Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a schoolwide, tiered framework consisting of evidence-based practices and systems, established to improve academic, social, and behavioral outcomes for all students. 

School teams use the PBIS framework to design their system of equitable behavioral support for all students. The emphasis is on preventing problem behavior, developing pro-social skills, and data-based problem-solving for specific behavior concerns (school-wide, class-wide, or student-specific). Schools continually build upon and refine their PBIS framework to meet the changing needs of their community.

Although schoolwide PBIS may look different in each school, certain critical components identify PBIS schools. These components include: 

• Defined expectations and explicit instruction of behavioral/ social expectations

• Acknowledgement of positive behavior

• Ongoing collection and use of data for decision-making

• Structures/Systems focused on creating and maintaining a student experience that is predictable, positive, safe, and consistent

Research indicates that schools implementing PBIS have a more positive school climate, a decrease in behavior incidents, and increased academic performance.