Your Child & PRIME

Information for parents and caregivers considering PRIME.

What does it mean if my child’s teacher nominated them to participate in PRIME?

Your child’s teacher thinks that they would be a good fit to receive individualized positive behavior support in the classroom. These strategies are evidence-based and focus on teaching and reinforcing appropriate classroom behavior. They also involve making changes to the classroom environment to make it more supportive for your student. Although the strategies we use can be helpful for any child, typically students who have some behavioral challenges in the classroom are the best fit for this this approach.

What if I don’t see the same behavior at home as their teacher does at school?

It’s common for children’s behavior to vary across settings, like home and school. A lot of factors in your child’s environment affect their behavior, and these are often unique to the classroom. Our approach takes into account and adjusts for these unique features of the school environment to make sure the classroom best supports your child.

What are the benefits should my child participate in PRIME?

When their teacher provides high-quality, evidence-based behavior support with our support, your child’s challenging behavior may decrease and appropriate classroom behaviors may increase, like engagement in classroom activities and academics.

  • If your child is in grades K-5 and does not receive special education services for behavior, they may be eligible to participate.

    To qualify, they should also demonstrate behavioral issues in the classroom (such as difficulty following directions or behavior that interrupts classroom instruction) that may benefit from extra support from their teacher.

    If you're still unsure whether your child is a good fit, email us at prime@uconn.edu or talk to your child's teacher.

  • Your child may be nominated by their teacher, or you may nominate your child to participate if you think they would be a good fit for PRIME.

    Before we begin working with your child and their teacher, you will be asked to fill out a permission form and a brief survey about your child.

    At the end of the study, you will receive a final report detailing your child’s progress throughout the new intervention. Our team is always available to discuss the results. Email us at prime@uconn.edu or call us at the contact information on your report.

  • Your child will not miss any class time for participating in PRIME!

    All data are collected through classroom observations and teacher interviews and surveys. Your child will be informed of the study by a consultant, and will be asked whether they agree to participate.

  • All information that could identify your student is removed from study files to protect confidentiality.

    Each student who participates is assigned a unique project code that is used in place of any identifying information, such as your student’s name, teacher, or school.

    When our team uses data in publications and presentations, your child will never be identified.

  • You have the right to decline to participate, and doing so will not impact your relationship with your child’s school, the study team, or the university. Until we receive your permission, we will not proceed with any research activities involving your child nor will we be in contact with your child in any way. If you choose to decline to participate, you will not be contacted again regarding the study; if this is not your experience, please get in contact with us directly at prime@uconn.edu or 203-241-4516.

  • You are free to change your mind at any time! If you do, please let your child's teacher know that you no longer wish for them to participate and their teacher can notify our team. You can also email us directly at prime@uconn.edu.

    Additionally, if their teacher wishes to continue in the study, they will have the opportunity to enroll another student instead.

  • In addition to our project coordinator (prime@uconn.edu or 203-241-4516), prior to, during, or after your student’s participation, you can contact the IRB Office at (860) 486-8802 or email irb@uconn.edu to:

    • Discuss problems, concerns, and questions, including questions about your student’s rights as a person in a research study

    • Obtain information

    • Offer input

    The IRB Office is not affiliated with any specific research study. You can contact them anonymously if you wish.

Beyond PRIME:

Understanding School Behaviors & Supports

Get Involved in Your Child’s Education

Annie E. Casey Foundation

Learn how your involvement in your child’s education is crucial for their success.

Learn Why Home & School Behavior are So Different

Indiana University School of Medicine

Understand how differences in your child’s home and school environments impact their behavior.

What is an FBA?

Pacer

Read this overview of Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBAs) to gain insight into the evaluation process that helps your school understand the “why” behind your child’s behavior.

What is a Behavior Plan?

verywell Family

Discover the steps to creating an effective plan to manage your child’s behavior.

Beyond PRIME:

Supporting Your Child’s Behavior at Home

Support Positive At-Home Behavior

Regional Educational Library

Discover how clear expectations and rules and consistent routines can benefit you and your child.

Reinforce Positive Behavior Change

GreatSchools.org

Learn how acknowledging and reinforcing positive behavior consistently helps your children develop good habits and skills.

Manage Behavior Effectively at Home

Mayo Clinic

Gain insight into your child’s misbehavior at home. Check out this resource for behavior management strategies and create your own at-home behavior plan using their interactive tool.

Help Your Child Manage Their Own Behavior

Center on the Social Emotional Foundations for Early Learning

Teach your child essential social and emotional skills that they can use to pay attention to and appropriately adjust their own behavior.

Respond to Disruptive Behavior

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

If you’re seeing disruptive behavior from your child, you’re not alone! Disruption at home and school have become increasingly common since the COVID-19 pandemic. Read these four simple, but effective strategies to support your child.

Support Your Child’s Behavior at Home

Child Mind Institute

Understand how clear communication, structured choices, consistent consequences, and reinforcement can change your child’s behavior in meaningful ways.

Respond to Inattention, Impulsivity, & Hyperactivity

American Academy of Pediatrics

Although these behaviors are very common, they can be challenging and frustrating for families. Learn tips for how to help your child at home and at school.

Ready to Learn More?

We can't wait to hear from you.

This research study is approved by the University of Connecticut Institutional Review Board (IRB; Protocol # HR21-0171) and sponsored by the Institute for Education Sciences (IES), award number: R324A210266