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Fifty years after Congress passed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 (EHA), the number of students receiving special education services has steadily increased. The law, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), guarantees all students access to a free and appropriate education, including behavioral support for those with disabilities. A functional behavioral assessment is one effective form of support.

What is a functional behavioral assessment? This type of assessment helps educators systematically identify the links between a student’s behavior and environmental factors, helping uncover the root causes of problem behaviors. Such assessments allow educators to develop personalized behavior intervention plans (BIPs).

During the 2021-22 school year, more than 7.3 million students with disabilities—about 15% of the U.S. public school population—received special education services, according to Pew Research Center. As demand for these services grows, individuals interested in making a meaningful impact should consider pursuing degrees in special education. Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Special Education and Master of Special Education programs prepare educators to help students whose behaviors interfere with learning and achieving academic success.

Functional Behavioral Assessment Definition

When behavior regularly interferes with learning, it can be a sign that a student needs special education services. This may lead a school team to consider whether the student would benefit from an Individualized Education Program (IEP), a tailored plan that helps students with disabilities. Such plans are created by the school district and students’ parents or guardians, sometimes with the students’ participation. IEPs detail students’ educational goals, support tools, accommodations, and specialist services.

To prepare for an IEP, it’s important to understand what a functional behavioral assessment is, as it can play a central role in a special education program’s success. These assessments use evidence-based methods to identify the causes of students’ challenging behaviors. They often employ the Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence (ABC) data collection model:

• Antecedent: Observing when and where a behavior occurs

• Behavior: Describing the behavior in measurable terms

• Consequence: Analyzing the outcomes that follow

Information gathered during the process helps develop targeted strategies to address troubling behaviors and better support students in the classroom. While a behavioral specialist typically leads an assessment, the process is collaborative, involving special education teachers and consenting parents.

Why Are Functional Behavioral Assessments Important?

The largest group of special education students is usually those with specific learning disabilities, followed by those with speech or language impairments and autism, according to Education Week. These students benefit from a wide range of interventions, including functional behavioral assessments, that help teams develop strategies for students to overcome challenges and achieve success. Below are examples of why functional behavioral assessments are important.

Informed Interventions

Educators use functional behavioral assessments to gain insight into the source of student behavior, allowing them to develop BIPs that address the underlying issues rather than simply managing symptoms.

Targeted Interventions

As a collaborative approach involving teachers, specialists, and families, a functional behavioral assessment allows teams to effectively support students by directly addressing challenging behaviors and creating an environment focused on teaching and learning.

Consistent Strategies

A functional behavioral assessment involves a structured process. It offers insights into how behaviors appear across different settings, allowing the team to apply consistent strategies both at school and at home. This collaborative process ensures that the student receives consistent support across environments.

How to Perform a Functional Behavioral Assessment

The functional behavioral assessment process for developing IEPs is often led by individuals working in select health psychology careers . However, it’s typically a team effort involving behavioral and intervention specialists, teachers, parents and caregivers, classroom aides, and district administrators. These teams examine what triggered the problem behavior, the behavior itself, and the aftermath. They also gather data to understand the causes of the behavior and factors that may be making it worse.

Key steps in the process—and questions that may be asked—include the following:

• Identifying the Behavior: What is causing challenges for the student at school?

• Gathering Information: What can we learn about the behavior using observations, conversations, and school records?

• Analyzing the Data: What patterns suggest a potential trigger of the behavior? What happens afterward?

• Forming a Hypothesis: What are the findings regarding why the student’s behavior is happening?

• Developing the Plan: How can we build a personalized strategy based on these findings that can help the student succeed and feel supported?

Once a plan is established, the team must effectively implement it. However, a functional behavioral assessment is a continual process, requiring regular monitoring and evaluation to determine a plan’s effectiveness and steps for improvement.

Make a Real Difference in Special Education

While the term “special education” can mean different things to different people, the goal of every program is the same: to improve students’ chances of overcoming learning and behavioral challenges.

Whether the focus is on teaching new skills or changing behavior, professionals must guide parents through the available interventions to help them make informed decisions. The special education programs at Wilson College Online help aspiring educators begin a journey toward a career that can make a positive impact on the lives of children and their families.

Wilson’s online B.A. in Special Education covers key topics such as child cognitive development, educational psychology, early intervention strategies, and effective collaboration with parents. For those pursuing an advanced degree, the online Master of Special Education emphasizes research-backed teaching methods and practical application. Students also learn how to integrate innovative educational technologies into their lesson plans.

Find out how Wilson’s flexible programs can help you embark on a rewarding career.

Recommended Readings

6 Key Special Education Teacher Skills

How to Become a Special Education Teacher

5 Types of Learning Disabilities Teachers Should Know

Sources:

American Psychological Association, Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA)

Behaviour Help, “Benefits of a Functional Behaviour Assessment”

Behaviour Help, “Seven Steps of Functional Behaviour Assessment”

CentralReach, ABC Data Collection in Special Education & Functional Behavior Assessments

Education Week, “What Is an IEP? Individualized Education Programs, Explained”

IDEA, “A History of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act”

Institute of Education Sciences, Functional Behavioral Assessment-Based Interventions

National Center for Education Statistics, Number and Percentage of Children Served Under Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B, By Age Group and State or Jurisdiction: Selected School Years, 1990-91 Through 2021-22

N2Y, “Functional Behavior Analysis and Behavior Intervention Plans”

Pew Research Center, “What Federal Education Data Shows About Students With Disabilities in the U.S.”