Your IEP forms probably include this: 

DOES THE STUDENT HAVE BEHAVIORS THAT IMPEDE LEARNING OF THE STUDENT OR OTHERS?

I’m confident that this question is on your forms because federal law requires the ARD Committee to answer that question at every annual ARD Meeting.  If the answer is “yes” then the Committee is expected to address the behavior in some way. 

We talk about this a lot in connection with the Toolbox training that our firm offers—a deep all-day dive into your disciplinary options with students in your special education program.   Here are three points I try to emphasize about this question when doing the Toolbox.

First, the question is not limited to behaviors that are caused by the disability.  The question is broader than that. ANY behavior that impedes learning, either of this student or of others, should be identified.

Second, the ARDC should make it clear that when it identifies a behavior that impedes learning it does not also mean that the ARD is determining that the behavior is a manifestation of disability. That determination will come later, if needed.

Third, there are many students for whom this question should be asked more than once a year.  For example, if a student commits an assault, or some other serious violation of the Code of Conduct, the school will likely take disciplinary action. Fine. But along with that, the ARDC should ask itself the question again: is this a behavior that impedes learning?  It probably is. So what are you going to do about preventing its reoccurrence?

Interested in Toolbox training?   Let us hear from you.

DAWG BONE: IT’S A GOOD QUESTION. TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.

Tomorrow: a Biblical Code of Conduct