• The foundation of Hope Horizon's program is grounded in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), making it an incentive-based program. There are multiple levels of intervention in place to ensure that all students have what they require to be successful within the program. Ultimately, each student at Hope Horizon has a highly differentiated and individualized plan to meet their specific needs. 

    Tier I (Approximately 80% of students)

    All students attending Hope have access to a structured and empirically-based level system. Each day, students are given the opportunity to earn up to 100 points for displaying school expectations (e.g., Be positive, be safe, be responsible, and be respectful). At the end of the day, students go home with a form communicating to families the number of points that were earned. This point value then determines what level the student is on (Level I being the highest with the most privileges, whereas, Level IV has the least amount of privileges).

    In addition to our school-wide behavior plan, most students at Hope have a positive behavior intervention plan (PBIP) which targets one to three specific behaviors which are impeding the learning of the student or other students. See the "Positive Behavior Intervention Plan" tab under Parents for more information. 

    Tier II (Approximately 15% of students)

    If a student demonstrates a repeated pattern of behavior, our schools' Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) team will convene to discuss possible additions or changes to the PBIP, add additional interventions (e.g., check-in and check-out buddy, change of environment, additional incentives), or develop a safety plan. Throughout these processes, we rely on parents to collaborate with us in addressing ongoing concerns. In addition, we begin to look at the child holistically, collaborating with outside service providers and families. 

    Tier III (Approximately 5% of students)

    Lastly, if a student is habitually displaying dangerous or disruptive behaviors, our team may hold a review of suspensions meeting or develop a crisis plan on an as-needed basis. In addition, this may include steps such as requesting further evaluations or thickening the schedule of reinforcement.  When these steps are necessary, families are invited to participate and contribute to the conversation to ensure everyone's safety and success. 

    In addition to these processes, all staff at Hope Horizon are trained in SafetyCare. The premise of this training is to provide staff with the tools to prevent and de-escalate situations to prevent students from going into a behavioral or mental health crisis. Our staff does everything within their ability to address situations in the least-restrictive way possible.