Violent Disabled Students

A common problem in school systems across the United States.

I have been assured in the past that every school in HCPS has a trained behavioral specialist that is capable of providing behavioral supports, including the completion of a functional behavioral assessment and the development of a positive behavioral support plan.

Some may be interested in how the court views violent behavior of disabled students within the school system. This should be a must read: HONIG, California Superintendent of Public Instruction v. DOE, et al.

I am of the understanding that IEP's are written to meet the individual needs of the student. These IEP's of course would include any and all supports and related services needed for the individual student to receive a free and appropriate public education. Behavioral supports assuredly would be included.

I somehow am led to believe that if the behavior of a student is a manifestation of their disability, and this behavior of the student impedes his/or her access to their education or if the behavior of the student impedes his or her peer's access to their curriculum, then the IEP team must positively address these behaviors in a manner that is reasonably designed to produce positive outcomes.

A powerhouse education system such as Hillsborough County surely must be on the leading edge in providing adequate behavioral supports to teachers and classrooms to ensure that each IEP not only is written to demonstrate compliance, but that the implementation actually occurs.

Every once in a while, one might hear a concern or two that the behavior of a student is not improving, or may even be getting worse. However, I would wager that if one were to ask if the current IEP is written to meet the needs of the student, the resounding answer would be "Yes". Where those concerns come from remain a mystery.

I wonder how many people have been to a "manifestation hearing". This process is triggered when a behavioral incident results in the removal of a disabled student for more than 10 days - give or take a week or so depending on who knows the rules. I wonder how many times at these "manisfestation hearings" the IEP is reviewed, the determination is made that the IEP was adequate to meet the needs of the child, and then, after this is prominently noted for the record, an IEP team meeting is scheduled to "review and revise" the IEP to address the recent behavioral issue.

Just wandering - I mean wondering.