Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a cornerstone of the 21st Century Classroom Management Framework, recognized as a proactive approach. Essential Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a cornerstone of the 21st Century Classroom Management Framework, recognized as a proactive approach essential for establishing the behavioral supports and social culture needed for all students to achieve academic and social success.
Core Principles of PBIS
PBIS implementation is guided by principles that emphasize prevention and data usage:
- Focus on Prevention: The philosophy holds that proactively teaching and reinforcing appropriate behaviors is far more effective than reacting to problem behaviors.
- Explicitly Teach Behavior: Behavioral and social skills must be taught directly, much like academic skills. This means clearly defining, explaining the rationale, modeling, providing practice opportunities, and reinforcing expected actions.
- Acknowledge Appropriate Behavior: Consistent positive reinforcement systems are vital for strengthening desired behaviors.
- Use Data for Decision Making: Regular collection and analysis of behavioral data are required to guide interventions, assess student needs, and accurately measure progress.
- Multi-Tiered Approach: PBIS utilizes different levels of support to match the varying intensity of student needs.
The Three-Tiered Support System
PBIS is structured around a three-tiered framework to provide comprehensive support:
- Tier 1: Universal Supports (80–90% of students): These are preventative and proactive strategies implemented for all students in the school and classroom. Components include clearly defined behavioral expectations, the direct teaching of those behaviors, recognition systems for appropriate behavior, and a consistent response to minor issues. Examples include posted visual expectations and regular lessons on expected behaviors.
- Tier 2: Targeted Supports (5–15% of students): These provide additional, focused interventions for students who need more structure and frequent feedback beyond universal supports. Interventions often involve small-group social skills instruction, self-management strategies, and systems like Check-in/Check-out or daily progress reports.
- Tier 3: Intensive Supports (1–5% of students): This tier provides highly individualized interventions for students with significant needs. Key components include conducting a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) to understand the root cause of the behavior and developing an Individualized Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP), often involving collaboration with specialists.
Classroom-Level Implementation
Effective implementation requires specific systems and routines at the classroom level:
- Classroom Matrix: Teachers must develop a matrix that defines what 3–5 core expectations (e.g., Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe, Be Engaged) look like across various classroom routines and activities, such as whole-class instruction, transitions, and technology use.
- Explicit Instruction: All procedures and expectations defined in the matrix must be explicitly taught through modeling, guided practice, and specific feedback. For example, a teacher must define the steps for a transition routine (stop, listen, move quickly and quietly) and provide practice until the students master it.
- Data-Driven Decisions: Teachers must regularly collect and analyze behavioral data (e.g., frequency, duration, time, or location data) to identify patterns in student behavior. Analyzing this data allows the teacher to develop targeted interventions—such as adjusting a seating arrangement or creating a specific re-entry routine after recess—and continuously monitor the intervention’s effectiveness.