This is a clarification of when to complete the Student Incident Report. The following parameters are to be used in determining when a report needs to be completed for Challenging Behaviors.
Challenging behaviors are defined in the following context:
Does the behavior represent a risk to health or safety to self or others?
Is the behavior likely to continue to become more serious over time?
Does the behavior interfere with community/school participation?
Does the behavior result in damage to property?
Does the behavior interfere with learning, socializing or work?
A student Incident Report for documenting challenging behaviors should be completed when:
That student, other students or staff have been injured during the behavioral incident. (District forms for injury should also be completed)
There is no behavior support plan and the challenging/unsafe behavior has been exhibited. A description of the incident should be completed as a prelude to a Functional Behavioral Assessment and development of a Positive Behavior Support Plan which may be developed by the school counselor, classroom teacher and/or special education service provider.
There is a Behavior Support Plan and the incident is moderate to severe in intensity of length, documentation and reporting to administrators should be completed as part of debriefing process for the staff. This can be done with the Student Incident Report, sending copies to appropriated personnel.
A Restraint was used which is not part of any behavioral support plan. Explanation about why the restraint was needed as an emergency measure is extremely important to document.
When an approved restraint is part of the behavior support plan but the restraint was applied for an extended time period to protect the health and safety of the individual or others. 10 minutes or more in a restraint, or needing to go back into the restraint after the student was released, should be considered an extended time period. The building principal should be notified immediately when an extended restraint is used, and sign off for permission to continue the restraint for each attitional ten minutes of restraint.
In all cases were a student has a Positive Behavioral Support Plan, on-going data must be recorded and available for review. For mild incidents that are part of an existing plan, the behavioral data summary may be used in place of an incident report if the behavior is not above baseline levels. This behavior data summary must be supplied on request from Administrators.
When in Doubt, complete the Incident Report.