What is PBIS?
PBIS, or Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, is a process that a district and school goes through to improve student behavior and school climate. Our school and district feel that good behavior and positive engagement is a prerequisite to learning. There are multiple levels of support that are available to all students. Each level provides increasing support for students who haven’t been very successful at the lower level of support. In other words, some students need more support in learning behavioral expectations than others.
The three levels include the following:
Tier 1; School-Wide (relevant to 100% of students)
The school will focus on three to five behavioral expectations that are positively stated and easy to remember. In other words, rather than telling students what not to do, the school will focus on the preferred behaviors.
After deciding on H.A.W.K (Honorable, Ambitious, Willing, Kind), the school provided input and assured buy-in to these behavioral traits. Consistency from class to class and adult to adult is very important for successful implementation of PBIS.
The HAWK traits were then broken down by environment, and specific, appropriate behaviors were identified for each environment. Here is the behavior matrix used for Barstow Jr. High School classrooms:
Behavior expectations were also identified for hallways, cafeteria, library, bathrooms, auditorium and other common areas, etc. These behavioral expectations are taught to students in the various settings. A part of teaching the expectations involves identifying and reinforcing when students are successfully using the behaviors. This is where a very important aspect of “Positive” comes in. Positive reinforcement refers to rewarding students for good, expected behavior. This is in contrast to punishing students when they exhibit poor, negative behavior.
Tier 2- (relevant to 10-15% of students)
Tier 2 interventions involve fewer students that aren’t responding as well to school-wide interventions and supports. Examples of some Tier 2 interventions include the "WhyTry" motivation program, peer mediation, restorative practices, Check-in/Check-out, behavior contract, self-monitoring, peer tutoring, and teaching social skills. Students receiving Tier 2 interventions are monitored and receive less or more support as needed based on their performance.
Tier 3- (relevant to 3-5% of students)
Tier 3 interventions are for even fewer students that haven’t responded positively to Tier 2 interventions. Some tier 3 interventions are behavior intervention planning, social stories, conflict resolution, behavior meetings, Check-In/Check-Out, etc. Some tier 3 interventions are the same as tier 2 but are implemented with a higher intensity (more frequently or skills taught amongst fewer students).
PBIS as part of a regional trend
Our district and school have been participating in a regional program sponsored by the Desert Mountain (DM) SELPA (local planning area) to improve behavioral and academic outcomes. Making PBIS work in schools takes time and work. Barstow Jr. High School is in it’s 2nd year of PBIS implementation and is working to strengthen tier 1 and create tier 2 programs. The PBIS team at BJHS meets bi-monthly to discuss progress and goals within our school. Barstow Jr. High’s PBIS team also receives support from the DM SELPA to help implement the program as it was designed.
Parent’s Role
As a parent of a student at BJHS, you can talk with your student about what it means to be honorable, ambitious, willing, and kind at home and in the community. Reward your child, or tell them they’re doing well, when they use these positive behaviors you’ve discussed.
Some information provided by PBIS.org and PBISworld.com
PBIS Around Our School:
