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Crisis plan

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A crisis plan is a written plan for keeping a student and others safe if behavior becomes dangerous, including who responds and how.

Topic: Behavior and FBA/BIP

In plain terms

A crisis plan is used only when behavior poses a risk of harm. It names warning signs, the staff who respond, safe steps such as clearing the room, how to contact the family, and how to help the student recover afterward. It should rely on prevention and de-escalation first, and follow state rules and district policy.

How it shows up in an IEP

The crisis plan is often attached to the BIP. After any crisis, the team should review data and the plan to prevent it from happening again, rather than letting crisis responses become routine.

Example

The rule

Rules vary by state. Check your state's regulations and your district's procedures.

Related terms

  • De-escalationDe-escalation is a set of calm, planned adult responses that help a student who is becoming upset return to a regulated state safely.
  • BIP (Behavior Intervention Plan)A BIP is a written plan, based on an FBA, that describes how staff will prevent a behavior, teach a replacement skill and respond when the behavior happens.
  • Restraint and seclusionRestraint means restricting a student's movement, and seclusion means confining a student alone; both are emergency measures with serious risks.
  • FBA (Functional Behavior Assessment)An FBA is a process for figuring out why a behavior happens, by studying when it occurs, what triggers it and what it gets or avoids for the student.

On IEP Atlas

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