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PBIS

What is PBIS?

PBIS stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. Its purpose is to create a better working and learning environment for the school and it does that by setting clear behavioral expectations for all students and staff.

PBIS 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, PBIS provides systems for schools to design, implement, and evaluate effective school-wide, classroom, non-classroom, and student specific discipline plans. 

Through PBIS, there are four school-wide behavioral expectations. Piccowaxen calls these the 4 Picco Paw-sitive Behaviors. These behaviors are Pride, Respect, Responsibility and Safety. Code of Conduct Matrixes, which display these four behaviors, are displayed throughout the building. 

PBIS includes school-wide 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

Ways Appropriate Behavior is Acknowledged

  • Picco Paws (3="Picco Pawl of Fame")
  • Postcards Home for Positive Behavior
  • Panthers on the Prowl (teacher recognition of students)
  • Quarterly "Big Reward" events (ie. Battle of Classes)
  • Agenda Book checks (encourages responsibility)
  • Peace Competition Between Grade Levels
  • Picco Paw Derby (race between grades 50 paws= 1 print)

Teaching Behavioral Expectations to All Students

  • Monthly lessons on Respect, Pride, Responsibility and Safety
  • Code of Conduct Matrixes displayed throughout the building

Consequences for Violating Behavioral Expectations

  • Minor Incident Reports (3=referral)
  • Office Referrals (administration)
  • Loss of Privileges (reward events)

Use of PBIS Data for Decision-Making

  • Monthly Analysis of Discipline Patterns
  • Recommendations/Decisions Based Upon Data

Supports Put in Place for Students with Chronic Problem Behavior

  • Check-In/Check Out Program
  • Student Support Team
  • Mentoring Program

Positive Outcomes of a School-Wide PBIS Initiative

  • Decrease in office discipline referrals
  • Increase in instructional time
  • Decrease in administrative time spent on discipline
  • Efficient and effective use of scarce resources
  • Increase in perceived school safety
  • Sustainability through team approach
  • Increase in positive interactions between students/faculty

For more information on PBIS, visit the Center on PBIS.