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New York's training rules for school staff on behavior and autism (8 NYCRR § 19.5(d)(7) and the special education autism workshop): what the law asks, and where outside training fits

The short answer

New York requires all staff at the schools covered by its timeout and physical restraint rule (8 NYCRR § 19.5(d)(7)) to receive annual training that includes evidence-based positive, proactive strategies. The rule defines the covered schools, which include public school districts, BOCES, charter schools, approved schools for students with disabilities and certain nonpublic schools. The same yearly training covers the school's timeout and restraint policies, crisis intervention and prevention, and de-escalation, and the school chooses the training program. Separately, for applications submitted after September 1, 2009, people applying for four special education teaching certificates must complete coursework or training in the needs of children with autism from a provider approved by the New York State Education Department (NYSED), unless they completed it through a New York State registered educator preparation program. Under Education Law § 3004(4)(a), certified administrators or supervisors assigned to serve as special education administrators must also receive enhanced training in the needs of autistic children.

What the law says

The regulation, 8 NYCRR § 19.5(d)(7)(i), as published by NYSED:

"All staff shall receive annual training on the school’s policies and procedures related to the use of timeout and physical restraint; evidence-based positive, proactive strategies; crisis intervention and prevention procedures and de-escalation techniques."

In this rule, "school" is defined in § 19.5(b)(9):

"School means a public school district, board of cooperative educational services, charter school, State-operated and State-supported school pursuant to articles 85, 87 and 88 of the Education Law, in-state and out-of-state private residential or non-residential school for the education of students with disabilities approved pursuant to Article 89 of the Education Law or operating under Article 81 of the Education Law, State-administered Prekindergarten (PreK) program directly operated by a school district, board of cooperative educational services, or an eligible agency, as defined in section 151-1.2(b) of this Title, or operated by a school district in collaboration with an eligible agency, preschool special education program approved pursuant to Education Law section 4410, and registered nonpublic nursery school, kindergarten, and high school, and a nonpublic school serving grades 1 through 8 that has a registered high school, in this State."

NYSED's guidance on the rule, which took effect August 2, 2023, states:

"All staff shall receive annual training on the school's policies and procedures related to the use of timeout and physical restraint, evidence-based positive, proactive strategies, crisis intervention, prevention procedures, and de-escalation techniques [8 NYCRR §19.5(d)(7)(i)]. In addition to the training requirements for all staff, any staff who may be called upon to implement timeout or physical restraint, shall receive annual, evidencebased training in safe and effective, developmentally appropriate timeout and physical restraint procedures [8 NYCRR §19.5(d)(7)(ii)]."

"Training programs are determined at the local school level. NYSED does not endorse specific training programs."

The statute behind the autism coursework is Education Law § 3004(4)(a). It requires regulations under which people applying on or after September 2, 2009, for a special education teaching certificate or license complete enhanced course work or training in the area of children with autism. The same subsection requires enhanced training in the needs of autistic children for each certified school administrator or supervisor assigned on or after September 2, 2009, to serve as a special education administrator, before or as soon as practicable after that assignment; those already serving on September 2, 2009, were to complete it by that date. The training must come from an institution or provider approved by NYSED, except that training for these administrators or supervisors that meets the commissioner's standards may be included in the professional development the school district or BOCES provides to them.

On autism coursework for special education teaching certificates, NYSED's Office of Teaching Initiatives states:

"For applications submitted after September 1, 2009, individuals who pursue one of the following special education certificates are required to complete coursework or training in the needs of children with Autism from an approved provider: Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Blind and Visually Impaired, Students with Disabilities (SWD), and Speech and Language Disabilities."

"The Autism training workshop is only available from a provider approved by the New York State Education Department. Individuals who have not completed the Autism training through a New York State registered educator preparation program must complete the training with one of the providers on the list of approved Autism training providers."

NYSED also says that applicants for those four certificates who received a college recommendation from a New York State college or university with a degree date of September 1, 2008, or later completed the autism training during their educator preparation program.

Source: N.Y. Education Law § 3004, 8 NYCRR § 19.5 (NYSED), NYSED, Updates to Behavioral Supports and Interventions in Schools, NYSED, Coursework or Training in the Needs of Children with Autism, NYSED, Approved Providers of Coursework/Training in the Needs of Students with Autism.

Where outside training fits

For the annual all-staff training, NYSED says training programs are chosen at the local school level and that it does not endorse specific programs. That training must cover the school's own timeout and restraint policies, crisis intervention and de-escalation, which our course does not teach. We do not claim that it satisfies 8 NYCRR § 19.5(d)(7). For the special education certificate autism workshop, NYSED accepts only providers on its approved list. Special Learning is not on that list, so our course does not meet that requirement. Ask your school or district how it evaluates outside courses for any other professional development. We offer this course as introductory ABA training.

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 New York 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

Last reviewed: October 29, 2026.

See every state's school autism-training rules