Behavior

Overview

Highly effective school environments prioritize the academic achievement and social skills of all students. The Office of Special Education has identified research-based strategies and practices that support positive behavioral outcomes for all students. Implementation of effective strategies and best practices within a variety of host settings, improves school climate and student outcomes. This site provides multiple links to rules, guidelines, assessment tools, and research-based strategies to promote social competence and support positive behavioral interventions.

What's New

Functional Behavior Assessment - Guidance Document

Check out the new FBA Guidance Document (PDF)

Protection of Individuals from Restraint and Seclusion Act (PPRA)

For questions related to this Moodle Course or the content please reach out to Bill Brown the Affective Needs Serious Emotional Disability Specialist with the Colorado Department of education.  brown_w@cde.state.co.us, 720-603-3000

Serious Emotional Disability & Behavior Webinar Series

The SED (serious Emotional Disability) Office hours will be replaced with an every-other-month webinar that will be made available. The topic for this school year's webinars will be looking at how mental health and behavioral approaches can work together to better meet the complex needs of students. The Additionally, during these webinars we will be: 

• Reviewing a basic review of mental health and a basic review of behavior;
• Looking at how to combine a mental health approach and a behavioral approach;
• Exploring the intersection of trauma and behavior;
• Sharing how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and behavior interventions can work together including an example of a BIP written from this perspective; and
• Looking at Traumatic Brain Injury and behavior.

Check back later for more information.

Related CDE Topics

Affective Needs

Mental Health

Serious Emotional Disability

SED QIs

Prof Development

SED/Behavior PD Page

• On-demand Webinars
• Online Events
• Online Courses
• By-request Trainings

SED/Behavior Resources

General Resources

Professional Learning

8 Week Online Course: Introduction to Functional Behavioral Assessment and Behavior Intervention Plans

This 8 week online course, offered in both fall and spring semesters, is intended for school and district-level teams.  The purpose of the course is to support the team in developing a functional behavioral Assessment (FBA) that accurately identifies a student’s function of behavior in order to develop more effective Behavior Intervention Plans. Team-based approaches to complete such activities are always best practice and in the best interest of the student, school, and family. By the end of the course, participating teams will be able to successfully complete Basic Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP). The course provides a foundation for understanding FBAs and provides opportunity for practice in the completion of FBAs and BIPs. Support from instructors will be given in the form of discussion board with no face-to-face opportunities provided.

Requirements:

• Each team member must complete an individual registration form, and list 2 to 5 school- or district-level team members, including a special education teacher and a mental health staff. ALL team members must register individually.
• Have access to students in a school setting, and approval from administrators to complete a FBA/BIP case study on students.
• Commit to completing weekly reading, assignments, online discussions, as well as a case study in a school setting.

Visit the Social/Emotional/Behavioral Professional Development Page to register

8-week Advanced FBA and BIP Course

This online course will present an in-depth look into Advanced Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP) building skills to work with complex and serious student needs.  This course focuses on training a “team lead” and contains information on how to complete each portion of the process. This course utilizes the current Colorado Department of Education Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Intervention Plan format to guide the process. If your school district or administrative unit does not utilize this format, then the information given should help you in your understanding of leading the FBA and BIP process. The course provides an opportunity for participants to practice completion of FBAs and BIPs.

The goal of the FBA is to determine the function of the problem behavior to develop more effective interventions and Behavior Intervention Plans.  Individuals taking this course are expected to work with a school-based team even though the team is not enrolled in this course. Team-based approaches to completing such activities are always best practice and in the best interest of the student, school, and family.  This course is intended to give each participant practical information, applied knowledge, and real experiences at all stages of the FBA and BIP development, including data collection, and behavior support planning so that each participant can learn the necessary skills to function both independently and as an effective member of a team. Therefore, the minimal requirement for this course is that each participant be assigned to a school site, so they have access to staff and students to practice these learned skills

Visit the Social/Emotional/Behavioral Professional Development Page to register

Serious Emotional Disability (SED) Task Force/Affective Needs Committee

The SED Task Force/Affective Needs Committee is comprised of teachers, administrators, and related service personnel, professors from Institutions of Higher Education, and parent advocates from throughout Colorado. This group advises the Colorado Department of Education on the statewide needs of this population and those who serve them. Their expertise is utilized for workgroups to develop trainings and products to assist educational teams in meeting the needs of this very diverse population.

Listserv

The Social/Emotional/Behavioral listserv is a place for teachers and service providers working with students with Significant Emotional Disabilities to find information, encouragement, and networking opportunities.

We know that many times those working with students with significant needs may be isolated and lack the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues or find the expertise they need in a timely and safe setting. This is a place to ask questions, have discussions, and share ideas with those in the field that are having the same experiences. To subscribe, Email Bill Brown at brown_w@cde.state.co.us with your contact information.

For more information, please contact:

Bill Brown
Phone: (720) 603-3000
Email Bill Brown