What is the benefit of implementing a district-wide Positive Behavior Intervention and Support?

By Lea Cuniberti-Duran

Studies have shown that, when implemented with fidelity, the program dramatically reduced disciplinary referrals, and suspensions. These reductions helped recover hundreds of days of teaching and thousands of hours of learning, bringing considerable savings to the districts.

The district needs to focus on prevention and support to assure that our children are safe while at school: we need to work toward changing the culture within schools. The district needs to invests in programs that are comprehensive and effective.

Safety is a key issue and the district needs to choose a program that comprehensive, and effective. The  US Department of Education has such program: that gives schools capacity-building information and technical assistance for identifying, adapting, and sustaining effective school-wide disciplinary practices. The program is called Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS).

PBIS provides a framework for school personnel to adopt and organize evidence-based behavioral interventions into an integrated continuum that enhances academic and social behavior outcomes for all students. PBIS provides a tiered support system so that students with more difficult behavior are easily identified and supported, and give staff tools for effective classroom management. Studies show that when implemented with fidelity the program is extremely effective.

A few numbers:

Effects of Large-Scale Implementation of Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support on Student Discipline and Academic Achievement:

[...] "Implementation resulted in a reduction of 6,010 office discipline referrals and 1,032 suspensions, with middle and high schools experiencing the most benefit. These reductions helped recover 864 days of teaching, 1,701 days of learning, and 571 days of leadership. Implementation was associated with academic gains in math for the vast majority of schools who implemented with fidelity."