What is PBIS?

A comprehensive Positive Behavior Support Plan includes a range of intervention strategies that are designed to prevent the problem behavior while teaching socially appropriate alternative behaviors. The goal is an enhanced quality of life for individuals involved and their support providers in a variety of settings.
The key features of PBIS, as identified by a pioneer in the field, George Sugai, include (6):

• A prevention-focused continuum of support.
• Proactive instructional approaches to teaching and improving social behaviors.
• Conceptually sound and empirically validated practices.
• Systems change to support effective practices.
• Data-based decision making.

How does it work?A key strategy of the PBIS process is prevention. The majority of students follow the school’s expectations, but are never acknowledged for their positive behavior. Through instruction, comprehension and regular practice, all stakeholders use a consistent set of behavior expectations and rules. When some students do not respond to teaching of the behavioral rules, PBIS schools view it as an opportunity for re-teaching, not just punishment.