American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Attention Deficit Disorder Association
California Psychological Association
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CHADD - Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder »
CHADD - Northern California
Healthy Children
Learning Disabilities Association of America
National Institute of Mental Health »
National Resource Center on ADHD »
UC Davis MIND Institute ADHD Program
U.S. Department of Education

Primer text from the U.S. Department of Education.
The school experience can be challenging for students with ADHD.
Students usually are identified only after consistently demonstrating a failure to understand or follow rules or to complete required tasks.
Other common reasons for referral include frequent classroom disruptions and poor academic performance.
Studies found that students with ADHD, compared to students without ADHD, had persistent academic difficulties that resulted in the following: lower average marks, more failed grades, more expulsions, increased dropout rates, and a lower rate of college undergraduate completion (Weiss & Hechtman as cited in Johnston, 2002; Ingersoll, 1988).
The disruptive behavior sometimes associated with the disorder may make students with ADHD more susceptible to suspensions and expulsions.

Numerous studies have found that positive results occur when the major stakeholders in a student's education collaborate to address a child's ADHD (Blazer, 1999; Bos, 1999; Bos, Nahmias, & Urban, 1999; Nahmias, 1995; Williams & Carteledge, 1997).
Effective collaboration and communication between home and school provide structure across the two major settings in the child's life. Common rewards, reinforcement strategies, and language help to promote consistency across settings.
Bos et al. (1999) reported that collaborative partnerships between home and school were especially important during the initial assessment of the child's disability and educational needs, the development of behavior modification plans, the evaluations of medication, and the coordination of assignments.
Parents and teachers can share information with one another if they work together to plan behavioral and academic strategies for the student.
Parents can offer information about the child-including the child's medical history, hobbies and interests, effective reinforcers, and behavior in other settings-that may inform the decisions made by the teacher and other members of the IEP team.
The teacher can keep parents informed about their child's progress, performance, and behavior in school.

Caring for children with ADHD may be challenging, but it is important to remember that these children can learn successfully. It is critical that parents remember that some of their child's disruptive behavior is a manifestation of the disability and that the challenge is finding ways to help their child change the inappropriate behavior. Key to this is remembering to focus on the need for structure and routine for your child's daily schedule and thereby reinforcing the importance of learning self-control and self-regulation. The following are suggestions for parents:
Focus on discrete rewards and consequences for appropriate and inappropriate behavior:
- Tangible rewards and treats;
- Movie night for a good week at school;
- Removal of privileges; and
Time-out from reinforcing activities: the child is essentially removed from situations that foster inappropriate behavior.

The culture of the classroom can either support or create barriers to student success (Piffner,
2011).

Factors that foster attention, positive behavior, and academic and social success include
establishing positive relationships with students, adopting classroom management techniques,
and creating a physical arrangement that facilitates learning.

It is often a positive relationship with one teacher that facilitates school success for a student
with ADHD (Piffner, 2011).

When teachers connect with students and appreciate their unique skills and interests, students are more likely to strive for achievement and positively respond to classroom rules and procedures.

Primer text from The College of William & Mary

ADHD is one of the most commonly diagnosed conditions of children (Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 2015).

In a 2016 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, scientists found that 6.1 million children aged 2-17 years living in the U.S. had been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is similar to previous estimates.

Ages 2-5: Approximately 388,000 children
Ages 6-11: Approximately 2.4 million children
Ages 12-17: Approximately 3.3 million children

The diagnostic term attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) refers to individuals who display patterns of inattention, impulsivity, and overactive behavior that interfere with daily functioning (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013).

Caring for children with ADHD may be challenging, but it is important to remember that these children can learn successfully. It is critical that parents remember that some of their child's disruptive behavior is a manifestation of the disability and that the challenge is finding ways to help their child change the inappropriate behavior. Key to this is remembering to focus on the need for structure and routine for your child's daily schedule and thereby reinforcing the importance of learning self-control and self-regulation. The following are suggestions for parents:
Focus on discrete rewards and consequences for appropriate and inappropriate behavior:
- Tangible rewards and treats;
- Movie night for a good week at school;
- Removal of privileges; and
Time-out from reinforcing activities: the child is essentially removed from situations that foster inappropriate behavior.

The goal of behavior management strategies is to help students learn to manage their own
behavior. The following strategies are most effective when used in conjunction with evidence based instructional strategies.


Prevention Strategies
Here are some preventive measures that support students in demonstrating positive
behavior.


Nonverbal Supports: Together with the student, develop inconspicuous,
nonverbal messages such as eye contact, hand gestures, or other signals that teach
students to recognize the conditions that trigger specific behaviors. Once the
system is developed, students can learn to manage their behavioral responses
before they occur.