What is PBIS?

PBIS is a process for creating safer and more effective schools. PBIS is a systems approach to enhancing the capacity of schools to educate all children by developing research-based, school wide, and classroom discipline systems. The process focuses on improving a school’s ability to teach and support positive behavior for all students. Rather than a prescribed program, PBIS provides systems for schools to design, implement, and evaluate effective school-wide, classroom, non-classroom, and student specific discipline plans. PBIS includes school-wide procedures and processes intended for:

• ALL students, ALL staff and in ALL settings
• Non-classroom settings within the school environment
• Individual classrooms and teachers, and
• Individual student supports for the estimated 3-7% of students who present the most challenging behaviors.

PBIS is NOT a program or a curriculum. It IS a team-based process for systemic problem solving, planning, and
evaluation. It is an approach to creating an environment within which school-based teams of educators are trained:

• Systems change
• Effective behavior management principles and practices; and
• Applications of research-validated instruction and management practices.