This digest discusses the new requirement under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that Individualized Education Program teams conduct a functional behavioral assessment (FBA) and implement behavior intervention plans that include positive behavioral interventions and supports for students with disabilities. It describes the purpose of a functional assessment and outlines key steps that are common to most FBAs, including: (1) verify the seriousness of the problem; (2) define the problem behavior in concrete terms; (3) collect data on possible causes of problem behavior; (4) analyze the data; and (5) formulate and test a hypothesis. The digest then addresses behavior intervention plans and the need to implement intervention plans that emphasize skills needed by the student to behave in a more appropriate manner and that provide proper motivation. Tips for evaluating the plan are also included. (CR)