1. Vermont Positive Behavior Support Services
A Framework for Improving Learning and Behavior

2. What is PBS?
Positive Behavior Support (PBS) is a proven, systems-focused approach that:
decreases problem behaviors among students,
increases on-task engagement, and
raises levels of satisfaction with school climate for students, teachers, and parents.
“PBS enhances the capacity of schools, districts, and states to adopt and sustain effective behavior and academic support practices.” – May Institute, Partner to the National Technical Assistance Center on PBIS

3. Positive Behavior Support Primary Outcomes
Improvement in the school behavioral climate:
Decrease in
office referrals
suspensions, detentions
disruptive classroom behavior
Increase in
academic performance
on-task behavior
parent, student and staff satisfaction
staff retention

4. Positive Behavior Supports Continuum
Intensive individual interventions
Targeted small group, short term individual interventions
Universal Application

5. Public Health & Disease Prevention Kutash et al., 2006; Larson, 1994
Tertiary (FEW)
Reduce complications, intensity, severity of current cases
Secondary (SOME)
Reduce current cases of problem behavior
Primary (ALL)
Reduce new cases of problem behavior 20 5

6. How Wide-spread is PBS? PBS has been in existence for nearly 20 years
Currently over 42 states are engaged in a State-Wide effort for implementing PBS
Over 7000 schools have implemented PBS with fidelity
The U.S. Department of Education sponsors national PBS centers in Oregon and Connecticut, the May Institute is a National Center Partner
Statewide Behavior Initiatives, National Association of State Directors of Special Education, Inc., inForum, February 2007

7. How does it work?
As part of a multi-year commitment, School Leadership Teams focus their efforts on improving 3 primary areas -
School-wide procedures for discipline and student support
Targeted interventions designed to prevent further escalation of problems
Individualized behavior support planning

8. Supporting Social Competence &
Academic Achievement
4 PBS Elements
OUTCOMES
Supporting
Decision
Making
Supporting
Staff Behavior
SYSTEMS
DATA
PRACTICES
Supporting
Student Behavior

9. What should I expect to see/hear in a PBS school (Universal level)?
SW-PBS (universal)
>80% of students can tell you the school-wide expectations and can say that they have been rewarded for following them.
>80% of staff can tell you the school-wide expectations and can say they have acknowledged students for following them.
School staff have taught the school-wide expectations to all students.
Positive adult-to-student interactions exceed negative
School staff agree on which behaviors involve a referral to the office.
The school has a leadership team that is representative of school staff and includes an administrator
Function based behavior support is foundation for addressing problem behavior.
Data- & team-based action planning & implementation are operating.
Administrators are active participants.
Full continuum of behavior support is available to all students

10. Teaching Behavioral Expectations: An Instructional Approach
DEFINE expectations for behavior
TEACH the expected behavior
REVIEW expectations regularly
MONITOR performance of expected behaviors
RECOGNIZE individuals when expected behaviors are demonstrated
CORRECT individuals when expected behaviors are not demonstrated 27

11. PBS - What’s in it for me?
School will have common purpose and approaches to discipline - expectations, rewards, and procedures for disruptive behaviors
Access to team and data-based decision-making
Increase in awareness of school-wide expectations of students and staff
Increase in time of quality instruction
Improved teacher satisfaction

12. PBS - What’s expected of me?
Support the 3-5 school-wide behavioral expectations
Participate in school roll-out activities
Apply and teach school-wide expectations in classrooms
Reward students for following expectations according to reward system (developed by PBS school leadership team)
Use consistent approaches for addressing disruptive behaviors
Review data to direct approaches around behavior change

13. Questions and Answers

14. Where to Learn More About PBS