Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Intervention Plans

A Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) is a method based on the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) to identify problem behaviors and create interventions to help improve or eliminate them. 

Reasons for conducting an FBA include: 

• 1. The Individualized Education Program (IEP) team determines that a student is not making adequate progress towards goals and that problem behavior is interfering with learning. 

  2. When a behavior violates a “code of student conduct” that results in a change of placement and is determined by the IEP team to be a manifestation of the student’s disability. 

The process of an FBA involves gathering information to form a hypothesis about the purpose (function) the behavior serves for the student. It also identifies contingencies, such as  environmental factors, antecedents (what happens before the behavior) and consequences (what happens after the behavior) that can sustain the problem. 

The information is then used to develop a behavior intervention plan or BIP.  A BIP identifies the environmental factors that contribute to problem behavior so they can be better controlled.  It also describes the purpose of a child's actions and lists alternative, appropriate behaviors to be taught that meet the child's needs. Research-based behavior interventions are reviewed and a plan for addressing behaviors at early stages are recommended.