While most kids can achieve academic success in a standard school, some children that struggle with severe behavior problems require a more tailored learning environment. If your child has a diagnosed behavioral disability, or spends more time in the principal’s office than in the classroom, a specialized behavioral school may be the right choice for him. By considering the benefits of the behavioral school, you can ensure that your child gets the support he needs to overcome his behavioral challenges and succeed in school.
Degree of Behavior Deviance
No two behavioral schools are the same, but most schools with a behavioral emphasis are intended for children whose behavior severely deviates from the norm, not just the child who occasionally gets into a trouble. In some cases, children must be diagnosed with a behavioral disability to attend such a school. In other cases, the child’s record must reflect significant behavioral challenges. Because there is an increased emphasis on behavior, which takes away slightly from the amount of time spent focusing on academic concerns, you likely don’t want to send your child to a school of this type if his behavior does not demand it.
More Time in Classroom
One benefit of selecting a behavioral school over a standard educational setting for your child is that, in a behavioral school, your child is less likely to be removed from the classroom for minor transgressions. In a traditional school setting, many teachers are forced to resort to asking children to leave the classroom if their behavior is distracting. In behavioral schools, teachers often have support staff to assist them in educating the students, allowing them to keep these troublesome students in the class more often.
Better Behavioral Support
Particularly in higher grades, little emphasis is placed in earning how to behave in a standard school. It is generally assumed that by middle and high school students already know how to stay within the lines of the behavioral code. For students who struggle with behavior, this is a problem. These students often require additional behavioral support and training for success. In a standard school, teachers are unlikely to take time from academic lessons to assist one or two struggling students with behavioral lessons. In a behavioral school setting, the lessons in right and wrong are often built into the curriculum.
Increased Staff Understanding
Teachers and other support staff in schools for children with behavioral problems often receive additional training in behavior problems. This extra training enables staff members to be more understanding than educators in a traditional setting.
Finding Support for Your Child
If you think your child might be better serviced by a school with enhanced behavioral supports, explore your options. Some school districts house a school specifically designed for students who suffer from behavioral challenges, while others rely on charter or private schools. The best way to find a school of this type in your area is to contact your child’s school office and speak to an administrator regarding your concerns. This professional can both explain whether he agrees with your assessment that your child needs a school of this type and provide you with information about behavioral schools in your area.
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