Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) is a framework for creating school climates that are positive, safe and predictable for students and staff. The heart of PBIS is the development of the Matrix of common behavior expectations across all settings on campus, centered on shared core values such as respect, responsibility, safety, and effort. For example, the matrix defines the specific and observable behaviors that demonstrate Respect in the classroom, the lunchroom, on the playground, and in the restrooms. Schools will often use an acronym such as ROAR, The 3 Rs, PAWS, etc, to make them easy to remember.
The key focus is on teaching behavior as relentlessly as we teach academic skills and to provide trauma-sensitive responses to social-behavior errors. Students are taught the matrix behaviors throughout the school year. Appropriate behavior is acknowledged with "caught being good" tickets and rewards. Behavior errors are addressed by providing students opportunities to reflect on their choices and relearn the matrix behaviors through logical consequences. PBIS is an evidence based practice for disrupting the school to prison pipeline and improving outcomes for students.
Data-based decision making is a core feature. Office Data Referrals (ODRs) are tracked through the SWIS system, and the information is used for planning and problem solving. Starting in the 2017-18 school year, all of our schools adopted a universal screening process to identify students who may need additional social emotional or behavior support. This helps us match students to early interventions or community resources.
Each school's PBIS Leadership team meets monthly to review data, design lesson plans, plan reward activities, provide professional development to the school staff, and monitor the quality of their implementation by completing fidelity surveys. In addition, they participate in professional development and coaching with the district's MTSS/PBIS Specialist, as well as with the Los Angeles County of Education's PBIS division.