What is a behavior intervention plan?

Say a middle-schooler is cracking jokes in history class every day. When the teacher asks the student to stop, the student responds with insults. The student is sent to the principal’s office almost every day. As a result, the student and the rest of the class are having trouble learning history.

There are lots of reasons kids might disrupt class like this. They might be restless. They may not understand what’s being taught. They might want attention from the teacher or from other students.

Sometimes, kids don’t know why they do what they do. The school team has to do some detective work to figure out why the student is acting out. This process is called a functional behavioral assessment. 

Once the team understands the reason (or reasons), it puts together the plan to prevent it from happening. For example, if the problem is restlessness, the student could take breaks when feeling antsy. The plan may even include teaching the student strategies for staying focused.

Educators refer to these strategies and supports as interventions. This means they’re formal and done for a specific amount of time. The team will also keep an eye on how they’re working. 

Learn more about positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) for behavior problems.

Not every student gets a behavior plan. They’re meant for kids who have a lot of trouble behaving appropriately, and only when it gets in the way of their learning.

Some kids already have 504 plans or IEPs to help them thrive in school. For these kids, the 504 or IEP team will decide whether to add a BIP. If added, the plan becomes part of their education program. 

But kids don’t have to have a 504 plan or IEP to get a behavior plan. If kids act out in school and it’s hurting their learning, they might get a BIP. It’s up to the school to decide how to help.

Sometimes, the law requires schools to consider giving a student a behavior plan — for example, if a student with an IEP or 504 plan is suspended from school for several days. 

Learn more about school discipline and the rights of students with 504 plans or IEPs. 

Behavior plans don’t always work. Here are two reasons why. 

Mismatches between the behavior and the strategies. Sometimes, the school assumes a student is acting out for one reason, but it’s not the real reason. For example, if a student is cracking jokes in class to hide a reading difficulty, then letting the student take breaks might not help.

Outdated plans. Another pitfall is that a school and a family set up a plan but don’t come back to review it. If the behavior plan doesn’t change with the student, it can get outdated quickly — especially if there are rewards or incentives in the plan. What worked at first might need to be changed.

The best way to see if a plan is the right move is for teachers and families to talk about the student’s behavior. 

Parents and caregivers: Use these conversation starters to talk with your child’s teacher.  

Educators: Get tips on how to reach out to families about challenging behaviors.