, Shriner, 1999). This paper will provide the steps used by my school district to complete an FBA, review the IDEA criteria for the functional behavior assessment process and behavior intervention plan, note any gaps which should be addressed in the school district's plan, and recommend process revisions.

Our New Mexico school district completes the following steps in the functional behavior assessment (FBA) process:

First, the school must describe and define the target behavior using specific, clear terms that leave no room for doubt.

Second, the school must gather information...

Likewise, the team-approach allows for a better adherence to the overall objective to maintained. For instance, the FBA is not to be used as a manifest determination in which the disability is to be identified. Instead, the FBA in accordance with IDEA is to be used to identify the reason for the behavior (this is the function) and use this knowledge to prepare an adequate behavior intervention plan.
The heart of the IDEA is that preventative…