Program Description
Since 1930, Lena Pope Home, Inc. has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Fort Worth Independent School District. In the early 1980’s Lena Pope Home, Inc. began providing alternative education services through Day Treatment Classes. As the program continues to evolve, the classes are now referred to as Behavior Improvement Classes.
The Behavior Improvement Classes (BIC) are designed to provide secondary, special education students a non-traditional, instructional environment with an opportunity to learn the skills necessary to demonstrate appropriate classroom behaviors, related social skills and behavior that is conducive to furthering their education in the least restrictive setting possible. The goal is to decrease the gap in the student’s educational functioning by providing the student and his or her family with the support and ancillary services needed to improve.
The classrooms, located in FWISD ISD, are funded by Special Education.
The program consists of two teachers, two teaching assistants, and a LPH Behavior Interventionist to allow for adequate support and supervision in the educational setting.
The Behavior Interventionist provides at least 80% of their time in direct support services to the classroom, teacher, student or parent. These BIC classrooms provide the opportunity to earn outside classes after achieving consistent appropriate behaviors. The Behavior Interventionist has a great responsibility for the implementation of the behavior management system. Family interventions are frequent and the Behavior Interventionist is responsible for conducting one-hour group and social skills activities that are focused on the student mix at the time.
How is a student referred to BIC?
Should a student be displaying persistent and chronic behavior problems, the FWISD teacher may request assistance from the LSSP (School Psychologist), Diagnostician or Area Director to develop intervention strategies. If the student crisis continues with no intervention success, the referring campus completes a Request for Specialized Evaluation. After observations are completed and recommendations are made, it may be determined that a student is eligible for Special Education services. If so, it is the recommendation of the ARD committee with the assistance of the LSSP, school administrator and parent, to determine if the BIC classroom is appropriate.