What is PBIS?

PBIS (positive behavioral interventions and supports) is a framework for organizing the implementation of evidence-based practices across a multi-tiered support system. PBIS focuses on making improvements in the school or classroom environment to ensure students will successfully meet social, behavioral, and academic standards.

What is a systems approach?

The PBIS framework emphasizes clear culturally equitable social behavior, academic, and school climate outcomes for all students. Data are used regularly to evaluate student progress, guide culturally relevant decision making, and monitor implementation fidelity. Culturally relevant evidence-based practices are selected according to alignment with the identified outcomes. Systems are built to support staff behavior and sustain implementation. These critical elements are addressed in school- wide, non-classroom, classroom, family, and individual student contexts. The PBIS framework also promotes the integration of school–family– community mental health services and other empirically supported approaches to effecting relevant school outcomes.

The PBIS framework organizes supports within tiers. The primary prevention (Tier 1) applies to all staff, students, and settings and ensures all students have access to culturally and contextually relevant evidence-based academic and social supports. For groups of students who need additional supports in one or more areas, the secondary prevention (Tier 2) provides intensified instruction and support in addition to Tier 1 supports. Finally, for students who need additional support, the tertiary prevention (Tier 3) provides individualized and intensive supports.