Effective Schoolwide Discipline A Systems Change Initiative Effective Schoolwide Discipline Implementer’s Forum July 28, 2008 Rebecca Hill-Shifflett, Supervisor of Special Education

Observations on Behavior Many students are failing to meet their potential academically and behaviorally Many students are failing to meet their potential academically and behaviorally These students overload our secondary support systems These students overload our secondary support systems Discipline Response SystemsITM and Court Systems Personal CounselingCrisis Intervention Substance Abuse CounselingAlternative Education Substance Abuse CounselingAlternative Education

More Observations These students push our policies to the limits, interrupt instructional time for themselves and others, and often end up out-of-school due to suspensions These students push our policies to the limits, interrupt instructional time for themselves and others, and often end up out-of-school due to suspensions They return to school from suspensions unchanged, displaying the same behaviors They return to school from suspensions unchanged, displaying the same behaviors

Traditional View of Discipline We think of “discipline” as something we do after the misbehavior occurs We think of “discipline” as something we do after the misbehavior occurs Policies Policies Procedures Procedures Punishment Punishment

The Danger… Punishing problem behaviors (without a Punishing problem behaviors (without a proactive support system) is associated proactive support system) is associated with increases in with increases in a) aggression b) vandalism c) truancy, and d) dropping out (Mayer, 1005, Mayer & Sulzar-Azaroff, 1991, Skiba & Peterson, 1999)

Effective Schoolwide Discipline Means decreasing the use of punitive disciplinary practices and increasing school personnel’s reliance on positive interventions for student behavior

Effective Schoolwide Discipline Discipline, on a schoolwide level or an individual student level, should be viewed as an opportunity to TEACH

Teaching Behavior is Like Teaching Academics… Students are not born with “bad behaviors”, nor do they learn when presented negative consequences. Rather, they learn better ways of behaving by being taught directly and receiving positive feedback… Adapoted from Sugi (2007) Adapoted from Sugi (2007)

ESD is a PROCESS of CHANGE “In order to influence student behavior, schools are changing the overall schools are changing the overall characteristics of their school characteristics of their school environments by establishing a common environments by establishing a common vision, language, and set of research- vision, language, and set of research- based practices across the school.” based practices across the school.” (Biglan,1995: Horner, 2002)

Effective Schoolwide Discipline is POSITIVEandPROACTIVE

ESD Philosophy SELECT SELECT TEACH TEACH REWARD REWARD CORRECT CORRECT COLLECT COLLECT

Schoolwide Four Areas Addressed by ESD Schoolwide Schoolwide Individual Student Individual Student Classroom Classroom Non-Classroom Non-Classroom Classroom Non- Classroom Individual Students

Benefits Supports ALL students Supports ALL students Involves ALL school staff, parents and community Involves ALL school staff, parents and community Reduction of students who engage in behavior that requires disciplinary action Reduction of students who engage in behavior that requires disciplinary action Reduction in suspensions Reduction in suspensions School environment is safer, calmer and more positive School environment is safer, calmer and more positive Academic achievement increases Academic achievement increases

ESD in Rockingham RCPS has a division-wide focus on Effective Schoolwide Discipline RCPS has a division-wide focus on Effective Schoolwide Discipline ESD Teams in every school, Alternative Learning and Technical Centers ESD Teams in every school, Alternative Learning and Technical Centers ESD Training by JMU Training and Technical Assistance Center ESD Training by JMU Training and Technical Assistance Center

ESD in Rockingham ESD Mission Statements ESD Mission Statements School Mottos School Mottos Common language regarding behavior Common language regarding behavior Expected behaviors clearly communicated Expected behaviors clearly communicated Systems to teach and re-teach expected behavior Systems to teach and re-teach expected behavior Programs to recognize students Programs to recognize students Positive behavior referrals Positive behavior referrals

ESD in Rockingham Brochures Brochures Newsletters Newsletters DVD’s (produced by students) DVD’s (produced by students) ESD Posters and Banners ESD Posters and Banners Wrist Bands Wrist Bands ESD Web Sites ESD Web Sites Community Involvement Community Involvement

ESD Supports Teachers and Principals Consistency with discipline Consistency with discipline Enhanced communication about behavior Enhanced communication about behavior Strategies for behavior interventions Strategies for behavior interventions Assistance with classroom management Assistance with classroom management Less time spent on negative behavior Less time spent on negative behavior More time spent on teaching and learning More time spent on teaching and learning

Discipline Data RCPS data reporting system RCPS data reporting system Specific data collection on student behavior Specific data collection on student behavior Data is analyzed to make decisions about student behavior and discipline Data is analyzed to make decisions about student behavior and discipline Data is used to evaluate ESD programs Data is used to evaluate ESD programs

Where are we headed from here? Continued implementation of ESD Programs Continued implementation of ESD Programs Continued focus on collecting discipline data and making data driven decisions regarding student behavior Continued focus on collecting discipline data and making data driven decisions regarding student behavior Continued focus on individual student behavior and establishing systems of support Continued focus on individual student behavior and establishing systems of support

Projected Outcomes School environments that are safe, calm and foster positive learning experiences for all students School environments that are safe, calm and foster positive learning experiences for all students Decrease in students who engage in behavior that requires disciplinary action Decrease in students who engage in behavior that requires disciplinary action Decrease in suspensions Decrease in suspensions Increase in time spent on instruction and learning Increase in time spent on instruction and learning

Effective Schoolwide Discipline in Rockingham County Public Schools “We’re all doing something different, but we’re all doing something right” James Kile, Assistant Principal, PKVES