Applied Behavior Analysis

BCBAs and ABA Coordinators
These professionals design your student’s ABA therapy plan, train staff, collect and review data, and participate in IEP meetings. They may also help develop behavior intervention plans if needed.

Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) & Paraprofessionals
RBTs and paraprofessionals work directly with your student daily, using strategies developed by the BCBA. They collect data, teach skills, and support your student in one-on-one and group settings.

Teachers and Support Staff
Teachers and staff play a vital role even when a student isn’t in an ABA therapy session. They help your student apply what they’ve learned in other parts of the school day, supporting their attainment and mastery of skills. We call this generalization, and it’s a key part of ABA’s success. All school staff implement the behavior intervention plan if one is needed to support positive behaviors in school.
 

The school team will request an evaluation before ABA therapy is added to a student’s IEP. This decision is made as part of the IEP process, usually when concerns about learning, communication, or behavior suggest that ABA strategies might help a student make meaningful progress.

If an evaluation is agreed upon, a school-based Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) will:

• Review the student’s current strengths and needs
• Conduct assessments such as:
  • Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA) – to understand the purpose of certain behaviors
  • Skill-based assessments, like the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP), especially for younger students
  • Functional Analyses, if more detailed behavior data is needed

After the evaluation:

• The BCBA will review the results with the IEP team during a reevaluation meeting.
• If ABA Therapy is recommended, another IEP meeting will be scheduled to discuss services and write a plan.
• The BCBA then creates individualized programming based on the student’s IEP goals.

This evaluation process helps ensure that ABA services are tailored to your student’s needs and align with their educational plan.

Unlike many clinical or in-home settings, ABA therapy in school is delivered by a team that includes Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), trained paraprofessionals, teachers, and related service staff working together. The focus of ABA services in school is to help students participate in and benefit from instruction. Every part of the support is directly tied to the IEP and aligned with school learning expectations.

We welcome collaboration if your student already receives ABA therapy outside of school. Please ask your school-based BCBA to sign a release form so we can work together to support consistent strategies and outcomes.

Each section of the IEP has a purpose, and certain ABA supports are recorded in specific places based on what they are and who provides them.

1. ABA Therapy

Where it appears: IEP Section: Related Services
What it is: Direct, structured teaching sessions using the principles of behavior analysis. These are typically delivered by an RBT or a trained paraprofessional, supervised by a BCBA.
Why it matters: This is where your student receives focused instruction using behavior strategies that are targeted to IEP goals.

2. ABA Consultation

Where it appears: IEP Section: Supports for School Personnel under Alternate Form (It may also appear in the Additional Information Page)
What it is: A BCBA consults with teachers and staff to support therapy. This may include classroom observation, assistance with data collection, analysis, and plan changes.
Why it matters: Even when not working directly with your student, the BCBA helps ensure the team uses the best strategies to support progress.

3. Support Using Applied Behavior Principles (ABP)

Where it appears: IEP Section: Supplementary Aids and Services
What it is: Trained paraprofessionals use ABA strategies throughout the school day to help your student stay engaged, complete tasks, or follow routines.
Why it matters: ABP helps your student apply learned skills in real-life school situations, not just during therapy.

4. Training in Applied Behavior Principles

Where it appears: IEP Section: Supports for School Personnel (on an Alternate Form)
What it is: Ongoing coaching for staff (teachers, paraprofessionals, etc.) ensures they understand and can use ABA-based strategies with your student.
Why it matters: Well-trained staff provide more consistent and effective support throughout the day.

ABA is a science that is guided by data. That means we track progress by measuring how often a skill is used, how long a behavior lasts, or how quickly a student learns something new. This helps the IEP team make decisions grounded in informative and proven measurement.

We look at data to:

• Know when a student is making progress (Progress data is included in IEP updates and may also be shown as simple graphs during meetings to help tell your student’s story.)
• Adjust teaching strategies that aren’t working
• Celebrate and build on new successes
   

Yes, there are a lot of terms frequently used by ABA therapy providers. The glossary included in the Understanding Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) at School will help.

Yes! This list is a great place to start if you are interested in learning more about supporting ABA therapy practices at home. Books with (IRC) listed are available for checkout in our Instructional Resource Center.

• Activity Schedules for Children with Autism: Teaching Independent Behavior - Lynn E. McClannahan
• Flexible and Focused: Teaching Executive Functions Skills to Individuals with Autism and Attention Disorders – Adel C. Najdowski (IRC)
• Crafting Connections: Contemporary Applied Behavior Analysis for Enriching the Social Lives of Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder -  Mitch Taubman
• Just Take a Bite: Easy, Effective Answers to Food Aversions and Eating Challenges – Lori Ernsperger
• Sleep Better: A Guide to Improving Sleep for Children with Special Needs – Mark Durand
• Smart but Scattered – Peg Dawson (IRC)
• Social Skills Solutions: A Hands-on Manual - Kelly McKinnon (IRC)
• Solving Sleep Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Guide for Frazzled Families – Terry Katz
• The Power of Positive Parenting – Glenn Latham
• The Autistic Brain – Temple Grandin
• Toilet Training Success: A Guide for Teaching Individuals with Developmental Disabilities - Frank Cicero
• Understanding Applied Behavior Analysis: An Introduction to ABA for Parents, Teachers, and Other Professionals - Albert J. Kearney
• You’re Gonna Love this Kid - Paula Klut

Evidence-Based Practice Training 

• Autism Internet Modules
• Autism Focused Intervention Resources and Modules
• Thompson Center

Community Supports

• Family and Community Engagement (FACE) - (314) 989-8460 
• IDD Gateway Resource Guide
• Recreation Council 
• Regional Center