School-wide Positive Behavior Supports (SW-PBS)
School-wide Positive Behavior Supports (SW-PBS)
School-wide Positive Behavior Supports includes a range of systemic and individualized strategies for achieving social learning outcomes while preventing or reducing problem behaviors for all students (Horner, Sugai, Lewis-Palmer [2005], School-wide Positive Behavior Support Evaluation Template, www.pbis.org).
SW-PBS is a proactive approach based on a three-tiered model of prevention and intervention. It includes universal prevention through employing school-wide systems of actively teaching and reinforcing appropriate social skills and behavior, using consistent systems to discourage inappropriate behavior, and educating all staff in how to implement and participate in the process. In addition, staff are taught how to collect and utilize data for effective decision-making regarding the social skills and behavior systems and practices in their school. Secondary and tertiary levels of support for students at-risk for and/or who receive special education services related to inappropriate behaviors are addressed through an array of more intensive interventions that are matched to the types of skill deficits exhibited.
The primary goals of SW-PBS are to prevent the development of inappropriate behavior, reduce on-going patterns of problem-behavior, and to increase the likelihood of improved academic performance of all students through teaching and learning time gained when the numbers of inappropriate behaviors are reduced.
SW-PBS is a national and international initiative that is currently being implemented in over 6,000 schools in the United States. A national center for PBS is actively supported through the United States Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). The Missouri initiative is actively supported through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Division of Special Education Effective Practices. Regional SW-PBS consultants may be contacted through the regional professional development centers (RPDC).
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