Town Hall Culture, Disability, & Behavior: Let’s Have Conversation George Sugai, Lindsay Fallon & Breda O’Keefe University of Connecticut Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports Center for Behavioral Education & Research April

“Culture, Disability, & PBIS: Let’s Have Conversation” Culture is often central in discussions related to diversity, school discipline, academic achievement, & disability. However, education community struggles with conceptualization of culture that enhances our understanding of culture, enables effective communications & expressions of our unique experiences, & leads toward meaningful benefits for all students. In this town hall meeting, reconceptualization of culture will be presented that has evolved from positive behavioral interventions & supports perspective. Participants will have the opportunity to react to & comment on this reconceputalization of culture & voice their thoughts & experiences regarding culture, disability, & improvement of social & educational culture of schools for all students. (15500)

1.What does Cultural Relevance & Responsiveness look like? 2.How would we measure status of & change in Cultural Relevance & Responsiveness? 3.What has been shown to improve Cultural Relevance & Responsiveness? 1.What does Cultural Relevance & Responsiveness look like? 2.How would we measure status of & change in Cultural Relevance & Responsiveness? 3.What has been shown to improve Cultural Relevance & Responsiveness? TOWN HALL Stimulus Questions RESPECTFULLY ASK ANSWER DESCRIBE SUGGEST OFFER SHARE CONVERSE RESPECTFULLY ASK ANSWER DESCRIBE SUGGEST OFFER SHARE CONVERSE

Consider these statements “Our kids are 3 times more likely to dropout of school than any other demographic in our district.” “How can we teach kids when we can’t talk with their parents?” “Who’s running this school…students or staff?” “How we supposed to maintain a positive school culture when playgrounds covered with needles, & buildings with graffiti?” “It’s not about race; it’s about immigration.” “Why are so many kids of color referred to special education?” “We can’t teach respect, when there’s no respect at home.” “The school is located in center of the community, but it functions like a different country.” School climate & culture Normative conflicts: us v. them School & community context Reactive responsibility Etc. School climate & culture Normative conflicts: us v. them School & community context Reactive responsibility Etc.

HOW do we improve cultural relevance to reduce/prevent risk of poor outcomes?

Our Starting Point

SWPBS Theoretical Foundations Behaviorism ABA PBS SWPBS aka PBIS

Behavioral Perspective on Culture

PBIS (SWPBS) is….. Framework Continuum Academically All

Early Conclusion… Nothing is inherently biased or culturally irrelevant about practices & systems PBIS implementation. However, we definitely can improve kid outcomes by making those practices & systems more reflective of norms, expectations, & learning histories of kids, family & community members, & school staff.

Systems Implementation Logic

Local Context Gender Family Structure Sexual Orientation Languages Beliefs SES Values Racial Identity Nationality Immigrant Status Religion Generation Disability

CA Sansei JA PBIS, SpEd & Kids w/ BD Sugai- Fernandez “Damn behaviorist”

Findings Qualitative TotalIntervention Description Reviews/ Current Issues Case Studies Other Quantitative TotalRecords ReviewsCase StudiesExperimental 7421

Literature Review Summary

General Guidelines

Classroom Educator Guidelines

Professional Development Guidelines

Effective Social & Academic School Culture Common Vision/Values Common Language Common Experience PBIS GOAL to create safe, respectful, effective, & relevant social culture where successful teaching & learning are possible & problem behaviors are prevented

EXPECTATIONS 1 minute comment Appropriate person-first language Respectful of speaker Constructive statements EXPECTATIONS 1 minute comment Appropriate person-first language Respectful of speaker Constructive statements 1.What does Cultural Relevance & Responsiveness look like? 2.How would we measure status of & change in Cultural Relevance & Responsiveness? 3.What has been shown to improve Cultural Relevance & Responsiveness? 1.What does Cultural Relevance & Responsiveness look like? 2.How would we measure status of & change in Cultural Relevance & Responsiveness? 3.What has been shown to improve Cultural Relevance & Responsiveness? Stimulus Questions