Discipline and Behavior Plans

What is a behavior plan? When a child’s negative behavior at school is related to his or her disability and it substantially interferes with the student’s education, a behavior intervention plan (BIP) is often developed. This is done after a functional behavior assessment (FBA) to help determine when and why the behavior occurs. The plan can be part of an IEP or written separately and attached to an IEP or 504 plan. A student does not need to be eligible for special education or 504 services to receive a BIP.  The BIP can include positive ways to address the child’s behaviors, goals that teach appropriate behaviors, and/or modifications of the classroom environment that will decrease the chance of the behaviors occurring.

Examples of types of positive supports, discipline and expectations to be put in behavior plan:

  • Modified seating arrangement
  • Avoiding exposing child to long delays
  • Offering activity choices
  • Allowing for breaks
  • Rewarding the child for using socially acceptable behavior
  • Helping child to avoid “triggers” and teaching the child to recognize and avoid those “triggers” when possible
  • Helping the child learn to identify emotions
  • Changing the responses of teachers and other adults to negative behavior
  • Offering academic instruction if the child needs tutoring or appropriately adapting assignments if they are the cause of the behavior
  • Teaching coping and tolerance skills such as anger management
  • Having a caring adult the child can turn to when upset or someone who can provide positive interactions to the child at school

Sample Behavior Plans – Listed below are a few sample behavior plans. The first link contains a general outline and the second link is tailored to more specific disabilities.

» ProjectStay- Behavior Intervention Plan 

» Write your own Behavior Plan

Other Resources