Superintendent's Memo #222-09
COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
Department of Education
August 14, 2009
TO: Division Superintendents
FROM: Patricia I. Wright, Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT: Functional Behavioral Assessment & Behavior Intervention Plan, 3-Part Series
DUE DATE: August 14, 2009
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), Office of Special Education Instructional Services, will offer a three-part training series on how to conduct a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) and develop a positive Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP). The content for the three-part workshop series includes:
Part 1 – Critical Issues in Disciplinary Practices for Students with Disabilities
- Updates to Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) regarding Discipline for Students with Disabilities
- Legal Updates for FBA/BIP
- Substantive and Procedural Violations
- Short- and Long-term removals
- In-School and Out-of-School Suspension
- Manifestation Determination Review
- Interim Alternative Education Setting (IAES) and Dangerous Removal Provisions
- Updates to the Technical Assistance Document on Addressing Severely Challenging Behavior in Virginia Public Schools.
Part 2 – Conducting Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBA) and Developing Effective Behavior Intervention Plans
- Overview of FBA/BIP
- Rationale for FBA/BIP
- Steps in Conducting FBA
- Data Collection, Analysis, and Interpretation
- Developing Effective BIPs
- Linking Intervention to Function in the BIP
Part 3 – Evidence-Based Strategies to Address Student Problem Behavior
- Effective Schoolwide Discipline
- Effective Behavior Change Practices (designed to increase/decrease behavior)
- Cognitive/Behavioral Interventions
- Social Skills Instruction
Functional Behavioral Assessment is a proven, effective approach to identifying the reason(s) for a student’s misbehavior, eliminating the problem behaviors that impede successful teaching and learning, and developing a corrective plan that emphasizes more appropriate and acceptable behavior.
Functional Behavioral Assessment is a team problem-solving process. Accordingly, the VDOE is inviting school-based teams, (3-5 people), typically comprised of general educators, special educators, specialists and other support personnel, as well as a parent representative, to be trained together in the FBA/BIP process. The VDOE, in collaboration with the Training and Technical Assistance Centers (T/TACs) of Virginia, will provide comprehensive training in all phases of the FBA/BIP process and will be available to give technical support and assistance to participating teams.
This three-part training is designed for those who have attended a previous FBA training series as well as those who are not familiar with the FBA process. Those who register must attend all three days; the three days are interdependent. This three-part training series will not be repeated during the 2009-2010 school year. The FBA/BIP team trainings have been arranged as follows:
- Regions 1& 8:
Friday, November 20, 2009; Friday, December 11, 2009 (Snow Date: January 8, 2010); and Friday, March 19, 2010 (Snow Date: April 16, 2010)
Registration Deadline: Friday, October 30, 2009
John Tyler Community College
13101 Jefferson Davis Highway
Nicholas Student Center
Chester, VA 23831
- Regions 2 & 3:
Monday, November 23, 2009; Friday, December 18, 2009; and Friday, March 5, 2010 (Snow Date: TBD)
Registration Deadline: Friday, October 30, 2009
Omni Newport News Hotel
1000 Omni Blvd.
Newport News, VA 23669
- Region 4:
Monday, November 16, 2009; Monday, December 14, 2009 (Snow Date: January 15, 2010); and Wednesday, March 10, 2010 (Snow Date: April 23, 2010)
Registration Deadline: Friday, October 30, 2009
George Mason University’s Prince William Campus
Verizon Auditorium
10900 University Blvd.
Manassas, VA 20110
- Region 5:
Tuesday, November 10, 2009; Tuesday, December 8, 2009 (Snow Date: January 5, 2010); and Tuesday, March 9, 2010 (Snow Date: April 6, 2010)
Registration Deadline: Friday, October 30, 2009
James River Conference Center
400 Court Street
Lynchburg, VA 24504
- Regions 6 & 7:
Monday, November 9, 2009; Monday, December 7, 2009 (Snow Date: January 4, 2010); and Monday, March 8, 2010 (Snow Date: April 5, 2010)
Registration Deadline: Friday, October 30, 2009
Radford University West Campus
6226 University Park Drive
Radford, VA 24141
Please register online by clicking the date hyperlink above or by accessing the Calendar on the Effective Schoolwide Discipline website at http://www.ttac.odu.edu/esd. Upon registration, you and your team members will receive a confirmation e-mail from the ESD online automated registration program.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Irene Walker-Bolton, educational specialist, Office of Special Education Instructional Services, via e-mail at Irene.Walker-Bolton@doe.virginia.gov or telephone (804) 225-2709.
PIW / IWB / dlj