Positive Behavioural Interventions and Supports

What is School-wide PBIS?

In general, the goal of PBIS is to establish learning environments that support the positive behavior of students through pro-active instruction, routines, incentives, classroom management and intervention policies.  PBS involves the entire school population in promoting and rewarding positive behaviors.  This continuum of positive behavior support for all students is implemented in areas including the classroom and non-classroom settings such as hallways, buses, and restrooms.  Through data analysis, planning takes place to help prevent negative or risky behaviors, in order to create a safe, supportive learning environment.  Attention is focused on creating and sustaining school-wide, classroom, and individual systems of support that improve lifestyle results (personal, health, social, family, work, recreation) for all children by making targeted behaviors less effective, efficient, and relevant, and desired behavior more functional.

Why is it so important to focus on teaching positive social behaviors?

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 occur before responding. The purpose of school-wide PBIS is to establish a climate in which appropriate behavior is the norm.

• Outcomes: academic and behavior targets that are endorsed and emphasized by students, families, and educators. (What is important to each particular learning community?)
• Practices: interventions and strategies that are evidence based. (How will you reach the goals?)
• Data: information that is used to identify status, need for change, and effects of interventions. (What data will you use to support your success or barriers?)
• Systems: supports that are needed to enable the accurate and durable implementation of the practices of PBIS. (What durable systems can be implemented that will sustain this over the long haul?)