The fourth document in an eight-part series on a task-based management system for special education programs describes the need for and development of the Behavioral Characteristics Progression (BCP), a tool for relating educator tasks to pupil progress as based upon learner objectives. The BCP is an array of 1,800 behavioral characteristics of mentally and behaviorally handicapped pupils which have been grouped into 45 categories of behavior called behavior strands. The BCP is said to provide a common jargon and format to use in discussion concerning the pupil and his progress, to offer a means of recording learner objectives and pupil progress in observable and measurable terms, to provide a basis for determining staff performance of educational tasks as correlated positively with pupil progress, and to facilitate teacher selection of behavioral objectives. The BCP chart arranges the behavioral strands according to complexity and developmental progression whereas the BCP booklet is arranged to facilitate recording of pupils' characteristics relative to a given behavior strand. Field testing of the BCP is reported. (For related information, see EC 050 205 through EC 050 207 and EC 050 209 through EC 050 212.) (GW)