Nebraska's behavioral awareness training for school staff (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-3602): what the law asks, and where outside training fits
The short answer
Beginning in school year 2026-27, each Nebraska school district must ensure that every administrator, teacher, paraprofessional, school nurse and counselor receives behavioral awareness training, followed by a review at least once every three years. The training must include evidence-based training on recognizing detrimental factors affecting student behavior, including signs of trauma; positive behavior support and proactive teaching strategies, including expectations and boundaries; and verbal intervention and de-escalation techniques. Each school board determines a reasonable length for the training. Section 79-3602 requires staff training and does not name autism.
What the law says
Nebraska Revised Statutes § 79-3602(1)(b), part of the Behavioral Intervention Training and Teacher Support Act:
"Beginning in school year 2026-27, each school district shall ensure that each administrator, teacher, paraprofessional, school nurse, and counselor receives behavioral awareness training. The length of such training shall be a reasonable amount as determined by each school board. Each administrator, teacher, paraprofessional, school nurse, and counselor who has received such training shall receive a behavioral awareness training review at least once every three years."
The same subsection lets a district offer the training to any other school employees, and says "all school employees shall have a basic awareness of the goals, strategies, and schoolwide plans included in such training."
Subsection (1)(c) sets the content:
"Behavioral awareness training shall include, but not be limited to, evidence-based training on a continuum that includes: (i) Recognition of detrimental factors impacting student behavior, including, but not limited to, signs of trauma; (ii) Positive behavior support and proactive teaching strategies, including, but not limited to, expectations and boundaries; and (iii) Verbal intervention and de-escalation techniques."
Under subsection (2)(a), each district submits a behavioral awareness training report to the Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council (ESUCC) on or before July 1 each year. The report includes the district's training plan and how it meets the section.
A second section, § 79-262.01(3)(a), adds a separate duty from school year 2026-27: each district must ensure that "any school employee who has behavioral management responsibilities participates in behavioral awareness and intervention training consistent with the school district policy." That section says: "Such training shall be provided by the school district or such school district's educational service unit."
Nebraska also requires yearly training on behavioral and mental health under § 79-2,146(1): "all public school employees who interact with students and any other appropriate personnel, as determined by the school superintendent, shall receive behavioral and mental health training with a focus on suicide awareness and prevention training each year."
Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-3602, § 79-262.01, § 79-2,146.
The training districts already have
The ESUCC, the council named in § 79-3602, offers two trainings, BITS 101 and BITS 102. Its page says: "Both BITS 101 and BITS 102 meet the requirements set forth by the Nebraska Legislature," that each "typically take about one hour to complete," and that "BITS training is provided at no cost to Nebraska school districts through the ESU network." Districts schedule it through their local ESU. Start there: Behavior Intervention Training (BITS) on the ESUCC site.
Where outside training fits
Section 79-3602 does not name a provider. The ESUCC says districts may use other programs, but "the responsibility rests with the district to determine that its selected training fulfills all applicable statutory requirements." It also says its role is "not to approve, certify, or determine compliance for training programs selected by individual districts." For the separate training under § 79-262.01, the law says it is provided by the district or its educational service unit. Before buying outside training for either purpose, ask your district how it decides whether an outside course meets the law. We offer our course as introductory ABA training. We do not claim that it meets § 79-3602 or § 79-262.01, counts toward either requirement, or replaces the BITS training. Our course does not teach verbal intervention or de-escalation techniques.
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 Nebraska 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.