Using Technical Assistance Teams for Tertiary PBS Carol Davis, Ed. D., Ilene S. Schwartz, Ph. D. University of Washington

What do we know? Challenging behavior in the classroom are the most requested issues for consultation Challenging behavior in the classroom are the most requested issues for consultation Consultation or out of district placements can account for up to one-third of a districts special education budget Consultation or out of district placements can account for up to one-third of a districts special education budget Consultation does not provide a long term solution to dealing with challenging behavior in the schools Consultation does not provide a long term solution to dealing with challenging behavior in the schools

What are the challenges to providing PBS for ALL students? Building capacity must be a district initiative. Building capacity must be a district initiative. The spectrum of social behavior across students is extremely wide. The spectrum of social behavior across students is extremely wide. The depth of knowledge of challenging behavior has to be extensive. The depth of knowledge of challenging behavior has to be extensive. Teachers are unfamiliar with the notion of function-based behavior plans. Teachers are unfamiliar with the notion of function-based behavior plans.

What are assumptions on which the model is based? 1. Schools must meet the differing needs of ALL children. 2. Within district expertise should be developed. 3. Administration plays an active role. 4. Behavior plans must be evidence-based. 5. Schools must be willing to consider alternatives to suspension and alternative placements

Scaling the Pyramid Develop within school district teams with expertise in tertiary levels of PBS to provide assessment, intervention, and progress monitoring support for students with the most challenging behavior. Provide ongoing professional development that builds capacity within the school and district.

Technical Assistance Teams Provide technical assistance Take referral from school team member Conduct an FBA Brainstorm potential behavior plan solutions Assist in the implementation Use data to adjust plan In school awareness training Provision of Additional resources schoolwide Ongoing training for school

Technical Assistance Teams A team used to: Provide suggestions for curriculum modifications and accessing the general education curriculum Provide suggestions for curriculum modifications and accessing the general education curriculum Provide ongoing support and expertise in the areas of Functional Assessment and Behavior Planning Provide ongoing support and expertise in the areas of Functional Assessment and Behavior Planning Provide support for data collection Provide support for data collection Provide ongoing monitoring of program implementation and student progress Provide ongoing monitoring of program implementation and student progress

Who is on the Technical Assistance Teams? School district employees School district employees Multi-disciplinary team members Multi-disciplinary team members –SPED/GENED teachers –School psychologists –Social worker –Paraprofessionals –Administrator Chosen with school administrator input Chosen with school administrator input

Team member characteristics: Strong in his/her area of expertise. Strong in his/her area of expertise. Uses data to make decisions in own practice Uses data to make decisions in own practice Uses behavioral principles in own practices Uses behavioral principles in own practices Believes in the benefits of PBS Believes in the benefits of PBS Are respected members of their professional discipline Are respected members of their professional discipline Have experience as both leaders and participants in the educational process Have experience as both leaders and participants in the educational process

What does participating as a team member mean? Participation in teams is voluntary Participation in teams is voluntary Time released from regular school duties Time released from regular school duties Compensation is provided for team participation Compensation is provided for team participation Participate in various training activities to build knowledge in PBS Participate in various training activities to build knowledge in PBS Working as a collaborative team member to influence challenging behavior Working as a collaborative team member to influence challenging behavior

What does participating as a team member mean? Records review Records review Observations Observations Functional Assessment Functional Assessment Behavior Planning Behavior Planning Making materials Making materials Coaching during initial implementation Coaching during initial implementation Conducting person centered plans Conducting person centered plans

TAT Training Base knowledge (plus expertise): Core knowledge in school-wide PBS Core knowledge in school-wide PBS Core knowledge in social skills and curriculum modification Core knowledge in social skills and curriculum modification All essential components of delivering technical assistance All essential components of delivering technical assistance Person-centered planning Person-centered planning Functional Behavior Assessment linked to evidence-based behavior plan Functional Behavior Assessment linked to evidence-based behavior plan

TAT Training Long term (one year) training is provided to the team members across a year Long term (one year) training is provided to the team members across a year –A project staff member (either hired within the district or from the University) provides approximately hours a week with the TAT members –Teams also attend yearly trainings and have access to current literature –Teams meet weekly along with project staff

What happens when a student is referred to the TAT? The TAT member observes in the classroom for primary and secondary strategies CEF The TAT member observes in the classroom for primary and secondary strategies CEFCEF The need for more intensive intervention is determined by the school team The need for more intensive intervention is determined by the school team The TAT member conducts classroom observations resulting in an FBA The TAT member conducts classroom observations resulting in an FBA The TAT (at weekly meetings) brainstorms options for intervention plans The TAT (at weekly meetings) brainstorms options for intervention plans Student is monitored Student is monitoredmonitored

Technical Assistance Team Case Management Each team of 4 will manage approximately 12 students Each team of 4 will manage approximately 12 students Each student is observed approximately 2 hours every other week Each student is observed approximately 2 hours every other week Meetings with teachers and other service providers occur at least twice monthly Meetings with teachers and other service providers occur at least twice monthly Each student is discussed at least 2x a month at team meetings Each student is discussed at least 2x a month at team meetings

Technical Assistance Team Meetings Issues are identified and prioritized by the teacher or the TAT member to be discussed at the team meetings. Issues are identified and prioritized by the teacher or the TAT member to be discussed at the team meetings. The TAT members meet 1X a week to discuss students. The TAT members meet 1X a week to discuss students. The expertise of each of the members is used in the solution of the problem through the examination of data and brainstorming. The expertise of each of the members is used in the solution of the problem through the examination of data and brainstorming.

What does this means for students? All students are served by the team (provided some level of expertise). All students are served by the team (provided some level of expertise). Some teachers/teams need ongoing assistance with solving instructional or behavioral problems Some teachers/teams need ongoing assistance with solving instructional or behavioral problems All students receive ongoing monitoring (surveillance) All students receive ongoing monitoring (surveillance)

What are tertiary supports? Antecedent Interventions Antecedent Interventions –Prespecifying the reinforcer –Providing choices –Instructional modifications Teaching strategies Teaching strategies –Social skills –Functional Communication Training Consequent Strategies Consequent Strategies –Reinforcement systems

What is the impact of this project on the tertiary supports provided in a school? Teacher/Classrooms Teacher/Classrooms –STP Student Assessment –CARS Classroom Atmosphere Rating Scale CARS Students Students –CBM (WJ subtests) –Office Discipline Referrals –Engagement, task completion –Specific data based on behavior plan Team Team –Pre-post on behavior plans

What have we learned? Administrative support at the district level and at the school level is necessary. Administrative support at the district level and at the school level is necessary. TAT members must meet criteria. TAT members must meet criteria. Schools need to be implementing School- wide Positive Behavior Support. Schools need to be implementing School- wide Positive Behavior Support. Schools need to be using evidence-based curriculum. Schools need to be using evidence-based curriculum.

What have we learned? District/schools/teachers need to understand and be able to differentiate instruction. District/schools/teachers need to understand and be able to differentiate instruction. School-wide knowledge of team and purpose is necessary. School-wide knowledge of team and purpose is necessary.

What have we learned? TAT members increase their efforts when they perceive their contributions to be unique and important to the team. TAT members increase their efforts when they perceive their contributions to be unique and important to the team. TAT members are more effective when they have the support of administration and colleagues to change programs based on data. TAT members are more effective when they have the support of administration and colleagues to change programs based on data. TAT members remark that the on-going (initial support from project staff) training component assists in developing more confident TAT members. TAT members remark that the on-going (initial support from project staff) training component assists in developing more confident TAT members.

What have we learned? Team members are compensated. Team members are compensated. Model must be flexible. Model must be flexible. Pay attention to your consumers, both school personnel and parents. Pay attention to your consumers, both school personnel and parents.