What is a Behavioral Emergency Action Plan (BEAP)?

A BEAP is a written plan that describes how staff should respond when a student is in a behavioral crisis. It specifies the student's known triggers, de-escalation strategies that work for that student, when physical intervention may be used and by whom, and when parents must be notified.

What should I do if my child was restrained at school?

Request an incident report in writing immediately. Ask whether a BEAP or crisis plan exists and request a copy. If your child does not have a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP), request one. If restraint is occurring repeatedly, request an IEP meeting and consider filing a state complaint if you believe proper procedures were not followed.

Can the school conduct a reevaluation without my consent?

No, not for a reevaluation that involves new testing. The school must obtain your written consent before administering any new evaluations. If the school is reviewing existing data only (no new testing), they may not need consent for that review, but should notify you.

The school says they can just review existing records instead of new testing. Is that allowed?

Yes, but only if the team determines existing data is sufficient to establish continued eligibility and current needs. If you believe new testing is needed because the data is outdated or incomplete, you can advocate for it. You can also request an IEE if you disagree with assessment decisions.

Can I waive the reevaluation?

Yes, the school may ask you to sign a document agreeing a reevaluation is not necessary. You are not required to agree. If you have any questions about whether current data is still accurate, declining to waive and requesting a full reevaluation is the safer choice.

What if the reevaluation results say my child is no longer eligible?

Don't sign anything you disagree with at the meeting. Ask for more time to review. You can request an IEE, file a state complaint, or request a due process hearing. Losing eligibility means losing services, this decision deserves careful scrutiny, especially if your child is still struggling.

Special Education Resources

Behavioral Emergency Action Plan (BEAP): What Parents Need to Know

Q: Is a BEAP required by law?

Federal law does not mandate a BEAP by that specific name, but IDEA requires that IEP teams consider positive behavioral interventions and address behaviors that impede learning. Many states have laws specifically governing restraint and seclusion that require written plans for students at risk. The requirements vary by state.

If your child has a history of behavioral crises at school, there should be a written plan for what happens in those moments. A Behavioral Emergency Action Plan, or BEAP, is that plan. Many families have never heard of it. Schools do not always offer it proactively. Here is what you need to know.

Meghan Moore, BCBA, M.A. Special Education

What Is a Behavioral Emergency Action Plan?

A Behavioral Emergency Action Plan is a written document that describes exactly what school staff should do when a student experiences a behavioral crisis. It is distinct from a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP), which focuses on preventing problem behavior and teaching replacement skills. A BEAP is specifically for those moments when prevention has not worked and a student is in acute crisis, whether that looks like physical aggression, self-injurious behavior, elopement, or complete behavioral shutdown.

A well-written BEAP answers several key questions: What does this student's crisis look like? What are their known triggers? What de-escalation strategies have worked before? Who is trained to respond and how? When, if ever, is physical intervention permitted? Who contacts the parent, and when?

Is a BEAP Required by Law?

Federal law does not require a document with the specific title "Behavioral Emergency Action Plan." However, IDEA requires IEP teams to consider positive behavioral interventions and supports when a student's behavior impedes their learning or the learning of others. Many state laws go further, particularly around restraint and seclusion, requiring written protocols for students who have a history of being restrained or secluded at school.

The specifics vary significantly by state. Some states require written crisis plans for any student at risk of behavioral emergency. Others require notification to parents after any use of restraint, documentation of incidents, and annual review of crisis procedures. Check your state's restraint and seclusion laws, because parental rights in this area depend heavily on where you live.

What Should Be in a BEAP?

A complete behavioral emergency plan should include all of the following:

Student description: How does this student's crisis behavior present? What does it look like at escalation stages, not just the peak?
Triggers: What environmental, sensory, or situational factors commonly precede crisis behavior for this student?
Early warning signs: What does the student look like when beginning to escalate, before the crisis peaks?
De-escalation strategies: Specific techniques that have worked for this student, in this order
What NOT to do: Strategies or responses that are known to escalate this student
Physical intervention protocol: If the district uses physical intervention, who is trained, under what circumstances it may be used, and what specific techniques are approved
Seclusion protocol: If seclusion is used, what room, what conditions, and what monitoring is required
Parent notification: When and how parents will be notified of any emergency intervention
Documentation requirements: What will be documented after any emergency incident

The Difference Between a BEAP and a BIP

Families often confuse these two documents, and they serve different purposes.

A Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) is proactive. It is built from a Functional Behavior Assessment, identifies why the behavior occurs, and focuses on preventing the behavior and teaching the student an alternative. A BIP is a teaching plan.

A BEAP is reactive. It describes what staff will do when crisis behavior is already happening. It is a safety and response plan.

A student with significant challenging behavior ideally has both: a BIP addressing the underlying function and teaching replacement skills, and a BEAP specifying exactly how adults will respond when a crisis occurs. One does not replace the other.

Restraint and Seclusion: What Parents Need to Know

The use of physical restraint and seclusion in schools is one of the most concerning issues in special education. Federal data shows that students with disabilities are vastly overrepresented in restraint and seclusion incidents, and the harm these interventions can cause, physical, psychological, and educational, is well documented.

A few things every parent of a child with behavioral needs should know:

Restraint and seclusion should never be used as punishment, as a first response to noncompliance, or as a way to manage minor behaviors
Schools are required to notify parents when restraint or seclusion occurs. The timing and method of notification vary by state
If your child has been restrained or secluded more than once, you should request an IEP meeting and ask the team what data they are collecting and what changes they are making to prevent future incidents
If a BEAP does not exist and your child has had multiple incidents, request one in writing
If a BEAP exists but restraint is still occurring frequently, the plan may not be working and needs to be reviewed

How to Request a BEAP

If your child has behavioral needs that have led to crises at school, or if you are concerned about what happens when a crisis occurs, you have every right to request a BEAP.

Submit a written request to the special education director or IEP case manager asking that a Behavioral Emergency Action Plan be developed for your child
If your child does not have a BIP, request a Functional Behavior Assessment first, since a BEAP should be built on understanding why the behavior occurs
Ask to be involved in the development of the plan. You know your child's triggers, what de-escalates them, and what makes things worse
Ask for a copy of the completed plan and request that it be reviewed at the next IEP meeting
If your child has a history of restraint or seclusion incidents, request all incident documentation for the current school year

Frequently Asked Questions About BEAPs

My child was restrained at school and no one called me. Is that legal?

Most states require parent notification after restraint incidents, though the timeline varies. Some states require immediate notification; others allow notification by end of business day or in writing within a set number of days. If your school did not notify you and your state requires it, that may be a legal violation. Contact your state's Department of Education or disability rights organization to understand your state's specific requirements.

The school says they do not use restraint or seclusion. Do I still need a BEAP?

A crisis plan is valuable even when physical intervention is off the table. Knowing what staff will do when your child is in crisis, including who responds, what strategies they use, and when you will be notified, protects your child regardless of whether restraint is involved. A BEAP is about having a consistent, thoughtful response plan, not just about physical intervention.

Can I request that restraint never be used with my child?

You can request that the IEP team document in the plan that restraint is not to be used except in situations of imminent physical danger where no alternative is available. Many families successfully advocate for restraint-free plans. Some states permit parent input into restraint protocols. Work with an advocate or attorney if this is a significant concern, as the legal landscape varies by state.

What if I disagree with the BEAP the school has written?

A BEAP is part of your child's educational programming and should be developed with parent input. If you disagree with the plan, put your objections in writing, request an IEP meeting to discuss revisions, and document everything. If the school is using strategies you believe are harmful or inappropriate, a state complaint or consultation with a special education attorney may be appropriate.

My BCBA Background and Why It Matters Here

Crisis response plans are only as good as the behavioral understanding behind them. A BEAP written without proper functional assessment, without knowledge of the student's sensory triggers, without input from people who actually know the child, can fail at exactly the moment it is needed most. In some cases, a poorly designed crisis plan can escalate a situation rather than de-escalate it.

My background as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst means I can review your child's BEAP and BIP and evaluate whether the plans are behaviorally sound, not just whether the boxes are checked. If your child has repeated crisis incidents at school, I can help you ask the right questions about what is happening and why.

Book a free consultation to talk through your situation.