Kentucky's annual positive behavior training for public school personnel (704 KAR 7:160, Section 6): what the rule asks, and where outside training fits
The short answer
Kentucky's public school restraint and seclusion regulation, 704 KAR 7:160, requires all public school personnel to receive annual training in using an array of positive behavioral supports and interventions. "School personnel" includes teachers, principals, administrators, counselors, paraprofessionals, nurses and other support staff, including contractors who work in the school. The rule does not name autism, sets no number of hours, and allows the training to be delivered online.
What the law says
704 KAR 7:160, Section 6(1)(b) and (c):
"All school personnel shall be trained annually to use an array of positive behavioral supports and interventions to: 1. Increase appropriate student behaviors; 2. Decrease inappropriate or dangerous student behaviors; and 3. Respond to dangerous behavior."
"This training may be delivered utilizing web-based applications."
Section 6(1)(d) lists what the training must include: procedures for preventing the need for physical restraint and seclusion, including positive behavioral supports and interventions; the state regulations and district policies on restraint and seclusion; proper use of positive reinforcement; the continuum of use for alternative behavioral interventions; crisis prevention; de-escalation strategies; and proper use of seclusion. Section 6(1)(a) separately requires all school personnel to be trained in the state regulations and district policies on physical restraint and seclusion.
Who it covers, from Section 1(13):
"'School personnel' means teachers, principals, administrators, counselors, social workers, psychologists, paraprofessionals, nurses, librarians, school resource officers, sworn law enforcement officers, and other support staff who are employed in a school or who perform services in the school on a contractual basis."
The regulation's history line shows it took effect February 1, 2013. Section 6(3) requires additional yearly training for a designated core team of school personnel who respond to dangerous behavior and implement physical restraint, except school resource officers and other sworn law enforcement officers. That is a separate duty.
Source: 704 KAR 7:160, Kentucky General Assembly.
What the state provides
The Kentucky Department of Education's PBIS page offers PBIS assessment video modules made with the University of Louisville, and says: "District policy for monitoring completion of professional development, including yearly PBIS training, will dictate how personnel will be credited for training with the new modules." The department's restraint and seclusion page also has a seven-module video series (January 2026) on the regulation's requirements. No price is shown on either page. See KDE: Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports and KDE: Physical Restraint and Seclusion in Public Schools.
Other required training for Kentucky school staff
KRS 156.095(2) requires all certified school district employees and public charter school employees to complete at least one hour each of active shooter response training, child abuse and neglect training, suicide prevention training, and self-study review of seizure disorder materials within 12 months of initial hire and at least once every four years thereafter. These are separate from the annual positive behavioral supports training required by 704 KAR 7:160. Under KRS 161.044(5), "Local districts shall provide training of the instructional teacher's aide with the certified employee to whom he is assigned." Source: KRS 156.095, KRS 161.044.
Where outside training fits
The regulation does not name a provider and allows web-based delivery. The regulation does not specify how districts should evaluate outside courses; the department's statement that district policy decides how training is credited concerns its own PBIS assessment video modules. Ask your district how it delivers and credits the annual training before buying outside training for this purpose. We offer our course as introductory ABA training. We do not claim that it satisfies 704 KAR 7:160 or counts toward the annual training. The rule's required content includes restraint and seclusion rules, crisis prevention and de-escalation. Our course does not teach restraint, seclusion, crisis intervention or de-escalation.
What our Intro to ABA Level 1 course covers
The Intro to ABA Level 1 course teaches methods and techniques of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for parents and caregivers, teachers, paraprofessionals and behavior technicians who work with a child every day. Topics include what autism is, what ABA is, pairing, errorless teaching and prompting, and active student responding. Complete the course and pass its 40-question final exam with a score of at least 80%. Completing this course earns a Special Learning certificate of completion. That certificate is not a continuing education (CE) certificate. It is basic training in ABA methods for daily practice, not a professional credential. We do not claim Kentucky state approval or continuing education credit for this course.
A paraprofessional who took it wrote: "I want to learn everything I can to help my student succeed in the public school system. I found Special Learning's ABA level 1 course so fascinating and inspiring."
Two ways to start
- For one person: try the first two sessions free for 7 days; account creation is required, with no payment information requested. The full course costs $199, paid once, with no subscription or recurring charge. Activate your license code within 90 days of purchase; the published completion window is 10 weeks after activation. You may request a later start date, no later than three months after purchase. Start the free sessions
- For your district's staff: tell us how many people need training and when, and we will send a quote; each participant who completes the course and passes its 40-question final exam with a score of at least 80% earns an individual certificate of completion. Ask for a school quote
Last reviewed: October 29, 2026.