School-wide PBS (Positive Behavior Support) is a process for creating safer and more effective schools. SW-PBS is a systems approach to enhancing the capacity of schools to educate all children by developing research-based, school wide, and classroom discipline systems. The process focuses on improving a school’s ability to teach and support positive behavior for all students. Rather than a prescribed program, SW-PBS provides systems for schools to design, implement, and evaluate effective school-wide, classroom, non-classroom, and student specific discipline plans. SW-PBS includes procedures and processes intended for:
· ALL students, ALL staff and in ALL settings
· Non-classroom settings within the school environment
· Individual classrooms and teachers, and
· Individual student supports for the estimated 3-7% of students who present the most challenging behaviors.
SW-PBS IS NOT a program or a curriculum (there is no kit). IT IS a team-based process for systemic problem solving, planning, and evaluation.
Fundamentals of PBS
1. Establishing clear expectations for all students in all setting of the school
2. Identifying positively stated rules for each expectation tailored to every setting of the school
3. Teaching students these expectations and rules
4. Reinforcing students who behave according to the school's expectations/rules
5. Differentiating between minor (classroom-managed) and major (office-managed) behaviors
6. Developing specific consequences for students who choose not to conform to school expectations/rules
7. Constant evaluation of behavioral data and academic data
PBS is a mandated program
PBS is mandated by the Juvenile Justice Reform Act which was passed in 2003 by the Louisiana Legislature which provides direction to the Board of Elementary & Secondary Education (BESE)
Subpart C-1: The Education/Juvenile Justice Partnership Act legislated that: *BESE would formulate, develop and recommend a Model Master Plan for improving behavior and discipline within schools that includes the utilization of positive behavioral supports and other effective disciplinary tools *Each city, parish, and other local public school board should be responsible for the development of school master plans for supporting student behavior and discipline based upon the model master plan developed and approved by BESE
