Teacher Tools Related to Functional Behavior Assessment
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Functional Assessment Checklist
The functional assessment process should begin with person-centered planning (PCP) which is used by a group of people interested in helping a student build a lifestyle based upon his or her preferences, needs, and choices. -
Functional Assessment Team Meetings
Teams should involve the student, individuals who will be implementing the PBS plan, family members, people who know the student well, and a person who has experience using functional assessments and is familiar with the principles of behavior. Effective teams have critical features including a vision statement, ground rules for meetings, specific roles, agendas and minutes, data based decision-making, and evidence of dialogue and collaboration. -
Record Reviews
Record reviews provide important information about a student's medical background, past experiences, and behavioral and academic history. -
Functional Assessment Checklist for Teachers and Staff (FACTS)
FACTS is a two-page interview used by school personnel who are developing behavior support plans, and it is intended to be an efficient strategy for initial functional behavioral assessment (FBA). -
Scatter Plot
A scatter plot is an interval recording method that can help show patterns related to a problem behavior and specific time periods. -
Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence (ABC) Chart
An ABC Chart is a direct observation tool that can be used to collect information about the events that are occurring within a student's environment. "A" is the antecedent, event, or activity that immediately precedes a problem behavior, "B" refers to the observed behavior, and "C" is the consequence, or the event that immediately follows a response. -
Functional Assessment Direct Observation Tool
This tool combines elements of the scatter plot and ABC Chart. It enables one to record behavior(s), setting events, antecedents, and consequences observed during a session and keep track of possible functions as well as actual consequences. -
Measuring Behavior
The ability to define and measure behavior helps identify the function maintaining a problem behavior and evaluate the success of a positive behavior support (PBS) plan.
Developed by:
Rachel Freeman, PhD, University of Kansas