What Beginning Special Educators Need to Know About Conducting Functional Behavioral Assessments

One of the biggest challenges facing all PK – 12 educators, especially beginning special educators, is addressing inappropriate student behaviors. Building on the principles and practices of applied behavior analysis, this article outlines and describes key steps to conduct functional behavior assessments (FBAs) resulting in possible hypotheses about the function the inappropriate behavior serves for the student. Understanding the function of inappropriate student behavior allows educators to design positive behavior support plans (BSPs) or Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) to teach students how to reach a same or similar outcome (i.e., function) through appropriate behavior. Recommended resources to develop FBA-based BSPs or BIPs and a few words of advice are also provided.