<p> Superintendent's Memo #161-10</p><p>COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA Department of Education</p><p>July 16, 2010</p><p>TO: Division Superintendents</p><p>FROM: Patricia I. Wright, Superintendent of Public Instruction</p><p>SUBJECT: Functional Behavioral Assessment & Behavior Intervention Plan, 3- Part Series </p><p>The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), Office of Special Education Instructional Services, will offer a three-part training series on how to conduct a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) and develop a positive Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP). The content for the three-part workshop series includes:</p><p>Part 1 – Critical Issues in Disciplinary Practices for Students with Disabilities </p><p> Updates to Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) regarding Discipline for Students with Disabilities  Legal Updates for FBA/BIP  Substantive and Procedural Violations  Short- and Long-term Removals  In-School and Out-of-School Suspension  Manifestation Determination Review  Interim Alternative Education Setting (IAES) and Dangerous Removal Provisions  Updates to the Technical Assistance Document on Addressing Severely Challenging Behavior in Virginia Public Schools. </p><p>Part 2 – Conducting Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBA) and Developing Effective Behavior Intervention Plans </p><p> Overview of FBA/BIP  Rationale for FBA/BIP  Steps in Conducting FBA  Data Collection, Analysis, and Interpretation  Developing Effective BIPs  Linking Intervention to Function in the BIP Part 3 – Evidence-Based Strategies to Address Student Problem Behavior </p><p> Effective Schoolwide Discipline  Effective Behavior Change Practices (designed to increase/decrease behavior)  Cognitive/Behavioral Interventions  Social Skills Instruction </p><p>Functional Behavioral Assessment is a proven, effective approach to identifying the reason(s) for a student’s misbehavior, eliminating the problem behaviors that impede successful teaching and learning, and developing a corrective plan that emphasizes more appropriate and acceptable behavior.</p><p>Functional Behavioral Assessment is a team problem-solving process. Accordingly, the VDOE is inviting school-based teams, (3-5 people), typically comprised of general educators, special educators, specialists and other support personnel, as well as a parent representative, to be trained together in the FBA/BIP process. The VDOE, in collaboration with the Training and Technical Assistance Centers (T/TACs) of Virginia, will provide comprehensive training in all phases of the FBA/BIP process and will be available to give technical support and assistance to participating teams.</p><p>This three-part training is designed for those who have attended a previous FBA training series as well as those who are not familiar with the FBA process. Those who register must attend all three days; the three days are interdependent. This three-part training series will not be repeated during the 2011-2012 school year. The FBA/BIP team trainings have been arranged as follows:</p><p> Regions 1 & 8: Monday, November 8, 2010; Friday, December 10, 2010; and Monday, January 31, 2011 Registration Deadline: October 27, 2010 Holiday Inn Koger Conference Center 1021 Koger Center Blvd. Richmond, VA 23235 </p><p> Regions 2 & 3: Wednesday, November 10, 2010; Wednesday, December 8, 2010; and Friday, January 21, 2011 Registration Deadline: October 27, 2010 Omni Newport News Hotel 1000 Omni Blvd. Newport News, VA 23606 </p><p> Region 4: Monday, November 15, 2010; Friday, December 17, 2010; and Friday, January 7, 2011 Registration Deadline: November 5, 2010 Four Points by Sheraton 10800 Vandor Lane Manassas, VA 20109  Region 5: Friday, November 5, 2010; Tuesday, December 14, 2010; and Monday, January 24, 2011 (Snow Date: March 8, 2011) Registration Deadline: October 27, 2010 James River Conference Center 400 Court Street Lynchburg, VA 24504 </p><p> Regions 6 & 7: Thursday, November 4, 2010; Monday, December 13, 2010; and Thursday, January 6, 2011 (Snow Date: March 7, 2011) Registration Deadline: October 27, 2010 Radford University West Campus 6226 University Park Drive Radford, VA 24141 </p><p>Please register online by clicking the registration deadline hyperlink above or by accessing the Calendar on the Effective Schoolwide Discipline (ESD) Web site at http://www.ttac.odu.edu/esd. Upon registration, you and your team members will receive a confirmation e-mail from the ESD online automated registration program.</p><p>If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Irene Walker-Bolton, educational specialist, Office of Special Education Instructional Services, via e-mail at [email protected] or telephone (804) 225-2066.</p><p>PIW / IWB / dlj </p>