A Study on the Analysis of Behavior Support Policy for Children with Special Education Needs and disabilities(SEND) in South Korea

The purpose of this study is to identify the behavioral support policy for children with special education needs and disabilities(SEND) in South Korea. Specifically, the Ministry of Education’s special education operation plan from 2018 to 2021 was analyzed in order to find out the details of the government’s behavioral support policy and trend. In addition, in order to understand the details of the local government’s recent behavior support policy for children with SEND, 17 cities and provinces’ special education operation plans for 2021 were analyzed through the content analysis method. As a result of the study, the following two characteristics were found. First, from 2018 to 2021, the government’s behavioral support policy for children with SEND appeared in three categories: team-based positive behavior support, human/material resources and policy operation support, and building capacity of school members for behavior supports. The sub-elements and contents of each category were progressively specialized and detailed by year, and the beneficiaries gradually expanded. Second, the local government’s behavioral support policy for children with SEN in 2021 was classified into three categories in the same way as the government’s policy. Sub-elements and contents of local government policies showed common policies based on government policies, and it was also found that differentiated policies were established according to the characteristics of local governments. Based on the research results, future behavior support policy directions for children with SEND were suggested.