Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS)

Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) provides a positive and effective alternative to the traditional methods of discipline. PBIS methods are research-based and proven to significantly reduce the occurrence of problem behaviors in the school, resulting in a more positive school climate and increased academic performance. PBIS is consistent with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and Act 1225, Juvenile Justice Reform Act (R.S. 17:252), which advocates the use of positive behavior interventions and supports and school-based disciplinary strategies that reduce or eliminate the need to use suspension and expulsion as disciplinary options. Its primary purpose is to increase the amount of instructional time for all students, particularly those with challenging behaviors by building the capacity of LEA’s and schools to use a data-driven approach that is educationally oriented, emphasizes proactive practices, and are effective with promoting social-behavioral competence of staff and students.

The specific goal of PBIS is to replace the use of reactive, punitive, and exclusionary consequences (e.g. detention/suspension/expulsion) measures with proactive, preventative, and educative processes that will reduce the need for disciplinary measures. The Louisiana Department of Education’s PBIS project is embedded in the State Performance Plan (SPP) for special education (Indicator 4A and 4B) as the initiative the state is funding to reduce the excessive (discrepancy) removal of special education students, including the excessive removal by race and ethnicity (disproportionality). Moreover, virtually all districts are satisfying the IDEA and BESE Model Master Discipline Plan requirements that schools implement a positive behavioral approach by participating in the consortiums. With the revision of LA R.S. 17:252, and the passage of Act 136 of 2010, the consortiums throughout the state are also conducting trainings in classroom management. 

PBIS is a data driven systems approach developed to assist schools and community settings achieve socially important behavior change. Multi-tiered systems of support are put in place to support staff while they teach and encourage positive, healthy behaviors.

PBIS trainings include but are not limited to the following:

• Universal Team training (as needed in region)
• Secondary trainings (as needed in region)
• Data Based Decision Making
• Classroom Management training addressing the provisions of Act 136 of 2010
• Secondary Interventions for at risk students
• Tertiary Interventions for At Risk and Identified (504/SPED) students
• FBA (Functional Behavior Assessment) and BIP (Behavior Intervention Plan) trainings