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Using the PBIS framework to positively influence your school's culture and climate
In large numbers, schools across the United States have implemented Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to improve school climate and culture. PBIS received strong support from the U.S. Department of Education in its 2014 publication Guiding Principles: A Resource Guide for Improving School Climate and Discipline, which cited the potential of this framework to improve "academic, social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes for students."
During his presentation at the 12th International Conference on Positive Behavior Support, Robert Horner, co-director of the National Technical Assistance Center (NTAC) on PBIS, noted that 20,384 schools in the United States had implemented PBIS. And it's not simply an American trend; there is widespread implementation globally with current initiatives in Denmark, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, Australia, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Romania, Qatar, and Italy.
For those unfamiliar with PBIS, it is an organizational framework to assist "school personnel in adopting and organizing evidence-based behavioral interventions into an integrated continuum that enhances academic and social behavior outcomes for all students," according to the NTAC. Understanding the framework in theory and taking steps to implement it with fidelity are two different things.
Initial Implementation
This fall marks the eighth year of PBIS implementation at Excelsior Springs Middle School in Excelsior Springs, MO. Establishing a solid foundation for PBIS requires the support of at least 80 percent of your faculty. While it might be tempting to consider a shortcut, effective systems are built on teamwork, trust, and shared values. This takes time and patience. You must honor the process and obtain faculty commitment to implement with fidelity.
The best place to begin when considering implementation is to examine your school's mission, vision, and values. Commitment to PBIS doesn't mean the abandonment of what works in your school, or what makes your learning community unique. Rather, successful initiatives are embedded with established structures and supported in annual building plans. Connecting PBIS systems and practices with organizational structures and staff commitment will help maintain clarity about its purpose and drive desired outcomes.
One strength of the PBIS framework is the emphasis on consensus-building and teamwork. The starting point is the establishment of three to five schoolwide expectations (i.e., respect, responsibility, ready...