A Study to Test Educator-Led Coaching and Leadership Strategies to Reduce Externalizing Behaviors in Autistic Children in K-5 Schools

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating interventions to improve support for autistic children in schools, focusing on reducing externalizing behaviors and sustaining evidence-based practices. This trial addresses gaps in available classroom interventions and the ongoing use of these practices over time. It tests both the clinical effectiveness of an educator-delivered intervention called RUBIES and the organizational support strategy HELM to help schools maintain these practices. The project aligns with national priorities for translating proven mental health interventions into community settings and aims to improve outcomes for autistic children in public schools across the U.S. The study includes three groups one receiving RUBIES combined with HELM, another receiving RUBIES alone, and a third receiving educator psychoeducation as an active comparison. RUBIES is an 8-module program helping educators understand and manage behavior as communication, tailored for autistic characteristics. HELM engages school leaders in a 9-month leadership and organizational strategy program with multiple components like training, coaching, and feedback. The psychoeducation group receives an online self-paced 8-module course focused broadly on autism support without behavioral management strategies. Participants include educators and autistic children aged 5 to 12 in grades K-5 with documented autism and specific behavior scores indicating externalizing challenges. The study measures changes in externalizing behaviors over 24 weeks and the fidelity of RUBIES implementation up to 16 weeks, with sustainment assessed up to 76 weeks. Data collection involves behavior rating scales and monitoring of intervention delivery. The study will run from February 2026 to August 2030, with ongoing assessments to understand both clinical and implementation outcomes.

Coaching and Leadership in Autism Support Settings