Chapter 10: Student Discipline
Addressing Serious Behavior Issues and Concerns

Who is this for? This chapter is for parents whose child may be the subject of disciplinary action by the school or for parents of children with significant behavior issues that may put them at risk for disciplinary action.

Why is this important? The conditions for disciplining special education students need to be thoroughly understood by parents - preferably before their child is the focus of such actions. While IDEA extends certain protections to special education students, schools can subject them to the same disciplinary actions allowed for all students.

What can parents do? Parents should understand the discipline provisions of IDEA as well as their school's discipline policy. If their child is at risk for conduct that requires disciplinary action, parents should make sure that behavior and conduct issues are addressed during the IEP process.

Words and Terms to Know

Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA): A problem-solving process for addressing student problem behavior. FBA relies on a variety of techniques and strategies to identify the reasons for a specific behavior and to help IEP teams select interventions that directly address the problem behavior.

Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP): A plan to address problem behavior that includes, as appropriate, positive behavioral interventions, strategies, and supports; program modifications; and supplementary aids and services that may be required to address the problem behavior.

Interim Alternative Educational Setting (IAES): A setting other than the student's current placement that enables the student to continue to participate in the general curriculum and to progress toward meeting the goals in his or her IEP. The IAES must enable the student to continue to participate in the general education curriculum, although in another setting, and progress toward meeting the goals set out in the IEP. Students in an IAES should also receive, as appropriate, a functional behavioral assessment, behavioral intervention services and modifications that are designed to address the behavior violation so that it does not happen again. The particular IAES is determined by the student’s IEP team.

Get Started: Student Discipline

Note: The IDEA Parent Guide was created to provide a basic understanding of the key requirements of the federal law under IDEA. The information presented here is not legal advice and should not be used as a legal resource.