Student Support & Conduct
2021 Model Guidance for Positive, Preventative Code of Student Conduct Policy and Alternatives to Suspension
The 2021 Model Guidance for Positive, Preventive Code of Student Conduct Policy and Alternatives to Suspension (Word) is a blueprint for school boards in revising local policies, systems, and practices related to student conduct and school climate. The 2021 Model Guidance provides references to relevant Code of Virginia statutes and includes resources for developing alternatives to suspension. Local school board policies should be consistent with, but may be more stringent than, the guidelines of the Board (Code of Virginia § 22.1-279.6).
General Interest
- Guide to Local Alternative Education Options for Suspended and Expelled Students in the Commonwealth (PDF) – Virginia Commission on Youth (2008)
- Regulations Governing the Use of Seclusion and Restraint in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools in Virginia
Functional Behavioral Assessment and Behavior Intervention Plan
A functional behavior assessment (FBA) is an assessment used to gather information and determine the underlying cause or function of a behavior and the environmental factors that contribute to it. The data from the FBA is used to develop a behavior intervention plan (BIP), which outlines positive behavioral interventions and supports aimed at reducing the interfering behavior and encouraging prosocial alternatives. The FBA and BIP together provide a proactive, individualized approach to addressing behavioral challenges and supporting student success for students with and without a disability.
- The Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Intervention Plan: Guidelines for Effective Development and Implementation (PDF) provides Virginia school divisions support for developing and implementing effective practices for conducting an FBA and developing a BIP.
- The Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Intervention Plan: Guidelines for Effective Development and Implementation Module Series - A six-part module series developed to expand on the Virginia guidelines to further support educators about function-based supports, including the use of FBAs and BIPs.