For an eleventh-grade student with a learning disability and emotional disturbance who has recently shown behavior changes after starting medication, what action should the ARD committee take first?

• A. Simply notifying parents that there is a problem
• B. Scheduling an ARD committee meeting to discuss the student's behavior change
• C. Removing the student from classes
• D. Delaying the ARD until symptoms subside

Answer: (B)

The first step is for the ARD team to convene to review the behavior change and plan next steps. When a student with an IEP shows new or worsening behavior after starting medication, the team should gather data from multiple sources (teachers, parents, and any school-based observations) and bring in the medical context to determine whether the medication may be affecting behavior. This meeting allows the team to decide if adjustments to the IEP or the behavior intervention plan are needed, such as altering supports, refining goals, or coordinating with the student’s physician or psychiatrist about potential side effects. The goal is collaborative, data-driven planning that supports the student’s safety and learning, not punitive actions or delaying action.