Colorado's Response to the Behaviour Challenge

Abstract

The USA is facing difficulties similar to those of the UK in attempting to deal with the increasing number of students who display disturbing behaviours in schools. Such students are creating complex challenges for those professionals who are working to maintain them within mainstream education settings. To encourage proactive approaches to such behaviour problems, the Federal Government has introduced recent amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Based on these directives, the State of Colorado is currently focusing on meeting the needs of its most challenging students through the introduction of positive behaviour intervention plans and functional assessment of behaviour.