Coaching and leadership to support autistic elementary students in schools
Official title: Coaching and Leadership in Autism Support Settings
Run by University of California, Los Angeles · NCT07276750 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether a brief teacher-delivered behavior program (RUBIES) plus a school leadership strategy (HELM) can reduce externalizing behaviors in K–5 autistic children and help educators keep using effective practices.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 5 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 373 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of California, Los Angeles Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Los Angeles, California) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 1, 2026 |
| Main results expected | June 30, 2030 |
| Study ends | August 31, 2030 |
| Registry record updated | October 22, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07276750 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal participants are K–5 autistic students (ages 5–12) with a documented ASD IEP and elevated SESBI-R and EDI scores who are enrolled with participating educators, along with the teachers and staff who provide their instruction or behavioral support.
✕Probably not a fit
Children without elevated externalizing behaviors (SESBI-R <101 or EDI <8), those outside grades K–5 or ages 5–12, or those not enrolled with a participating educator are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This hybrid type 2 effectiveness-implementation trial simultaneously tests two components: RUBIES, an efficient educator-delivered clinical intervention to reduce externalizing behaviors in autistic children, and HELM, an organizational strategy designed to enhance sustainment of evidence-based practices in public schools. Participating educators receive psychoeducation and training to deliver RUBIES while school leaders engage with HELM implementation supports to promote fidelity and ongoing use. Eligible student participants are K–5 autistic children (ages 5–12) with a documented ASD IEP and elevated externalizing behavior scores, and educators include teachers, paraeducators, and related service staff who work with those students. The project is conducted at UCLA with collaboration from the University of Washington and measures both child behavior outcomes and implementation outcomes over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce disruptive classroom behaviors and help schools reliably adopt and sustain effective behavior supports for autistic students, improving learning and classroom climate.
How similar studies have gone: Previous school-based, teacher-delivered behavior programs have shown moderate success reducing externalizing behaviors, but combining clinical interventions with organizational implementation strategies to improve long-term sustainment is less well-established.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Special or general education teachers, paraeducators, and other staff who provide direct instruction and/or behavioral support to autistic children during the school day (e.g., speech therapist, school psychologist). * Autistic children with: * a documented autism spectrum disorder diagnosis via school records (i.e., Individualized Education Program; IEP) * are enrolled with a participating educator * are in grades K-5 * ages 5-12 * Sutter Eyberg Student Behavior Inventory-Revised (SESBI-R) total score \>=101 * EDI sum score of \>=8 at baseline Exclusion Criteria: * SESBI-R total score \<101 (i.e. T score 51+) * EDI sum score \<8
Where it's running
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UCLA
Los Angeles, California, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Jill J Locke, PhD
- Email: locke@seis.ucla.edu
- Phone: 818-384-3554
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.