Therapeutic Programs for Students with Behavior Disorders in Public Schools

Abstract

The Department of Justice has a responsibility to ensure that all programs serving students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) abide by laws, as do state governments. This study took a close look at a Department of Justice’s investigation of the appropriateness of a behavior intervention program (that is, the Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Support; GNETS) and how the state government responded to inquiries. This study further explored how students with behavior disorders learned in a GNETS Program and what their progress was within an assessment and across assessments. Due to the fact that government-funded therapeutic services typically are more cost-efficient than private therapeutic services and may prevent students from being placed in residential or more restrictive placements, this study will help improve not just the services of GNETS programs but also the services of related programs for students with EBD in public school settings.