Staff and Youth Buy-In Ideas for Initial and Sustainable Facility-Wide Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports Implementation Within Residential and Juvenile Facilities

The positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS) framework is a well-researched framework used to teach, model, and reinforce positive behavior in schools across the country. Many residential and juvenile facilities have adopted the PBIS framework to fit a 24/7 delivery model spanning facility environments and activities (known as facility-wide PBIS [FW-PBIS]); this implementation is still in its early stages. While many FW-PBIS leadership teams report improved outcomes when implementing FW-PBIS, many continue to struggle to gain initial buy-in from youth and staff as well as sustain buy-in after initial implementation. We offer suggestions from the field to promote buy-in from key stakeholders within residential and juvenile settings.

Are We Spinning Our Wheels? The Impact of PBIS, Counseling, and Mentoring on the Behavior and Achievement of Elementary Age African American Males

The gap in educational achievement between African American males and their peers plays a key role in one of the most substantial problems facing American society (Burchinal, McCartney, Steinberg, Crosnoe, Friedman, McLoyd, & Picanta, 2011). However, the challenges faced by those working to narrow the achievement gap between African American males and their counterparts continue to persist. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS), counseling, and mentoring on disruptive classroom behavior among African American males. The researchers also examined whether Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS), counseling, and mentoring had an impact on reading scores of African-American male students in Pre-K through fifth grade. Prior studies in this area indicated that participation in PBIS was not a significant predictor of the number of disruptive behaviors that resulted in office referrals received by African American male students in Pre-K through fifth grade. Findings in this study seemed to be consistent with those studies. However, researchers did find participation in counseling to be a significant predictor of disruptive behaviors among African American male students in Pre-K through fifth grade.

Scaling Up and Integrating Effective Behavioral and Instructional Support Systems (EBISS): A Study of One State’s Professional Development Efforts

Oregon’s Effective Behavioral and Instructional Support Systems (EBISS) initiative was implemented in 25 school districts. The initiative trained and coached district leaders and teachers in the use of the EBISS model through the lens of implementation science. The EBISS model integrates school-wide positive behavior intervention and supports (SWPBIS) and the school-wide reading model (SWRM) to improve schools for all students and to reduce the number of students at risk of learning difficulties. Proximal outcomes included gains in the number of building-level SWPBIS and SWRM implementation teams and the activities of those teams. Distal outcomes included statistically significant gains in oral reading fluency (ORF) in first and third grades and marginally significant decreases in the percentage of students in the intensive category for reading in second and fourth grades. These findings suggest that to optimize improvements in teacher and student outcomes, a rigorous system of professional development and coaching appears necessary.

The Use of PBIS in Resolving Ethical Dilemmas Created by Disproportionate Punitive Practice for Students of Color

Disciplinary practices in the K-12 setting have historically shown a higher propensity for harsher punitive practices for students of color. This is evidenced by years of research describing disproportionate disciplinary practices. These disproportionate practices have created an ethical dilemma in our school system, as students of color have experienced higher rates of office discipline referrals, school suspensions, and expulsions. One method used in the school system to address disproportionate punitive practices is positive behavior intervention supports (PBIS). Positive behavior intervention supports is a systematic pro-active and preventative model that uses evidence-based interventions to reduce behaviors of concern. This chapter examines the use of PBIS to address the ethical dilemma created in the school system due to disproportionate punitive practices.

Tootling With a Randomized Independent Group Contingency to Improve High School Classwide Behavior

The present study examined the effects of tootling, a peer-mediated positive behavior intervention, on students’ classwide disruptive and academically engaged behavior in three general education high school classrooms. A withdrawal design was used to assess the effects of the intervention. Students wrote tootles anonymously on paper slips and placed them into a marked container. A randomized independent group contingency was used to reward students. At the end of the class period, teachers randomly drew three of the submitted tootles and rewarded students about whom the tootles were written. Teachers also randomly drew the names of two students who submitted a tootle and rewarded them as well. All three classrooms displayed decreases in classwide disruptive behavior and increases in academically engaged behavior during intervention phases. Effect size calculations for both disruptive and academically engaged behavior indicated very large overall effects. The results of this study suggest that a modified tootling procedure utilizing a randomized independent group contingency can be an effective intervention for teachers to improve the classwide behavior of students in high school classrooms. Teachers found the intervention at least moderately socially valid and students rated it highly acceptable.