What is PBIS?
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a proactive school district behavior management system that consistently teaches, models, and reinforces the behavioral expectations of respect, responsibility, and safety. Research has shown that it is effective in reducing discipline problems, increasing instruction time, and creating safer and more positive environments in our schools, homes, and community.
PBIS encompasses four components:
- School-wide behavioral expectations are adopted and defined in all school settings. Our schools have adopted: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Safe as their expectations. These are defined clearly and taught directly in all settings to all students, just as academics are taught.
- In order to encourage that positive expectations are consistently demonstrated by students and become the norm, appropriate behaviors are acknowledged by being reinforced individually, for entire classrooms, and school-wide.
- Problem behaviors are responded to consistently and in a timely manner by either teacher-managed or office-managed consequences. Problem behaviors are seen as opportunities for re-teaching expected behaviors.
- Discipline data is collected and utilized to make decisions about re-teaching expectations, the need for more intense interventions, and whether or not PBIS is being implemented successfully.
How does PBIS benefit school communities?
- School environment is positive and predictable
- Increased instructional time and improved academic performance
- Increased safety and improved school climate
- Reduction in problem behaviors, office discipline referrals and suspensions