Behavior intervention plan (BIP)

A behavior intervention plan (BIP) is a written plan for behavior that gets in the way of learning. That can be your child's learning or other children's. The plan names the behavior and lists the positive supports the team will use. It often builds on a functional behavior assessment, the step that finds what the behavior gets your child.

Federal special education rules don't define the term. Schools use it for part of a child's school program, and behavior analysts often just call it a behavior plan. Your child may also have an Individualized Education Program at school. If so, that team must consider positive supports when behavior blocks learning. A school BIP and a clinic plan are two separate plans.

Say your child pushes classmates when playtime ends. A BIP might name the pushing, note what comes before it and teach your child to ask for one more minute. It also tells adults how to respond and how they'll track progress. Behavior analysts must explain the plan in writing before it starts and say how often it's reviewed. Their ethics code also says restrictive steps can come only after milder ones haven't worked.

• The replacement skill: Ask your Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) what skill will replace the behavior and how your child will learn it.
• How progress is reviewed: Ask what data the team will collect and how often they'll review the plan.
• Home and school together: Ask how home, clinic and school can respond to the behavior in the same way.