This publication is designed to help educators understand the purpose and meaning of the functional behavioral assessment process and how to identify and assess the behavior of students with disabilities. It shows how to develop and write effective behavior intervention plans using data collected during the functional assessment and presents many useful forms that can be used to complete the process. Chapter 1 discusses federal requirements for functional assessments and the need for educators to understand functional assessment. Chapter 2 explains a team approach to functional assessment, when to conduct a functional assessment, and who should conduct the assessment. The following chapter describes a 10-step procedure for conducting functional assessments in schools: identify the student's behavior, describe the problem behavior, collect behavioral baseline data and academic information, describe the environment and setting demands, complete the Functional Assessment Interview Form, develop a hypothesis, write a behavioral intervention plan, implement the behavioral intervention plan, collect behavioral data, and conduct a follow-up team meeting. The final chapter discusses writing a behavior intervention plan, selecting appropriate interventions, and implementing the plan. Appendices include a target behavioral assessment form, data collection forms, a student interview form, and other assessment forms. (Contains 30 references.) (CR)