COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
Department of Education

June 22, 2012

TO:  Division Superintendents

FROM:  Patricia I. Wright, Superintendent of Public Instruction

SUBJECT:  Functional Behavioral Assessment & Behavior Intervention Plan, 3-Part Series

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
• Use of a function-based intervention decision model

Part 3 – Evidence-Based Strategies to Address Student Problem Behavior

• Effective behavior change practices (designed to increase/decrease behavior)
• Targeted interventions
• Intensive interventions

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 an intervention 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) 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 2012-2013 school year. The FBA/BIP team trainings have been arranged as follows:

• Regions 1 & 8:
  Monday, November 19, 2012; Monday, December 17, 2012; and Monday, January 7, 2013
  Registration Deadline: November 4, 2012
  Sheraton Park South Hotel
  9901 Midlothian Turnpike
  Richmond, VA 23235
• Regions 2 & 3:
  Friday, November 16, 2012; Thursday, December 20, 2012; and Friday, January 11, 2013
  Registration Deadline: November 4, 2012
  Crowne Plaza Hampton Marina
  700 Settlers Landing Road
  Hampton, VA 23669
• Region 4:
  Monday, November 26, 2012; Monday, December 3, 2012; and Monday, January 14, 2013
  Registration Deadline: October 26, 2012
  Four Points by Sheraton
  10800 Vandor Lane
  Manassas, VA 20109
• Region 5:
  Tuesday, November 6, 2012; Friday, December 14, 2012; Friday, January 4, 2013 (Snow Date:  February 19, 2013)
  Registration Deadline: October 26, 2012
  James River Conference Center
  400 Court Street
  Lynchburg, VA 24504
• Regions 6 & 7:
  Monday, November 5, 2012; Thursday, December 13, 2012; Thursday, January 3, 2013 (Snow Date:  February 18, 2013)
  Registration Deadline: October 26, 2012
  The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center
  One Partnership Circle
  Abingdon, Virginia 24212-1987

Please register online by clicking the date hyperlink above or by accessing the calendar on the Effective Schoolwide Discipline Web site 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 system.

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) 225-2066.

PIW / IWB / dlj