Positive Behavior Interventions and Support

Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS)

School-wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) at Riley

PBIS is an approach in behavior management on a school-wide, in a specific setting such as the playground, halls, cafeteria, bathrooms, the classroom, or with an individual student.

It is a system to teach students what is expected of them, to acknowledge students when expectations are met, and to have staff be consistent in correcting and acknowledging the expected student behaviors.

PBIS methods are research-based and have been proven to significantly reduce the occurrence of problem behaviors. One of the keys is to focus on prevention. It is based on the idea that when students are taught clearly defined behavioral expectations and provided with predictable responses to their behavior, both positive and corrective, 80-85% of students will meet these expectations. The 15-20% of the students not responding to universal interventions will receive additional support through group and individual interventions. 

Another key element is an analysis of discipline referral data. This team-based approach to data analysis allow Riley’s PBIS team to identify problem areas, brainstorm interventions, acknowledge students exhibiting positive behavior, and communicate findings to staff, students and parents.

The key components of an effective school wide PBIS system involve:

• Clearly defining and teaching a set of behavioral expectations
• Consistently acknowledging and rewarding appropriate behavior
• Constructively addressing problematic behavior
• Effectively using behavioral data to assess progress

Through this system we have developed our “Wildcash.”  Students earn blue tickets for exhibiting positive behavior.  When the students earn these Wildcash, this allows them a chance to enter a drawing to win rewards.  The rewards are something small and vary throughout the year.  Once again this is another way to reinforce positive behavior.