A multi-year guide to planning and implementing PBIS in your school district.
If you haven’t, this will be something that you are going to want to lean into as a school district leader. This framework is one that I have seen implemented with success in all settings.
I have over 10 years of implementation experience, and I have picked up many insights and lessons that I’d like to share with other district leaders.
One of the reasons that PBIS is so effective is that the program is based on data collection and data review. That data is used to make informed decisions about what your school community needs.
PBIS is a positive behavioral intervention and support system. The PBIS framework is designed around these principles:
1. Define and teach positive social and behavioral expectations for your school community. This allows your students, staff, and parents what winning looks like in our building.
2. Reinforce positive behavior. The focus is on what we want our students to be doing instead of what we don’t.
Example: Instead of saying “No running in the halls” use positive framing around what you would like students to do such as “Please walk in the hallway”.
3. Use data to guide decision-making. What does student behavior data tell you about what is working and what isn’t?
4. Provide evidence-based interventions for students who need additional support. PBIS is a Tier 1 approach, some of our students will need some more structure.
As part of supporting our community schools we, as district personnel, provide training and resources to assist in the implementation of tiered interventions like Check-In/ Check Out.
PBIS is a lot of things and has a ton of benefits, but it doesn’t solve all of your problems.
It isn’t a magic wand. This program isn’t something that is going to make your students magically behave. Although that would be nice!
It also isn’t something that is done in a silo. If you want this framework to be implemented in the way it was designed to be, it will take your entire school community. That means district personnel, school leaders, teachers, and of course parents.
Contrary to popular belief it also isn’t only for elementary students. This is a framework that can benefit all ages and even adults. It is designed to show what “winning” looks like and when you get there, you are reinforced in a way that incentivizes you to get there again and again.
PBIS is a complex system that takes time to implement and sustain. It involves changing the culture of a district. That’s going to require ongoing effort and dedication to ensure that all students benefit from its implementation.
School district leaders need to think about PBIS in terms of a multi-year implementation in order to ensure that the program is sustained long-term and that the desired outcomes are achieved.
Taking a multi-year approach allows leaders to gradually introduce and refine the system, evaluate its progress, and make adjustments to ensure that it is meeting its goals.
Let’s take a look at the objectives you should be targeting in your first year of PBIS implementation.
Create a team at each school that will serve as your PBIS Tier 1 implementers. This should be a group of 5-6 staff members in various roles in your building that are directly impacted by the school culture. This group should come together with other district groups every quarter.
This should be used as a brainstorming/problem-solving session to ensure the district is rowing the boat in the same direction.
If possible go to a training or find a school that has implemented the PBIS framework. Find a school that is also in the earlier stages of implementation. This will provide you valuable insight into some potential pitfalls and lessons learned.
Define what “winning” looks like in your school and capture that in a way that can be shared with the school community.
Use data to support these claims. If you noticed that more students are struggling during passing periods to follow expectations, what data can you collect to support this claim?
Often for our teachers and leaders, the areas that we feel are most concerning are the ones we experience every day. The lunchroom might feel like a problem area but when you start collecting data you might realize that after school is where most of your students struggle.
Determine 1-2 goals for your first year implementing PBIS. What is meaningful and manageable for your school?
Knowing each year you will add on another 1-2 goals until your Tier 1 is solid and you can begin working on Tier 2 and Tier 3 focus. Don’t choose more than 1-2 goals, it can be tempting but it won't be done well or with fidelity.
Determine the cadence for your meeting school-level team. I highly recommend meeting at least once per month and for 90 minutes or more. This will allow for conversations, problem-solving, and actionable next steps.
Now that you have set the foundation it’s time to take your program to the next level. These are the pieces that are really going to change the culture of your community.
Consider including members of your parent community in your PBIS meeting after the first year. They do not have to attend every meeting but should attend 2-3 meetings per year.
Create 1-2 new goals to add every year to build on previous goals. Be careful not to lose any progress you made in the previous year as you look to expand the program.
If you are ready, a Tier 2 team can be created and should contain at least 2 people from the Tier 1 Team. This team's focus is on those students that need something more than the Tier 1 PBIS expectations.
Understand and share your “why” with your school community. It’s important for your colleagues to understand your goals and motivations for implementing PBIS.
Some people feel very strongly that students should not be rewarded for doing what is expected of them. Your “why” will help others understand the larger impact PBIS points in your school can have on everyone.
You should also begin with your end goal in mind…what are you trying to accomplish in the next 3 years? What about the next 5 years?
As with any program, it is vital that you recognize your team. The individuals that will do the heavy lifting are likely going to be school-level personnel. Celebrate, recognize, and reward them whenever you possibly can.
If you run into trouble spots it can help to build networks with other school districts that are using PBIS. Feel free to ask them for their communications, meeting agendas, resources, and even ideas for celebrations.
If you’re ready to take the next step, you should check out our Complete PBIS Field Guide. Or listen to Episode #5 of The LiveSchool Podcast for more tips on taking PBIS district-wide!
If you haven’t, this will be something that you are going to want to lean into as a school district leader. This framework is one that I have seen implemented with success in all settings.
I have over 10 years of implementation experience, and I have picked up many insights and lessons that I’d like to share with other district leaders.
One of the reasons that PBIS is so effective is that the program is based on data collection and data review. That data is used to make informed decisions about what your school community needs.
PBIS is a positive behavioral intervention and support system. The PBIS framework is designed around these principles:
1. Define and teach positive social and behavioral expectations for your school community. This allows your students, staff, and parents what winning looks like in our building.
2. Reinforce positive behavior. The focus is on what we want our students to be doing instead of what we don’t.
Example: Instead of saying “No running in the halls” use positive framing around what you would like students to do such as “Please walk in the hallway”.
3. Use data to guide decision-making. What does student behavior data tell you about what is working and what isn’t?
4. Provide evidence-based interventions for students who need additional support. PBIS is a Tier 1 approach, some of our students will need some more structure.
As part of supporting our community schools we, as district personnel, provide training and resources to assist in the implementation of tiered interventions like Check-In/ Check Out.
PBIS is a lot of things and has a ton of benefits, but it doesn’t solve all of your problems.
It isn’t a magic wand. This program isn’t something that is going to make your students magically behave. Although that would be nice!
It also isn’t something that is done in a silo. If you want this framework to be implemented in the way it was designed to be, it will take your entire school community. That means district personnel, school leaders, teachers, and of course parents.
Contrary to popular belief it also isn’t only for elementary students. This is a framework that can benefit all ages and even adults. It is designed to show what “winning” looks like and when you get there, you are reinforced in a way that incentivizes you to get there again and again.
PBIS is a complex system that takes time to implement and sustain. It involves changing the culture of a district. That’s going to require ongoing effort and dedication to ensure that all students benefit from its implementation.
School district leaders need to think about PBIS in terms of a multi-year implementation in order to ensure that the program is sustained long-term and that the desired outcomes are achieved.
Taking a multi-year approach allows leaders to gradually introduce and refine the system, evaluate its progress, and make adjustments to ensure that it is meeting its goals.
Let’s take a look at the objectives you should be targeting in your first year of PBIS implementation.
Create a team at each school that will serve as your PBIS Tier 1 implementers. This should be a group of 5-6 staff members in various roles in your building that are directly impacted by the school culture. This group should come together with other district groups every quarter.
This should be used as a brainstorming/problem-solving session to ensure the district is rowing the boat in the same direction.
If possible go to a training or find a school that has implemented the PBIS framework. Find a school that is also in the earlier stages of implementation. This will provide you valuable insight into some potential pitfalls and lessons learned.
Define what “winning” looks like in your school and capture that in a way that can be shared with the school community.
Use data to support these claims. If you noticed that more students are struggling during passing periods to follow expectations, what data can you collect to support this claim?
Often for our teachers and leaders, the areas that we feel are most concerning are the ones we experience every day. The lunchroom might feel like a problem area but when you start collecting data you might realize that after school is where most of your students struggle.
Determine 1-2 goals for your first year implementing PBIS. What is meaningful and manageable for your school?
Knowing each year you will add on another 1-2 goals until your Tier 1 is solid and you can begin working on Tier 2 and Tier 3 focus. Don’t choose more than 1-2 goals, it can be tempting but it won't be done well or with fidelity.
Determine the cadence for your meeting school-level team. I highly recommend meeting at least once per month and for 90 minutes or more. This will allow for conversations, problem-solving, and actionable next steps.
Now that you have set the foundation it’s time to take your program to the next level. These are the pieces that are really going to change the culture of your community.
Consider including members of your parent community in your PBIS meeting after the first year. They do not have to attend every meeting but should attend 2-3 meetings per year.
Create 1-2 new goals to add every year to build on previous goals. Be careful not to lose any progress you made in the previous year as you look to expand the program.
If you are ready, a Tier 2 team can be created and should contain at least 2 people from the Tier 1 Team. This team's focus is on those students that need something more than the Tier 1 PBIS expectations.
Understand and share your “why” with your school community. It’s important for your colleagues to understand your goals and motivations for implementing PBIS.
Some people feel very strongly that students should not be rewarded for doing what is expected of them. Your “why” will help others understand the larger impact PBIS points in your school can have on everyone.
You should also begin with your end goal in mind…what are you trying to accomplish in the next 3 years? What about the next 5 years?
As with any program, it is vital that you recognize your team. The individuals that will do the heavy lifting are likely going to be school-level personnel. Celebrate, recognize, and reward them whenever you possibly can.
If you run into trouble spots it can help to build networks with other school districts that are using PBIS. Feel free to ask them for their communications, meeting agendas, resources, and even ideas for celebrations.
If you’re ready to take the next step, you should check out our Complete PBIS Field Guide. Or listen to Episode #5 of The LiveSchool Podcast for more tips on taking PBIS district-wide!
If you haven’t, this will be something that you are going to want to lean into as a school district leader. This framework is one that I have seen implemented with success in all settings.
I have over 10 years of implementation experience, and I have picked up many insights and lessons that I’d like to share with other district leaders.
One of the reasons that PBIS is so effective is that the program is based on data collection and data review. That data is used to make informed decisions about what your school community needs.
PBIS is a positive behavioral intervention and support system. The PBIS framework is designed around these principles:
1. Define and teach positive social and behavioral expectations for your school community. This allows your students, staff, and parents what winning looks like in our building.
2. Reinforce positive behavior. The focus is on what we want our students to be doing instead of what we don’t.
Example: Instead of saying “No running in the halls” use positive framing around what you would like students to do such as “Please walk in the hallway”.
3. Use data to guide decision-making. What does student behavior data tell you about what is working and what isn’t?
4. Provide evidence-based interventions for students who need additional support. PBIS is a Tier 1 approach, some of our students will need some more structure.
As part of supporting our community schools we, as district personnel, provide training and resources to assist in the implementation of tiered interventions like Check-In/ Check Out.
PBIS is a lot of things and has a ton of benefits, but it doesn’t solve all of your problems.
It isn’t a magic wand. This program isn’t something that is going to make your students magically behave. Although that would be nice!
It also isn’t something that is done in a silo. If you want this framework to be implemented in the way it was designed to be, it will take your entire school community. That means district personnel, school leaders, teachers, and of course parents.
Contrary to popular belief it also isn’t only for elementary students. This is a framework that can benefit all ages and even adults. It is designed to show what “winning” looks like and when you get there, you are reinforced in a way that incentivizes you to get there again and again.
PBIS is a complex system that takes time to implement and sustain. It involves changing the culture of a district. That’s going to require ongoing effort and dedication to ensure that all students benefit from its implementation.
School district leaders need to think about PBIS in terms of a multi-year implementation in order to ensure that the program is sustained long-term and that the desired outcomes are achieved.
Taking a multi-year approach allows leaders to gradually introduce and refine the system, evaluate its progress, and make adjustments to ensure that it is meeting its goals.
Let’s take a look at the objectives you should be targeting in your first year of PBIS implementation.
Create a team at each school that will serve as your PBIS Tier 1 implementers. This should be a group of 5-6 staff members in various roles in your building that are directly impacted by the school culture. This group should come together with other district groups every quarter.
This should be used as a brainstorming/problem-solving session to ensure the district is rowing the boat in the same direction.
If possible go to a training or find a school that has implemented the PBIS framework. Find a school that is also in the earlier stages of implementation. This will provide you valuable insight into some potential pitfalls and lessons learned.
Define what “winning” looks like in your school and capture that in a way that can be shared with the school community.
Use data to support these claims. If you noticed that more students are struggling during passing periods to follow expectations, what data can you collect to support this claim?
Often for our teachers and leaders, the areas that we feel are most concerning are the ones we experience every day. The lunchroom might feel like a problem area but when you start collecting data you might realize that after school is where most of your students struggle.
Determine 1-2 goals for your first year implementing PBIS. What is meaningful and manageable for your school?
Knowing each year you will add on another 1-2 goals until your Tier 1 is solid and you can begin working on Tier 2 and Tier 3 focus. Don’t choose more than 1-2 goals, it can be tempting but it won't be done well or with fidelity.
Determine the cadence for your meeting school-level team. I highly recommend meeting at least once per month and for 90 minutes or more. This will allow for conversations, problem-solving, and actionable next steps.
Now that you have set the foundation it’s time to take your program to the next level. These are the pieces that are really going to change the culture of your community.
Consider including members of your parent community in your PBIS meeting after the first year. They do not have to attend every meeting but should attend 2-3 meetings per year.
Create 1-2 new goals to add every year to build on previous goals. Be careful not to lose any progress you made in the previous year as you look to expand the program.
If you are ready, a Tier 2 team can be created and should contain at least 2 people from the Tier 1 Team. This team's focus is on those students that need something more than the Tier 1 PBIS expectations.
Understand and share your “why” with your school community. It’s important for your colleagues to understand your goals and motivations for implementing PBIS.
Some people feel very strongly that students should not be rewarded for doing what is expected of them. Your “why” will help others understand the larger impact PBIS points in your school can have on everyone.
You should also begin with your end goal in mind…what are you trying to accomplish in the next 3 years? What about the next 5 years?
As with any program, it is vital that you recognize your team. The individuals that will do the heavy lifting are likely going to be school-level personnel. Celebrate, recognize, and reward them whenever you possibly can.
If you run into trouble spots it can help to build networks with other school districts that are using PBIS. Feel free to ask them for their communications, meeting agendas, resources, and even ideas for celebrations.
If you’re ready to take the next step, you should check out our Complete PBIS Field Guide. Or listen to Episode #5 of The LiveSchool Podcast for more tips on taking PBIS district-wide!
If you haven’t, this will be something that you are going to want to lean into as a school district leader. This framework is one that I have seen implemented with success in all settings.
I have over 10 years of implementation experience, and I have picked up many insights and lessons that I’d like to share with other district leaders.
One of the reasons that PBIS is so effective is that the program is based on data collection and data review. That data is used to make informed decisions about what your school community needs.
PBIS is a positive behavioral intervention and support system. The PBIS framework is designed around these principles:
1. Define and teach positive social and behavioral expectations for your school community. This allows your students, staff, and parents what winning looks like in our building.
2. Reinforce positive behavior. The focus is on what we want our students to be doing instead of what we don’t.
Example: Instead of saying “No running in the halls” use positive framing around what you would like students to do such as “Please walk in the hallway”.
3. Use data to guide decision-making. What does student behavior data tell you about what is working and what isn’t?
4. Provide evidence-based interventions for students who need additional support. PBIS is a Tier 1 approach, some of our students will need some more structure.
As part of supporting our community schools we, as district personnel, provide training and resources to assist in the implementation of tiered interventions like Check-In/ Check Out.
PBIS is a lot of things and has a ton of benefits, but it doesn’t solve all of your problems.
It isn’t a magic wand. This program isn’t something that is going to make your students magically behave. Although that would be nice!
It also isn’t something that is done in a silo. If you want this framework to be implemented in the way it was designed to be, it will take your entire school community. That means district personnel, school leaders, teachers, and of course parents.
Contrary to popular belief it also isn’t only for elementary students. This is a framework that can benefit all ages and even adults. It is designed to show what “winning” looks like and when you get there, you are reinforced in a way that incentivizes you to get there again and again.
PBIS is a complex system that takes time to implement and sustain. It involves changing the culture of a district. That’s going to require ongoing effort and dedication to ensure that all students benefit from its implementation.
School district leaders need to think about PBIS in terms of a multi-year implementation in order to ensure that the program is sustained long-term and that the desired outcomes are achieved.
Taking a multi-year approach allows leaders to gradually introduce and refine the system, evaluate its progress, and make adjustments to ensure that it is meeting its goals.
Let’s take a look at the objectives you should be targeting in your first year of PBIS implementation.
Create a team at each school that will serve as your PBIS Tier 1 implementers. This should be a group of 5-6 staff members in various roles in your building that are directly impacted by the school culture. This group should come together with other district groups every quarter.
This should be used as a brainstorming/problem-solving session to ensure the district is rowing the boat in the same direction.
If possible go to a training or find a school that has implemented the PBIS framework. Find a school that is also in the earlier stages of implementation. This will provide you valuable insight into some potential pitfalls and lessons learned.
Define what “winning” looks like in your school and capture that in a way that can be shared with the school community.
Use data to support these claims. If you noticed that more students are struggling during passing periods to follow expectations, what data can you collect to support this claim?
Often for our teachers and leaders, the areas that we feel are most concerning are the ones we experience every day. The lunchroom might feel like a problem area but when you start collecting data you might realize that after school is where most of your students struggle.
Determine 1-2 goals for your first year implementing PBIS. What is meaningful and manageable for your school?
Knowing each year you will add on another 1-2 goals until your Tier 1 is solid and you can begin working on Tier 2 and Tier 3 focus. Don’t choose more than 1-2 goals, it can be tempting but it won't be done well or with fidelity.
Determine the cadence for your meeting school-level team. I highly recommend meeting at least once per month and for 90 minutes or more. This will allow for conversations, problem-solving, and actionable next steps.
Now that you have set the foundation it’s time to take your program to the next level. These are the pieces that are really going to change the culture of your community.
Consider including members of your parent community in your PBIS meeting after the first year. They do not have to attend every meeting but should attend 2-3 meetings per year.
Create 1-2 new goals to add every year to build on previous goals. Be careful not to lose any progress you made in the previous year as you look to expand the program.
If you are ready, a Tier 2 team can be created and should contain at least 2 people from the Tier 1 Team. This team's focus is on those students that need something more than the Tier 1 PBIS expectations.
Understand and share your “why” with your school community. It’s important for your colleagues to understand your goals and motivations for implementing PBIS.
Some people feel very strongly that students should not be rewarded for doing what is expected of them. Your “why” will help others understand the larger impact PBIS points in your school can have on everyone.
You should also begin with your end goal in mind…what are you trying to accomplish in the next 3 years? What about the next 5 years?
As with any program, it is vital that you recognize your team. The individuals that will do the heavy lifting are likely going to be school-level personnel. Celebrate, recognize, and reward them whenever you possibly can.
If you run into trouble spots it can help to build networks with other school districts that are using PBIS. Feel free to ask them for their communications, meeting agendas, resources, and even ideas for celebrations.
If you’re ready to take the next step, you should check out our Complete PBIS Field Guide. Or listen to Episode #5 of The LiveSchool Podcast for more tips on taking PBIS district-wide!
Faith resides in Oak Park, IL with her husband and son. She currently serves as Assistant Superintendent of Student Services for D212. She is a passionate leader with 18 years of educational experience in K-12th grade. She has extensive experience in MTSS, PBIS, Equity and Justice, Teacher and Principal Mentoring, Special Education, Restorative Practices, and Student Services.
“PBIS” or “Peebis”. Have you heard of it?
If you haven’t, this will be something that you are going to want to lean into as a school district leader. This framework is one that I have seen implemented with success in all settings.
I have over 10 years of implementation experience, and I have picked up many insights and lessons that I’d like to share with other district leaders.
One of the reasons that PBIS is so effective is that the program is based on data collection and data review. That data is used to make informed decisions about what your school community needs.
PBIS is a positive behavioral intervention and support system. The PBIS framework is designed around these principles:
1. Define and teach positive social and behavioral expectations for your school community. This allows your students, staff, and parents what winning looks like in our building.
2. Reinforce positive behavior. The focus is on what we want our students to be doing instead of what we don’t.
Example: Instead of saying “No running in the halls” use positive framing around what you would like students to do such as “Please walk in the hallway”.
3. Use data to guide decision-making. What does student behavior data tell you about what is working and what isn’t?
4. Provide evidence-based interventions for students who need additional support. PBIS is a Tier 1 approach, some of our students will need some more structure.
As part of supporting our community schools we, as district personnel, provide training and resources to assist in the implementation of tiered interventions like Check-In/ Check Out.
PBIS is a lot of things and has a ton of benefits, but it doesn’t solve all of your problems.
It isn’t a magic wand. This program isn’t something that is going to make your students magically behave. Although that would be nice!
It also isn’t something that is done in a silo. If you want this framework to be implemented in the way it was designed to be, it will take your entire school community. That means district personnel, school leaders, teachers, and of course parents.
Contrary to popular belief it also isn’t only for elementary students. This is a framework that can benefit all ages and even adults. It is designed to show what “winning” looks like and when you get there, you are reinforced in a way that incentivizes you to get there again and again.
PBIS is a complex system that takes time to implement and sustain. It involves changing the culture of a district. That’s going to require ongoing effort and dedication to ensure that all students benefit from its implementation.
School district leaders need to think about PBIS in terms of a multi-year implementation in order to ensure that the program is sustained long-term and that the desired outcomes are achieved.
Taking a multi-year approach allows leaders to gradually introduce and refine the system, evaluate its progress, and make adjustments to ensure that it is meeting its goals.
Let’s take a look at the objectives you should be targeting in your first year of PBIS implementation.
Create a team at each school that will serve as your PBIS Tier 1 implementers. This should be a group of 5-6 staff members in various roles in your building that are directly impacted by the school culture. This group should come together with other district groups every quarter.
This should be used as a brainstorming/problem-solving session to ensure the district is rowing the boat in the same direction.
If possible go to a training or find a school that has implemented the PBIS framework. Find a school that is also in the earlier stages of implementation. This will provide you valuable insight into some potential pitfalls and lessons learned.
Define what “winning” looks like in your school and capture that in a way that can be shared with the school community.
Use data to support these claims. If you noticed that more students are struggling during passing periods to follow expectations, what data can you collect to support this claim?
Often for our teachers and leaders, the areas that we feel are most concerning are the ones we experience every day. The lunchroom might feel like a problem area but when you start collecting data you might realize that after school is where most of your students struggle.
Determine 1-2 goals for your first year implementing PBIS. What is meaningful and manageable for your school?
Knowing each year you will add on another 1-2 goals until your Tier 1 is solid and you can begin working on Tier 2 and Tier 3 focus. Don’t choose more than 1-2 goals, it can be tempting but it won't be done well or with fidelity.
Determine the cadence for your meeting school-level team. I highly recommend meeting at least once per month and for 90 minutes or more. This will allow for conversations, problem-solving, and actionable next steps.
Now that you have set the foundation it’s time to take your program to the next level. These are the pieces that are really going to change the culture of your community.
Consider including members of your parent community in your PBIS meeting after the first year. They do not have to attend every meeting but should attend 2-3 meetings per year.
Create 1-2 new goals to add every year to build on previous goals. Be careful not to lose any progress you made in the previous year as you look to expand the program.
If you are ready, a Tier 2 team can be created and should contain at least 2 people from the Tier 1 Team. This team's focus is on those students that need something more than the Tier 1 PBIS expectations.
Understand and share your “why” with your school community. It’s important for your colleagues to understand your goals and motivations for implementing PBIS.
Some people feel very strongly that students should not be rewarded for doing what is expected of them. Your “why” will help others understand the larger impact PBIS points in your school can have on everyone.
You should also begin with your end goal in mind…what are you trying to accomplish in the next 3 years? What about the next 5 years?
As with any program, it is vital that you recognize your team. The individuals that will do the heavy lifting are likely going to be school-level personnel. Celebrate, recognize, and reward them whenever you possibly can.
If you run into trouble spots it can help to build networks with other school districts that are using PBIS. Feel free to ask them for their communications, meeting agendas, resources, and even ideas for celebrations.
If you’re ready to take the next step, you should check out our Complete PBIS Field Guide. Or listen to Episode #5 of The LiveSchool Podcast for more tips on taking PBIS district-wide!
“PBIS” or “Peebis”. Have you heard of it?
If you haven’t, this will be something that you are going to want to lean into as a school district leader. This framework is one that I have seen implemented with success in all settings.
I have over 10 years of implementation experience, and I have picked up many insights and lessons that I’d like to share with other district leaders.
One of the reasons that PBIS is so effective is that the program is based on data collection and data review. That data is used to make informed decisions about what your school community needs.
PBIS is a positive behavioral intervention and support system. The PBIS framework is designed around these principles:
1. Define and teach positive social and behavioral expectations for your school community. This allows your students, staff, and parents what winning looks like in our building.
2. Reinforce positive behavior. The focus is on what we want our students to be doing instead of what we don’t.
Example: Instead of saying “No running in the halls” use positive framing around what you would like students to do such as “Please walk in the hallway”.
3. Use data to guide decision-making. What does student behavior data tell you about what is working and what isn’t?
4. Provide evidence-based interventions for students who need additional support. PBIS is a Tier 1 approach, some of our students will need some more structure.
As part of supporting our community schools we, as district personnel, provide training and resources to assist in the implementation of tiered interventions like Check-In/ Check Out.
PBIS is a lot of things and has a ton of benefits, but it doesn’t solve all of your problems.
It isn’t a magic wand. This program isn’t something that is going to make your students magically behave. Although that would be nice!
It also isn’t something that is done in a silo. If you want this framework to be implemented in the way it was designed to be, it will take your entire school community. That means district personnel, school leaders, teachers, and of course parents.
Contrary to popular belief it also isn’t only for elementary students. This is a framework that can benefit all ages and even adults. It is designed to show what “winning” looks like and when you get there, you are reinforced in a way that incentivizes you to get there again and again.
PBIS is a complex system that takes time to implement and sustain. It involves changing the culture of a district. That’s going to require ongoing effort and dedication to ensure that all students benefit from its implementation.
School district leaders need to think about PBIS in terms of a multi-year implementation in order to ensure that the program is sustained long-term and that the desired outcomes are achieved.
Taking a multi-year approach allows leaders to gradually introduce and refine the system, evaluate its progress, and make adjustments to ensure that it is meeting its goals.
Let’s take a look at the objectives you should be targeting in your first year of PBIS implementation.
Create a team at each school that will serve as your PBIS Tier 1 implementers. This should be a group of 5-6 staff members in various roles in your building that are directly impacted by the school culture. This group should come together with other district groups every quarter.
This should be used as a brainstorming/problem-solving session to ensure the district is rowing the boat in the same direction.
If possible go to a training or find a school that has implemented the PBIS framework. Find a school that is also in the earlier stages of implementation. This will provide you valuable insight into some potential pitfalls and lessons learned.
Define what “winning” looks like in your school and capture that in a way that can be shared with the school community.
Use data to support these claims. If you noticed that more students are struggling during passing periods to follow expectations, what data can you collect to support this claim?
Often for our teachers and leaders, the areas that we feel are most concerning are the ones we experience every day. The lunchroom might feel like a problem area but when you start collecting data you might realize that after school is where most of your students struggle.
Determine 1-2 goals for your first year implementing PBIS. What is meaningful and manageable for your school?
Knowing each year you will add on another 1-2 goals until your Tier 1 is solid and you can begin working on Tier 2 and Tier 3 focus. Don’t choose more than 1-2 goals, it can be tempting but it won't be done well or with fidelity.
Determine the cadence for your meeting school-level team. I highly recommend meeting at least once per month and for 90 minutes or more. This will allow for conversations, problem-solving, and actionable next steps.
Now that you have set the foundation it’s time to take your program to the next level. These are the pieces that are really going to change the culture of your community.
Consider including members of your parent community in your PBIS meeting after the first year. They do not have to attend every meeting but should attend 2-3 meetings per year.
Create 1-2 new goals to add every year to build on previous goals. Be careful not to lose any progress you made in the previous year as you look to expand the program.
If you are ready, a Tier 2 team can be created and should contain at least 2 people from the Tier 1 Team. This team's focus is on those students that need something more than the Tier 1 PBIS expectations.
Understand and share your “why” with your school community. It’s important for your colleagues to understand your goals and motivations for implementing PBIS.
Some people feel very strongly that students should not be rewarded for doing what is expected of them. Your “why” will help others understand the larger impact PBIS points in your school can have on everyone.
You should also begin with your end goal in mind…what are you trying to accomplish in the next 3 years? What about the next 5 years?
As with any program, it is vital that you recognize your team. The individuals that will do the heavy lifting are likely going to be school-level personnel. Celebrate, recognize, and reward them whenever you possibly can.
If you run into trouble spots it can help to build networks with other school districts that are using PBIS. Feel free to ask them for their communications, meeting agendas, resources, and even ideas for celebrations.
If you’re ready to take the next step, you should check out our Complete PBIS Field Guide. Or listen to Episode #5 of The LiveSchool Podcast for more tips on taking PBIS district-wide!
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