What is a functional behavioral assessment (FBA)?
Learn how schools use functional behavioral assessments to figure out what’s causing a student's challenging behavior so the team can develop a behavior intervention plan.
Expert reviewed by Amanda Morin
Behavior can be a reason kids struggle at school. Kids may disrupt class, become withdrawn, or even cut class. Whether kids know it or not, they act in certain ways for a reason. If schools and families know what’s causing a behavior, they can find ways to change it. A functional behavior assessment (FBA) can help.
Overview
A functional behavioral assessment (FBA) is a process schools use to figure out what’s behind challenging behaviors, and come up with possible solutions. It's like an evaluation but focused on behavior.
The FBA is done by a school team led by a person trained in understanding behavior, like a school psychologist or a behavior specialist. The team may also include teachers, school staff, service providers, the student, and their family.
When an FBA is complete, the school should have a good idea of what’s causing the behavior and how to help.
When do schools use FBAs?
Not all students get this kind of behavior assessment, even if they have a behavior challenge. There are three situations where schools typically use this process:
As part of a special education evaluation: The evaluation team will look at all aspects of a student’s learning. This may include an FBA if the team thinks behavior is getting in the way of the student’s learning or their classmates’ learning. Learn more about evaluations for special education.
If new behavior concerns arise: If a child already has an or a , the school may do an FBA if new behavior concerns come up. By law, schools have to do an FBA whenever not doing one would deny kids a free appropriate public education.
In certain school discipline situations: If a student is disciplined for behavior that is caused by or had a direct relationship to their disability, then an FBA is required. It’s also required when law enforcement, weapons, drugs, or serious injury are involved. Learn more about school discipline rights for kids with IEPs and 504 plans.
What about kids who don’t have an IEP or a 504 plan? Or those who aren’t in a school discipline situation? An FBA isn’t commonly used for these kids. The law doesn’t require it, either. But schools often have other systems, like PBIS, to help students with behavior.
Four steps in the FBA process
Here are the steps the school team takes to complete an FBA.
1. Define the challenging behavior.
An FBA starts by defining the student’s behavior in a specific and objective way. For example, instead of saying the student is “defiant,” the team might say the student “rips up worksheets and doesn’t respond when asked to show work in math class.”
2. Gather and analyze information.
Next, the team pulls together information and data about the behavior. It may look at school records, interview staff who know and work with the student, and screen or test the student. The goal is to answer questions like:
When and where is this behavior happening?
Where is it not happening?
How often is the behavior occurring?
Who is around when it occurs?
What tends to happen right before and right after the behavior?
The student can provide this information, too. Only kids know how they feel in the moment. Asking them to keep track of feelings and emotions helps the team. The team might also note how classmates react.
3. Find out the reason for the behavior.
Using the information collected, the team makes their best guess about what’s causing the behavior. It may be that the student is trying to escape or avoid something, for example.
4. Make a behavior intervention plan.
Finally, led by the school psychologist or a behavior specialist, the team creates the behavior intervention plan (BIP). The plan helps teach and encourage positive behavior by the student. Often, as the team learns more, it will need to adjust the plan.
How parents and educators can help
An FBA may not be a quick solution to behavior challenges. But it can give a complete picture of why a student is struggling.
Parents and caregivers: You can help by observing your child and telling the school what you’re seeing at home. Use the behavior log in Understood's free app to help you keep track of behavior patterns.
Educators: You may be asked to work on an FBA for a student. Find out as much as you can about the process, and communicate with parents and caregivers about what’s happening. Explore our teachers’ guide on understanding behavior as communication.
Listen to a podcast about FBAs and special education
Does your child have an IEP? Listen to an episode of Understood Explains: IEPs that focuses on how schools can help with behavior challenges. Listen as special educator Juliana Urtubey explains FBAs, behavior intervention plans, and IEP behavior goals.