Positive Behavior Intervention
and Support (PBIS) is a decision making framework that guides selection,
integration, and implementation of the best evidence based academic and
behavioral practices for improving important academic and behavioral
outcomes for all students. PBIS helps parents and school staff create
and maintain a safe, supportive learning environment, promote positive
life skills, and reduce negative behaviors so that all children can
succeed in school. The framework addresses both individual behavior and
environmental factors and focuses on skill building rather than
punishment. In addition, PBIS addresses bullying prevention, social
skills development, resilience building, and discipline.
One of the most significant
advances in school-wide discipline is the emphasis on school-wide
systems of support that include proactive strategies for defining,
teaching, and supporting appropriate student behaviors to create
positive school environments. A continuum of positive behavior supports
for all students within a school are implemented in areas including the
classroom, cafeteria, they gymnasium, school buses, hallways,
restrooms, sidewalks, play areas, and other common areas.
PBIS uses a multi-tiered model approach.
Why do we use PBIS?
In the past, school-wide
discipline has focused mainly on reacting to specific student
misbehavior by implementing punishment-based strategies including
reprimands, loss of privileges, office referrals, suspensions, and
expulsions. Research has shown that the implementation of punishment,
especially when it is used inconsistently and in the absence of other
positive strategies is ineffective. Introducing, modeling, and
reinforcing positive social behavior is an important step of a student's
educational experience. Teaching behavioral expectations and rewarding
students for following them is a much more positive approach than
waiting for misbehavior to occurr before responding. The purpose of
PBIS is to establish a climate in which appropriate behavior is the
norm.
PBIS Outcomes
When implemented with fidelity,
PBIS is an evidence based framework that improves the school behavioral
climate. That is reflected in:
Decrease |
Increase |
Office discipline referrals |
Academic performance |
Suspensions and detentions |
On task behavior |
Disruptive classroom behavior |
Parent, student, and staff satisfaction |
|
Staff retention |