Practice Briefs

Practice briefs summarize the research PBIS practices and offer strategies for implementing them across lots of settings. Think of these as how-to resources with references, citations, and practical applications.

Topics

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Keywords

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Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF): Teaching and Learning Stories, A Demonstration Brief

mental-healthsocial-emotional-well-being
Implementation
Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF)
Special education
This brief builds from the progressive development and increasing momentum of integrating SMH within a PBIS framework, with this work on ISF beginning in the late 2000s (see Barrett et al., 2013). Around the nation, many communities are implementing PBIS with an ISF focus—recognizing the complementary and mutual benefits of education and mental health systems working together with other youth-serving systems (e.g., child welfare, juvenile justice; Lever et al., 2003) and co-designing a continuum of supports with families and youth (Weist et al., 2017).
Last Updated:
1/24/2024

Is Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) an Evidence-Based Practice?

school-wide
equity
Evaluation
Fidelity
Research
Tier 1
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a widely implemented framework for promoting positive school systems and fostering students' social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health. Numerous studies indicate that PBIS implementation improves student outcomes, educator practices, and school systems. This brief presents the findings of a systematic literature review exploring how Tier 1 PBIS implementation affects valued educational outcomes. Findings demonstrate that PBIS can be designated an evidence-based practice for reducing exclusionary discipline and improving social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes.
Last Updated:
10/3/2023

Extending Schoolwide Systems to Support Extracurricular Activities

school-wide
high-school-pbis
Community
Implementation
Social skills
Tier 1
Although extracurricular activities are valuable for school communities, they present specific contextual challenges including a) scheduling outside of school hours/locations, b) attendees who may not be directly connected to the school community, c) large groups together in unstructured spaces, d) potential opportunities for increased access to prohibited items such as weapons, alcohol ordrugs, and e) likelihood for behaviors that may be difficult to regulate, supervise, or monitor. When communities gather in large group settings, it is important to define community agreements through a process that involves members of the community. The end product is a clear document that describes the community expectations for being together by a) providing consistent messaging and teaching, b) connecting extracurricular events as an extension of the school environment, c) emphasizing positive prosocial behaviors that are reflective of the values of the school community and d) providing explicit ways to ask for help or report concerns. It is equally important to intentionally foster positive relationships across community members, including those from groups least likely to benefit from existing educational systems.
Last Updated:
9/6/2023

Instructional and Restorative Alternatives to Exclusionary Discipline: A Guide to Implementing the Five Components of the Inclusive Skill-building Learning Approach (ISLA)

equity
mental-healthsocial-emotional-well-being
school-wide
Alternatives to Suspension
Climate
Implementation
Restorative Practices
Social relationships
Social relationships
In this brief, we outline the five components of the ISLA model, as well as steps that school and district teams can take to begin implementing these practices within their positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) framework.
Last Updated:
7/21/2023

School Mental Health Integration: Lessons Learned from Implementation of the Interconnected Systems Framework across Two Local Education Agencies

mental-healthsocial-emotional-well-being
Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF)
Coaches and district leaders can use this brief to support their efforts of aligning and integrating School Mental Health (SMH) and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). The experiences of two districts are described to provide context in the application of the Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF). 
Last Updated:
4/20/2023

PBIS Adaptations in Alternative Programs

juvenile-justice
Alternative Settings
Behavior
Residential
In this brief, we present results from a facilitated discussion held at the 2022 PBIS Leadership Forum focused on modifications needed to PBIS in alternative programs, and examples of those modifications. In addition, we discuss how those modifications maintain fidelity to essential elements, and provide recommendations based on our discussion.
Last Updated:
4/20/2023

Measuring Fidelity of Core Features of Tier 2 Systems and Practices in Schools

coaching
data-based-decision-making
school-wide
Behavior
Evaluation
Fidelity
Implementation
Tier 2
Even when schools are implementing Tier 1 systems and practices with high fidelity, some students need more targeted and systematic support. Tier 2 practices provide students with an additional layer of rapid and efficient behavior support. However, school teams will need to regularly measure the fidelity of both core features of these Tier 2 practices and the Tier 2 systems supporting those practices. This brief describes the core features of Tier 2 systems and practices and provides examples of researcher-developed measures used to assess them.
Last Updated:
3/23/2023

Systematic Screening in Tiered Systems: Lessons Learned at the Elementary School Level

data-based-decision-making
districtstate-pbis
mental-healthsocial-emotional-well-being
Action plan
Assessment
Behavior
Research
This brief presents outcomes across elementary schools on their use of a social/emotional screener as part of their data-decision process.
Last Updated:
3/23/2023

School-based Screening for Student Substance Misuse

data-based-decision-making
opioid-crisis-and-substance-misuse
school-wide
Alternatives to Suspension
Assessment
Behavior
Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF)
Screening
The effects of the opioid crisis have been felt across the country, and many educators are seeking ways to be proactive around their students’ needs. An important step toward this goal is identifying students who need support. The Center on PBIS website (PBIS.org) provides multiple resources with provide general guidance on screener selection and implementation. This practice brief is intended to provide educators with more specific, supplemental direction for substance misuse screening and a brief overview of how such screening can be combined with brief intervention and referral to treatment.
Last Updated:
3/22/2023

Systematic Screening: Practicalities & Considerations

data-based-decision-making
school-wide
Screening
Tier 1
In this practice brief, we share highlights from the 2022 PBIS Leadership Forum facilitated discussion: Systematic Screening: Practicalities & Considerations. Specifically, we describe what is meant by “systematic screening,” explain the importance of systematic screening, provide information on resources to get started with systematic screening efforts, and summarize some questions addressed during the discussion.
Last Updated:
3/9/2023

Organizing Supporting Adults to Implement PCBS

classroom-pbis
mental-healthsocial-emotional-well-being
Academics
Behavior
Implementation
Tier 1
There is a strong research base for practices associated with Positive Classroom Behavior Supports (PCBS). Much of this information can be found in the Center on PBIS publications from the classroom section of the website (https://www.pbis.org/publications/all-publications#classroom-pbis). An ongoing concern in the field is how to support educators in selecting and implementing with fidelity, the evidence-based practices matched to student needs. The classroom strand at the recent 2022 PBIS Leadership Forum provided information on high leverage social-emotional-behavioral practices. Strategies were provided for integrating academic and behavior supports. Additionally, specific ideas were shared for supporting students with disabilities within the classroom setting.
Last Updated:
2/6/2023

IES MTSS-B Trial: Key Takeaways for District and State Leaders

school-wide
Implementation
Policy
Research
Tier 1
The purpose of this brief is to review the latest randomized controlled trial (RCT) examining effects of positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS), an example of a multi-tiered system of support for behavior (MTSS-B), on a range of student outcomes. The study explored one approach to implementing PBIS and focused on students’ behavioral and academic outcomes. Although it did not identify positive behavioral and academic effects for all students, students with the most behavior needs saw improved reading scores and decreased rates of disruptive behavior. Other important outcomes, including those related to classroom management and school climate, also saw some improvements. We share findings and key takeaways from this new study, in the context of the broader research literature, to guide local educational agency (LEAs) and state educational agencies (SEAs) in their use of MTSS to improve student outcomes.
Last Updated:
1/18/2023

The Use of Level Systems in Alternative Settings: Fidelity, Design, and Alignment with PBIS

coaching
juvenile-justice
school-wide
Alignment
Alternative Settings
Behavior
Fidelity
Residential
Secure Care
Level systems are a widely used in alternative settings. When these settings adopt PBIS, it is important to consider design, implementation, and alignment of level systems with PBIS principles and practices. This Practice Brief stems from our Facilitated Discussion at the 2021 PBIS Leadership Forum. We describe themes that emerged from that discussion, and provide specific recommendations for aligning level systems with PBIS.
Last Updated:
1/5/2023

Strategies for De-escalating Student Behavior in the Classroom

classroom-pbis
school-wide
restraintseclusion
Behavior
Discipline
Implementation
Social skills
This practice brief provides practical, research-based strategies educators can use to de-escalate challenging student behavior in the classroom. Despite the development of supportive, safe, and predictable school environments, students may, at times, become agitated, and their behavior may escalate to unsafe levels. With some advance planning, educators can reduce reliance on reactive strategies, such as punitive or exclusionary practices (e.g., restraint, seclusion, suspension, expulsion) in favor of safer, more instructive, and inclusive approaches.
Last Updated:
9/20/2022

Supporting Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders Through School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports

classroom-pbis
students-with-disabilities
school-wide
Behavior
Implementation
PBIS Foundations
Social skills
Special education
Tier 1
Students with disabilities benefit from positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS; Meyer et al., 2021). The use of schoolwide and classwide PBIS shows promise in helping educators to integrate evidence-based practices for the benefit of all students, including those diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The purpose of this brief is to provide educators with a quick and easy resource for identifying effective practices for supporting all students, especially those diagnosed with ASD within general education contexts.
Last Updated:
8/16/2022

Creating a Classroom Teaching Matrix

classroom-pbis
school-wide
Behavior
PBIS Foundations
Social skills
Tier 1
Establishing positive classroom expectations, or norms, that reflect the shared values of a classroom community (i.e., educators, students, families) is an important step toward creating a positive teaching and learning environment. This brief provides guidance for creating and using a classroom teaching matrix to explicitly identify, define, and teach (a) predictable classroom routines, (b) positive classroom expectations, and (c) critical social, emotional, and behavioral (SEB) skills.
Last Updated:
8/12/2022

Centering Equity within the PBIS Framework: Overview and Evidence of Effectiveness

equity
school-wide
Climate
Discipline
Ethnicity
Evaluation
Research
Tier 1
Racial and ethnic inequities in school discipline are widespread and persistent, even in schools implementing PBIS with fidelity. Yet integrating components of a multicomponent equity-centered approach into existing tiered frameworks is showing promise for improving equity in student outcomes. This brief describes the Center on PBIS’s 5-Point Equity Approach and the evidence for its positive effects on discipline disproportionality.
Last Updated:
7/21/2022

Psychometric Properties of Behavior Screening Tools

data-based-decision-making
mental-healthsocial-emotional-well-being
school-wide
Assessment
Behavior
Screening
Psychometric properties reflect the overall quality of behavioral screening tools. Understanding such concepts helps you select a behavioral screener that best fits your district or school context and provides accurate and valuable information for data-based decision-making. This brief describes key elements of reliable screening tools.
Last Updated:
7/19/2022

Providing Access to School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities

students-with-disabilities
school-wide
Special education
This brief discusses ways to design PBIS systems that are accessible to all students. It describes the importance of including all students in PBIS structures, gives practical strategies to help schools achieve this goal, and includes the story of a student who benefited from full access to his school’s PBIS system.
Last Updated:
7/19/2022

Drilling Down District Data: Analyzing Reach and Fidelity of PBIS Implementation

data-based-decision-making
districtstate-pbis
Action plan
Assessment
Fidelity
This brief provides district PBIS leadership teams a framework to examine school-level fidelity and self-assessment data to guide resource, professional development, and technical assistance decision making.
Last Updated:
6/10/2022

PBIS Implementation in Rural Schools: Voices from the Field

coaching
districtstate-pbis
school-wide
Action plan
Community
Evaluation
Implementation
Outcome
Rural
This brief summarizes themes from interviews with seven district- and school-level leaders who were asked to share experiences and lessons learned while implementing PBIS in their rural school(s). The results offer a starting place for discussion on what is important to consider when implementing PBIS in rural school settings. 
Last Updated:
6/7/2022

Wise Use of Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) to Achieve Equity in School Discipline

equity
Alignment
Climate
Discipline
Ethnicity
Policy
Special education
Disproportionality in exclusionary school discipline is a longstanding challenge in general and special education. To reduce disproportionality in discipline in a way that produces measurable results, federal law provides a mechanism referred to as Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS). Whether a school district has been cited for significant disproportionality, is out of compliance, or is voluntarily directing funds to reducing disproportionality in discipline, this brief provides background on CEIS and outlines best practices for how state, district, and building administrators can invest these funds most effectively to achieve equity in school discipline.
Last Updated:
6/6/2022

Remote Instruction as Suspension: Concerns and Guidance

classroom-pbis
students-with-disabilities
school-wide
Alternatives to Suspension
Behavior
Discipline
Special education
Removing students from the classroom and placing them in remote instruction for their behavior is an emerging form of discipline (Jones, 2020). The purpose of this brief is to describe this form of discipline, examine its implications and potential negative impacts, and provide guiding principles for improving behavior through evidence-based approaches.
Last Updated:
6/3/2022

Beginning to Address Equity in Tier 1 Systems

equity
Tier 1
Equity work has long been associated with the notion that educational outcomes will improve if practitioners provide individual support to the "right students," typically meaning students of color, students from marginalized groups, or students underserved by our social institutions. While well-intentioned, this approach is shortsighted and ignores the role of systems, including education, in outcomes. This brief explains how school teams can begin to address long-standing systemic inequities via PBIS core components to create and sustain change.
Last Updated:
5/26/2022

School Refusal: Assessment and Intervention

high-school-pbis
mental-healthsocial-emotional-well-being
Behavior
This brief provides an overview of how to identify and determine why a student may be avoiding or refusing to attend school, and ways that schoolwide positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) teams can help to assess and address school refusal. We will introduce a research-based framework to engage in problem-solving to better support students who exhibit school refusal that can supplement more detailed reviews of assessment and intervention (e.g., Kearney, 2007).
Last Updated:
4/6/2022

Function-Based Support: An Overview

data-based-decision-making
family
school-wide
Behavior
FBA/BIP/BSP
Individual
Intensive
PBIS Foundations
Tier 3
This brief describes how educators use a function-based approach to (a) prevent contextually inappropriate behaviors and (b) teach and encourage social, emotional, and behavioral skills throughout the PBIS continuum of support. In addition, this brief highlights critical features of effective functional behavioral assessment (FBA) and behavior support plans (BSP).
Last Updated:
1/7/2022

The Whys and Hows of Screening: Frequently Asked Questions for Families

data-based-decision-making
family
school-wide
PBIS Foundations
Screening
Tier 1
Using academic and behavior screening tools, educators actively look for students who might need extra help to be successful in school. This practice brief helps families understand the logic and steps taken as part of school-wide universal screening, and answers some frequently asked questions about systematic behavior screening.
Last Updated:
1/7/2022

Installing a Universal Behavior Screening Tool: Questions to Consider

data-based-decision-making
school-wide
Assessment
Behavior
Evaluation
Screening
Systematic screening is one proactive way educators can identify students who might need additional support, even when Tier 1 practices are being implemented with fidelity. In this brief, we offer guiding questions for installing a universal behavior screening tool in your school or district centered around five topics: setting up structures, providing professional learning, before your screening window opens, during your screening window, and after your screening window closes.
Last Updated:
1/7/2022

Strengthening Family Participation in Addressing Behavior in an IEP

data-based-decision-making
students-with-disabilities
family
Assessment
Behavior
Discipline
FBA/BIP/BSP
Special education
Tier 3
The Individualized Education Plan (IEP) document is a legal plan for special education created by a team that includes educators and family members. The IEP contains goals that promote student success, and, if needed, might include goals on ways to improve behavior. As families might find it helpful to plan ahead for IEP meetings, this brief is designed to help families prepare for an IEP meeting with tips to help strengthen the IEP team planning for any needed behavioral goals and supports.
Last Updated:
12/10/2021

Helping Families Prepare for an IEP Meeting

students-with-disabilities
family
Academics
Behavior
Individual
Special education
Tier 3
The IEP document is a legal plan for special education which is created by a team of educators and the child's family. This team meets yearly to create an IEP that provides information about the specifically designed instruction, related services, and other supports for the child. This tip sheet shares some ideas in how families can prepare for the IEP meeting to promote full participation in their child's education program.
Last Updated:
12/9/2021

Questions for Families to Consider when Concerned about their Child’s Behavior

students-with-disabilities
family
Assessment
Behavior
Individual
Intensive
Special education
Tier 3
Are you concerned about your child’s behavior in school? This document is intended to assist families of children with disabilities that already have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) in asking questions to learn more about their child’s behavior in school. Some examples of questions families can ask their school are included and organized by the level of behavior concern, followed by a list of additional resources to consider.
Last Updated:
12/8/2021

Remote Instruction Strategy Matrix for Collaboration with Families

family
Academics
Behavior
Implementation
Social relationships
Rural
Successful partnerships between schools and parents/families benefit the academic success and social-emotional development of students. The Remote Instruction Strategy Matrix for Collaboration with Families is designed for educators (e.g., teachers, administrators, school counselors) to use as they collaborate with parents or families to be used within a continuum of supports based on available technology. This allows schools to coordinate efforts that match the regularity and depth of communication and supports based on identified student needs.
Last Updated:
10/14/2021

Restraint and Seclusion Alternatives in All U.S. States and Territories: A Review of Legislation and Policies

students-with-disabilities
districtstate-pbis
restraintseclusion
Discipline
Evaluation
Policy
This evaluation brief (a) describes methods of a systematic review of state policy and legislation on R/S, (b) summarizes how R/S is addressed in state policy and legislation, (c) discusses the extent to which policy and legislation emphasizes alternatives to R/S, and (d) based on this review, provides considerations for preventing or reducing R/S, such as organizing a continuum of evidence-based prevention practices within a positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) framework to address the use of R/S.
Last Updated:
8/30/2021

Using a PBIS Framework: Working Smarter, Not Harder in Rural Schools

coaching
data-based-decision-making
school-wide
Action plan
Climate
Evaluation
Tier 1
Rural
Given some of the barriers faced by schools, especially those in rural areas, the Working Smarter Matrix matches interventions with current PBIS resources to assist a school team in using an efficient and effective problem-solving process. As part of the problem-solving process and after PBIS teams have identified and analyzed the problem, they can use this matrix to select an appropriate intervention approach and locate corresponding, hyperlinked resources to support that approach.
Last Updated:
8/2/2021

Enhancing Family-School Collaboration with Diverse Families

equity
family
school-wide
Administrator
Climate
Community
Ethnicity
Social relationships
This brief is designed to help inform school leaders about how intentional collaboration with diverse families can be created through environments in which educators work alongside families on behalf of the students they serve. Recommendations for action are included.
Last Updated:
6/23/2021

Promising Practices for Improving the Middle to High School Transition for Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

students-with-disabilities
high-school-pbis
mental-healthsocial-emotional-well-being
Social relationships
Special education
Systems Alignment
Tier 3
Transition
Youth Voice
In this practice brief, we describe several current examples of approaches that are aimed at improving outcomes for students entering high school. Additionally, we present strategies to disrupt the negative trajectory for students with EBD, who seldom receive coordinated, individualized supports during the critical transition from middle to high school.
Last Updated:
5/10/2021

Obtaining Stakeholder Feedback to Improve the Middle to High School Transition

family
high-school-pbis
mental-healthsocial-emotional-well-being
Action plan
Implementation
Outcome
Systems Alignment
Transition
Youth Voice
In this practice brief, we explore feedback from a group of eighth and ninth grade students, families, and educators on what has been challenging, what has been missing, and what is needed during the transition from middle to high school for students with emotional and behavioral disorders. We also discuss the process for gathering stakeholder feedback and some feasible next steps for schools and districts who are interested in utilizing such valuable input for improving their systems of support.
Last Updated:
5/10/2021

Advanced Tiers in High School: Lessons Learned from Initial Implementation

data-based-decision-making
high-school-pbis
school-wide
Implementation
Tier 2
Tier 3
An increasing number of high schools have adopted Tier 1 PBIS; however, implementation of advanced tiers of PBIS in high schools is less common and specific guidance is scarce. To address this need and better understand the level of support needed to successfully implement advanced tiers of PBIS at the high school level, the National Center on PBIS is conducting a model demonstration with a cohort of four high schools. The intent of this brief is to share lessons learned related to strengths and challenges that have influenced the initial implementation of advanced tiers of support for schools and lessons learned for district leaders and trainers to consider when supporting high schools.
Last Updated:
5/3/2021

Selecting a Universal Behavior Screening Tool: Questions to Consider

data-based-decision-making
school-wide
Screening
In this practice brief, we offer five questions for you to consider as you decide which systematic screening tool to adopt, install, and sustain. These questions are intended to support you to identify your available resources and your screening needs.
Last Updated:
5/3/2021

Guidance for Systematic Screening: Lessons Learned from Practitioners

data-based-decision-making
Screening
Tier 1
In this brief, we describe experiences of three school districts in various U.S. geographic regions as they installed screening tools as part of their screening processes. Education leaders have generously shared their advice for practitioners throughout the nation. We share five lessons learned from district leaders, including some selected quotes (see boxes). Leaders’ insights may be helpful for educators already involved in systematic screening as well as those who are newer to the process.
Last Updated:
5/3/2021

Why Prioritize Behavior Support?

districtstate-pbis
school-wide
Administrator
Behavior
PBIS Foundations
Policy
This brief describes why it's critical to continue to prioritize behavior support in addition to academic, social, and emotional supports. Without effective behavior support, research has documented that students and educators experience negative outcomes. With effective behavior support implemented within a PBIS framework, rigorous research has demonstrated that students and educators experience positive outcomes.
Last Updated:
3/25/2021

PBIS Forum 17 Practice Brief: Facility-wide PBIS Implementation as Viewed by Roundtable Participants and From the Field

juvenile-justice
Implementation
Secure Care
Systems Alignment
Participants in the 2017 PBIS Forum's juvenile justice strand were invited to a Roundtable discussion on issues related to PBIS implementation in juvenile justice settings. Attendees chose one of four topical small groups to share ideas about commonly-asked questions from practitioners who are considering or implementing PBIS in juvenile justice settings. Highlights of the small group discussions are presented in this Practice Brief.
Last Updated:
3/25/2021

PBIS High School Implementation: Leveraging Features of the PBIS Framework to Support College and Career Readiness

data-based-decision-making
high-school-pbis
school-wide
Academics
Alignment
Systems Alignment
The purpose of this brief is to provide guidance and concrete examples to school personnel of how schools can leverage an existing PBIS framework to support CCR efficiently and effectively.
Last Updated:
3/3/2021

Building a Culture of Staff Wellness Through Multi-Tiered System of Supports

mental-healthsocial-emotional-well-being
Administrator
Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF)
Tier 1
Tier 2
Tier 3
The purpose of this brief is to provide recommendations to district and school leadership teams on how the components of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) can be used to prioritize staff health and wellbeing.
Last Updated:
3/2/2021

Supporting PBIS Implementation Through Phases of Crisis Recovery

crisis-recovery
school-wide
districtstate-pbis
Action plan
Implementation
Trauma
As school and district communities consider options for effectively supporting students, educators, and families during and after a crisis, it can be difficult to identify critical impactful actions. The PBIS framework can serve as a road map to meeting this challenge. This practice brief provides strategies to guide implementation efforts through the various phase of crisis recovery for schools and districts that are (a) getting started or (b) strengthening and maintaining current implementation. 
Last Updated:
2/19/2021

School Mental Health Quality Framework and Tools Alignment Guide

mental-healthsocial-emotional-well-being
Alignment
Evaluation
Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF)
The National Center for School Mental Health provides practitioners a summary of PBIS, the Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF), and Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems (CSMHS) tools and resources that districts and schools might use to improve their efforts to support the social-emotional-behavioral health and wellness of every student. The guidance includes consideration for use of high-quality resources, what the frameworks have in common, and how to add value in their use to enhance existing efforts.
Last Updated:
2/19/2021

Addressing the Growing Problem of Domestic Sex Trafficking in Minors through Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports

mental-healthsocial-emotional-well-being
school-wide
Action plan
Screening
Tier 1
Tier 2
Tier 3
Trauma
The aim of this practice brief is to highlight the broader issue of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) and suggest a framework for integrating school-based prevention and intervention strategies through Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). We provide a brief review of DMST and connections to PBIS; we then discuss how actions within the PBIS framework may help prevent DMST and provide assistance to student victims and their families. 
Last Updated:
1/29/2021

Effective Instruction as a Protective Factor

classroom-pbis
mental-healthsocial-emotional-well-being
school-wide
Academics
Behavior
Tier 1
Effective instruction can be a protective factor for student wellness, mitigating competing risk factors. In this brief, we highlight key considerations and resources for educators to (a) create an effective context for learning, (b) emphasize appropriate content, and (c) use data-driven instructional practices to increase the likelihood that all students experience academic, social, emotional, and behavioral benefit.
Last Updated:
1/25/2021

Integrated Tiered Fidelity Inventory Companion Guide

equity
mental-healthsocial-emotional-well-being
school-wide
Alignment
Evaluation
Fidelity
Tier 1
This guide is intended to support school teams, coaches, and trainers working to focus on cultural responsiveness and support for mental health and wellness within the PBIS framework while also navigating the ongoing challenges of the 2020-2021 school year. This companion guide is not an additional fidelity of implementation measure. It is an action planning tool to use alongside the validated TFI to focus PBIS implementation to better meet the complex needs of students and staff.
Last Updated:
1/25/2021

Improving Attendance in a Remote Learning Environment

data-based-decision-making
high-school-pbis
school-wide
Administrator
Assessment
Behavior
Outcome
Tier 1
This brief adapts the suggestions and strategies provided in Improving Attendance and Reducing Chronic Absenteeism to guide practice during remote instruction. Latest revision includes a case study that illustrates the guidance.
Last Updated:
12/23/2020

Habits of Effective Classroom Practice

classroom-pbis
Behavior
Implementation
PBIS Foundations
Tier 1
This practice brief describes how we (a) develop habits of effective classroom practice and (b) expand effective habits in our schools, districts, and states.
Last Updated:
12/18/2020

Systematic Screening for Behavior in Current K-12 Instructional Settings

data-based-decision-making
Screening
Tier 1
With the new range of instructional contexts being offered, many educators are seeking guidance regarding how to conduct systematic screenings for behavior across these different environments. In this brief, we offer three considerations for those preparing to screen for the first time and for those continuing with screening within a tiered system for in-person, remote, or hybrid instructional environments.
Last Updated:
11/23/2020

Adapting PBIS Practices for Rural Settings: Remote Instruction Strategy Matrix

classroom-pbis
school-wide
Rural
Behavior
Implementation
Social relationships
Academics
Rural education settings often have accessibility strengths and weaknesses that can make virtual instruction challenging. A range of resources are needed that can be tailored in intensity to meet various student needs (social, emotional, behavioral well-being, academic engagement) adapted to different types of technology. The Remote Instruction Strategy Matrix with corresponding resources provides educators with a continuum of learning support strategies that can be followed by adaptations for implementation based on available technology. 
Last Updated:
11/20/2020

Remote Learning for Families: Keeping it Accessible, Keeping it Positive

family
Academics
Special education
This practice brief describes information and tips for families regarding accessibility during remote learning.
Last Updated:
10/13/2020

Creating a PBIS Behavior Teaching Matrix for Remote Instruction

classroom-pbis
Implementation
PBIS Foundations
Tier 1
This practice brief shares tips for maintaining continuity of learning through defining classroom expectations for remote (i.e., distance) instruction and online learning environments. With a few adaptations, teachers can use a PBIS framework to make remote learning safe, predictable, and positive.
Last Updated:
9/22/2020

Creating a PBIS Behavior Teaching Matrix for Remote Instruction (Versión en español)

classroom-pbis
Implementation
PBIS Foundations
Tier 1
This practice brief shares tips for maintaining continuity of learning through defining classroom expectations for remote (i.e., distance) instruction and online learning environments. With a few adaptations, teachers can use a PBIS framework to make remote learning safe, predictable, and positive.
Last Updated:
9/22/2020

Conducting the Tiered Fidelity Inventory and Walkthrough Remotely

data-based-decision-making
school-wide
Action plan
Evaluation
Fidelity
Implementation
Evidence-based frameworks, such as positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS), provide a critical foundation to meet the needs of students, families, and educators in this new context, but only when implemented with fidelity. This practice brief (a) provides a rationale for conducting the Tiered Fidelity Inventory (TFI)l; (b) shares guidance on how to complete the TFI, including the walkthrough, remotely; and (b) responds to frequently asked questions related to conducting the TFI remotely.
Last Updated:
9/11/2020

Supporting Students with Disabilities in the Classroom within a PBIS Framework

classroom-pbis
students-with-disabilities
Behavior
Special education
Tier 1
Students with disabilities are more likely to experience exclusionary and reactive discipline practices than students without disabilities. Fortunately, when educators implement positive, proactive, and evidence-based practices within a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework, students with disabilities benefit. In this practice brief, we describe the “top ten” intervention strategies effective educators implement to support all students, including students with disabilities, in their classroom.
Last Updated:
9/1/2020

High School Acknowledgement Systems

high-school-pbis
school-wide
PBIS Foundations
Social relationships
Youth Voice
This practice brief focuses on effective ways to build an acknowledgement system that works in high school. We start by suggesting why considering a formal acknowledgment system is appropriate in high school, and then review examples of strategies that have been demonstrated (descriptively or empirically) to be effective.
Last Updated:
8/14/2020

Adjusting PBIS for Students New to School: Starting the Year with Increased Support

classroom-pbis
data-based-decision-making
Behavior
Implementation
Social skills
Tier 1
Young students new to school experience a shift in their typical environment. This practice brief provides strategies for how school teams can increase behavior support at the beginning of the school year to support these students.
Last Updated:
6/8/2020

Guidance on Adapting Check-in Check-out (CICO) for Distance Learning

classroom-pbis
family
mental-healthsocial-emotional-well-being
Behavior
Screening
Tier 2
This brief provides considerations and suggestions for adapting Check-in Check-out (CICO), an evidence-based Tier 2 school intervention, for situations where students are learning from home.
Last Updated:
5/8/2020

PBIS in Juvenile Justice Programs: Planning for Long-Term Implementation Juvenile Justice

juvenile-justice
Alternative Settings
Secure Care
Residential
This Practice Brief was developed as result of the roundtable dialogue that occurred at the 2019 PBIS Leadership Forum in Chicago, IL and is intended to be a practical tool and resource for anyone who is leading or supporting PBIS in juvenile justice programs or other types of alternative, residential programs. Common reasons that can prevent sustainability of PBIS over time and recommendations for enhancing sustainability will be described.
Last Updated:
5/6/2020

PBIS in Early Childhood Classrooms on School Campuses

early-childhood-pbis
Implementation
Tier 1
This Practice Brief was developed as result of the roundtable dialogue that occurred at the 2019 PBIS Leadership Forum in Chicago, IL for the purpose of exploring how all classes on school campuses can meet the developmental needs of students, specifically our youngest students.
Last Updated:
5/6/2020

IDEA & Students with Disabilities

students-with-disabilities
school-climate-transformation-grant-sctg
Special education
Policy
Tier 3
Climate
This Practice Brief was developed as result of the roundtable dialogue that occurred at the 2019 PBIS Leadership Forum in Chicago, IL and is not intended to provide comprehensive legal guidance. Districts/schools should consult with their district’s legal resources for deciding on legal actions and procedures.
Last Updated:
5/6/2020

Universal Screening – Systematic Screening to Shape Instruction

data-based-decision-making
Screening
This Practice Brief was developed as result of the roundtable dialogue that occurred at the 2019 PBIS Leadership Forum in Chicago, IL.
Last Updated:
5/6/2020

Advancing Family-School Collaboration in PBIS Through the FSCA

family
Community
Implementation
This Practice Brief was developed as result of the roundtable dialogue that occurred at the 2019 PBIS Leadership Forum in Chicago, IL with the purpose to describe the Family-School-Community Alliance (FSCA) and the FSCA’s recent work focused on family-school collaboration in Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). An introduction to the FSCA is provided, followed by the rationale and current challenges of family- school collaboration. Finally, the features of the FSCA’s model for family-school collaboration are reviewed along with suggestions for integrating and aligning family-school collaboration efforts within existing practice.
Last Updated:
5/6/2020

Supporting Families with PBIS at Home (Versión en español)

family
classroom-pbis
Implementation
PBIS Foundations
Families and caregivers should consider using positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) in their homes on a daily basis. It is especially helpful when events disrupt normal routines – events like worldwide health pandemics. This practice brief provides recommendations for families and caregivers on how to use PBIS to continue to support their students’ social and emotional growth and minimize behavioral disruptions in the home.
Last Updated:
3/31/2020

Supporting Families with PBIS at Home

family
classroom-pbis
Implementation
PBIS Foundations
Families and caregivers should consider using positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) in their homes on a daily basis. It is especially helpful when events disrupt normal routines – events like worldwide health pandemics. This practice brief provides recommendations for families and caregivers on how to use PBIS to continue to support their students’ social and emotional growth and minimize behavioral disruptions in the home.
Last Updated:
3/31/2020

Positive Greetings at the Door

classroom-pbis
equity
Social relationships
Tier 1
Positive greetings at the door is an effective strategy for increasing academic engagement, decreasing unwanted behavior, and improving student-teacher relationships. This strategy brief breaks it down into easy steps for daily implementation.
Last Updated:
3/27/2020

Preventing & Responding to Violent Behavior in Schools

districtstate-pbis
mental-healthsocial-emotional-well-being
Community
Implementation
Systems Alignment
This practice brief is intended to be a practical tool and brief overview resource for educators interested in leveraging the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework to support school and district-level prevention and recovery efforts related to school violence and other trauma-inducing critical incidents.
Last Updated:
3/1/2020

DITCH THE CLIP! Why Clip Charts Are Not a PBIS Practice and What to Do Instead

classroom-pbis
mental-healthsocial-emotional-well-being
school-wide
Behavior
Implementation
Trauma
Clip charts have been a common classroom strategy for many years. Once considered an effective tool for displaying behavioral progress and adherence to classroom rules, they may not be as helpful as once thought. In this practice brief, we describe how such strategies are inconsistent with a PBIS approach and, more importantly, can be harmful. We also provide alternative strategies that are evidence based and more likely to improve student behavior while promoting a safe, positive classroom.
Last Updated:
2/5/2020

Using the PBIS Framework to Address the Opioid Crisis in Schools

opioid-crisis-and-substance-misuse
family
school-wide
Behavior
Community
Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF)
In October 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency to address rising overdose deaths related to the opioid epidemic. With the effects of the opioid crisis affecting students at multiple levels, it is important to identify clear targets for school-based interventions. We describe here the ways students and families may be affected, and how school teams can leverage the PBIS framework to support them.
Last Updated:
1/28/2020

Improving Attendance and Reducing Chronic Absenteeism

data-based-decision-making
high-school-pbis
school-wide
Academics
Alignment
Systems Alignment
This brief provides guidance for schools or districts looking to integrate strategies for improving attendance within the PBIS framework.
Last Updated:
1/16/2020

Four Key Actions for State Education Agency Teams to Support Implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support

districtstate-pbis
Administrator
Fidelity
Implementation
As states and districts adopt policies that address the “whole child,” many look to multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) that attend to academic and social-emotional-behavioral needs of students. Key features of MTSS include a continuum of supports with increasing intensity matched to student need, the use of research informed practices, and data for decision making. School-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) is an example of an effective MTSS for behavior.
Last Updated:
12/20/2019

Using Outcome Data to Implement Multi-tiered Behavior Support (PBIS) in High Schools

high-school-pbis
data-based-decision-making
Outcome
Evaluation
In this Practice Brief we propose that there are at least four core types of data needed by high school PBIS Leadership Teams and that these data can be used to problem-solve at the (a) whole school, (b) at-risk group, or (c) individual student levels.
Last Updated:
9/25/2019

High School PBIS Implementation: Student Voice

high-school-pbis
Youth Voice
Implementation
This brief discusses the importance of student voice, describes the unique features of high school settings that can make it challenging to include students, and offers strategies to address these barriers.
Last Updated:
9/12/2019

High School PBIS Implementation: Staff Buy-In

high-school-pbis
school-wide
Buy-in from stakeholders is important for the successful adoption, full implementation and sustainability of any school-based initiative. It’s also one of the critical elements for implementation of Tier 1 PBIS included in the TFI, BoQ, and the Blueprint. This brief describes the unique features of high school settings that can make building buy-in more difficult and identifies strategies that have been successful for securing staff buy-in in high schools.
Last Updated:
4/1/2019

Family-School Collaboration in Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports: Creating a School Atmosphere to Promote Collaboration

family
Community
Tier 1
The purpose of this practice brief is to describe family-school collaboration in Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and review approaches that help to create conditions that promote collaboration. A brief background on family-school collaboration is provided, followed by guidance on a schoolwide approach for collaborating with families that strengthens family-school connections and improves student performance.
Last Updated:
2/1/2019

Facility-wide PBIS Implementation: Possible Barriers and Potential Solutions for Six Salient Topics as Viewed by Roundtable Participants and Facilitators

juvenile-justice
Secure Care
The 2018 PBIS Leadership Forum juvenile justice roundtable dialogue gave a voice to the conference participants who work with youth in restrictive settings. This is a summary of their ideas to spur additional conversations and to continue the growth of FW-PBIS with this population of vulnerable and marginalized youth in restrictive settings.
Last Updated:
1/31/2019

Cultivating Positive Student-Teacher Relationships

school-wide
Social relationships
The significance of the student-teacher relationship is substantial. The brief discusses key elements of positive student-teacher relationships and approaches for strengthening teachers' relational skills with students.
Last Updated:
1/31/2019

Classroom Integrated Academics and Behavior Brief

classroom-pbis
high-school-pbis
coaching
Alignment
This brief was developed to provide core features and strategies for integrating academic and behavior practices to support students in a “whole child” approach at the classroom level.
Last Updated:
3/20/2018

A 5-Point Intervention Approach for Enhancing Equity in School Discipline

equity
The results of decades of research consistently show that students of color, particularly African American students (and even more so for African American boys and those with disabilities), are at significantly increased risk for receiving exclusionary discipline practices, including office discipline referrals and suspensions. We describe here a 5-point multicomponent approach to reduce disproportionality in schools.
Last Updated:
2/1/2018

PBIS Technical Brief on Systems to Support Teachers' Implementation of Positive Classroom Behavior Support

classroom-pbis
high-school-pbis
coaching
Tier 1
Implementation
The purpose of this technical brief is to summarize proactive, efficient, and evidence-based systems for supporting teachers’ implementation of positive classroom behavior support (PCBS) practices school-wide. Specifically, this technical brief is designed to inform and support school and district leadership teams as they address the following questions while implementing PCBS school wide.
Last Updated:
2/3/2017

Aligning and Integrating Mental Health and PBIS to Build Priority for Wellness

mental-healthsocial-emotional-well-being
Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF)
Alignment
The purpose of this document is to summarize the Mental Health Integration strand, including the roundtable dialogue, from the 2017 PBIS Leadership Forum in Chicago, Illinois. Recognizing that the ISF provides an example of effective alignment of initiatives, programs and practices in schools, this summary will be organized around the steps included in the Technical Guide for Alignment (see Figure 1 below). Illustrations from sites working to implement the ISF are included as examples of the alignment process. Input and discussion from presenters and participants at the 2017 PBIS Leadership Forum Mental Health Integration sessions and roundtable dialogue, including responses to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), are included in this Brief.
Last Updated:
1/1/2017

School Climate: Academic Achievement and Social Behavior Competence

school-climate-transformation-grant-sctg
An operational and applied overview of school climate that can guide decisions related to policy, professional development, and practice and systems implementation at the classroom, school, district, and state levels.
Last Updated:
9/15/2016

District Level Coaching

coaching
districtstate-pbis
Implementation
PBIS Foundations
Coaching is important and necessary to maximize transfer and translation of skills and practices acquired during training into sustainable and high fidelity implementation of evidence-based practices and systems. Coaching has been identified as the most critical factor in successful implementation. This brief quickly defines coaching at the district level. It includes a graphic representation of how the role fits within a district structure and outlines the functions a district coach is expected to conduct.
Last Updated:
12/1/2015

Classroom PBIS: Discussion of Outcomes, Data, Practices, & Systems

classroom-pbis
Tier 1
PBIS Foundations
This document is intended to be a practical tool and resource for educators interested in implementing, sustaining, or enhancing PBIS in the classroom practices. (RDQ)
Last Updated:
10/22/2015

The Role of the Clinician in a Multi-Tiered System of Support

mental-healthsocial-emotional-well-being
data-based-decision-making
For the purpose of this brief, clinicians are considered school social workers, school psychologists, school counselors, guidance deans and community mental health clinicians based in the school setting. These clinicians play an integral role in helping build, support, and sustain a MTSS framework in schools and districts. (RDQ)
Last Updated:
10/22/2015

Examples of Engaging Instruction to Increase Equity in Education

equity
This technical brief is based on the 5-point multicomponent approach to reduce disproportionality. This brief elaborates on point one, regarding academic instruction, by defining key principles of evidence-based instructional practices.
Last Updated:
9/1/2015

Coaching For Competence and Impact—Brief 1: Defining Coaching

coaching
Implementation
The purpose of this brief is to help build a common language and a common understanding of the critical role Coaching plays in ensuring the EBP/EIIs can be implemented as intended (fidelity) and sustain over time.
Last Updated:
10/17/2014
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