Is School-Wide Positive Behahvior Support An Evidence-Based Practice?

The following is an excerpt from A Research Summary the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) published in 2007:

A Research Summary
OSEP Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports[1]
September 21, 2007

School-wide Positive Behavior Support is a systems approach to establishing the social culture and behavioral supports needed for all children in a school to achieve both social and academic success. SWPBS is not a packaged curriculum, but an approach that defines core elements that can be achieved through a variety of strategies. The core elements at each of the three tiers in the prevention model are defined below:

Primary
· Behavioral expectations defined
· Behavioral expectations taught
· Continuum of consequences (i.e., rewards, reinforcers) for appropriate behavior
· Continuum of consequences for problem behavior
· Continuous active supervision or monitoring across all school settings
· Continuous monitoring, collection, and use of data for decision-making

Secondary
· Early universal screening
· Continuous progress monitoring for students with at risk behavior
· System for increasing structure and predictability
· System for increasing contingent adult feedback
· System for linking academic and behavioral performance
· System for increasing home/school communication
· Collection and use of data for formative decision-making

Tertiary
· Functional behavioral assessment
· Team-based comprehensive assessment and intervention
· Linking of academic and behavior supports
· Individualized intervention based on assessment information focusing on (a) prevention of problem contexts; (b) instruction on functionally equivalent skills, and instruction on desired performance skills; (c) strategies for placing problem behavior on extinction; (d) strategies for enhancing contingent reward of desired behavior; and (e) use of negative or safety consequences if needed.
· Establishment of local behavioral expertise
· Collection and use of data for decision-making

http://www.pbis.org/files/Evidence%20base%20for%20SWPBS%2009-22-07%20GS.doc