Alternative Assessment: An alternative assessment procedure when district or statewide assessments are inappropriate for a specific child with a disability.

Antecedent: Those events that occur immediately (the "triggers") before a student engages in a targeted behavior. For example, if Angela always slams her book closed and ignores the teacher when asked to translate a paragraph in French class, the antecedent is the teacher's request that Angela translate a paragraph.

Behavior Intervention Plan: BIP: A plan, required by IDEA whenever an IDEA-eligible student has behaviors which impede his or her own learning or that of others. The BIP must identify the targeted behavior, describe the behavior precisely, and detail the procedures and consequences to be used whenever the student engages in the targeted behavior.

BIP: Behavior Intervention Plan: A plan, required by IDEA whenever an IDEA-eligible student has behaviors which impede his or her own learning or that of others. The BIP must identify the targeted behavior, describe the behavior precisely, and detail the procedures and consequences to be used whenever the student engages in the targeted behavior.

Measuring Stick Approach: A simple, effective approach to assessing a child's progress on IEP goals and objectives.

Transition Services: Those services designed to assist a student with a disability to successfully transition from high school to the adult world. Transition services include such things as vocational training, training in how to use public transportation, and assistance from an adult service agency to obtain low-cost housing.