Skip to main content

Defining and Describing Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support

  • Chapter

Part of the book series: Issues in Clinical Child Psychology ((ICCP))

Abstract

Schools have two important goals: maximize the academic achievement and social competence of all learners. To achieve these goals, schools must focus on the specific skills of individual students, but increasingly we are learning that they must also focus on the overall social culture of a school. The social culture of a school can vary from highly controlled and rule governed to loosely structured and spontaneous. However, successful learning environments most often are characterized as preventive, predictable, positive, instructional, safe, and responsive for all students and staff across all school settings and activities.

The purpose of this chapter is to describe those characteristics of schoolwide positive behavior support (SW-PBS) practices and systems that establish and maintain an effective, efficient, and relevant social culture in which teaching and learning are maximized. This chapter leads this section of the handbook because SW-PBS serves as the foundation or basis for successful implementation of a full continuum of academic and social behavior supports occurring school- and classroomwide, for example, individual behavior supports (e.g., function-based supports, wraparound), academic programming, data-based decision making and evaluation, discipline, family and community participation, and early intervention.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   299.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Alberto, P. A., & Troutman, A. C. (2006). Applied behavior analysis for teachers (7th edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, A. R., Christenson, S. L., Sinclair, M. F., & Lehr, C. A. (2004). Check and Connect: The importance of relationships for promoting engagement with school. Journal of School Psychology, 42, 95–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biglan, A. (1995). Translating what we know about the context of antisocial behavior in to a lower prevalence of such behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 28, 479–492

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carr, E. G., Dunlap, G., Horner, R. H., Koegel, R. L., Turnbull, A. P., & Sailor, W. (2002). Positive behavior support: Evolution of an applied science. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 4, 4–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. (2004). School-Wide Positive Behavior Support: Implementers' blueprint and self-assessment. Washington, DC: Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education

    Google Scholar 

  • Colvin, G., Kameenui, E. J., & Sugai, G. (1993). School-wide and classroom management: Reconceptualizing the integration and management of students with behavior problems in general education. Education and Treatment of Children, 16, 361–381

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2007). Applied behavior analysis (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson

    Google Scholar 

  • Crone, D. A., & Horner, R. H. (2003). Building positive behavior support systems in schools: Functional behavioral assessment. Guildford Press, NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Crone, D., Horner, R.H., & Hawken, L. (2004). Responding to problem behavior in schools: The behavior education plan. New York: Guilford

    Google Scholar 

  • Eber, L., Sugai, G., Smith, C., & Scott, T. (2002). Blending process and practice to maximize outcomes: Wraparound and positive behavioral interventions and supports in the schools. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 10, 171–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fairbanks, S., Sugai, G., Guardino, D., & Lathrop, M. (2007). Response to intervention: Examining classroom behavior support in second grade. Exceptional Children, 73, 288–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Filter, K. J. (2007). Positive behavior support: Considerations for the future of a model. Behavior Analyst, 30(1). 87–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottfredson, D. C., Gottfredson, G. D., & Hybl, L. G. (1993). Managing adolescent behavior: A multiyear, multischool study. American Educational Research Journal, 30, 179–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottfredson, G. D., & Gottfredson, D. C. (1996). A national study of delinquency prevention in schools: Rationale for a study to describe the extensiveness and implementation of programs to prevent adolescent problem behavior in schools. Ellicott City, MD: Gottfredson Associates, Inc

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenwood, C. R., Delquadri, J., & Bulgren, J. (1993). Current challenges to behavioral technology in the reform of schooling: Large-scale, high-quality implementation and sustained use of effective educational practices. Education and Treatment of Children, 16(4), 401–404

    Google Scholar 

  • Gresham, F. M., Sugai, G., & Horner, R. H. (2001). Social competence of students with high-incidence disabilities: Conceptual and methodological issues in interpreting outcomes of social skills training. Exceptional Children, 67, 311

    Google Scholar 

  • Gresham, R. M. (2005). Response to intervention: An alternative means of identifying students as emotionally disturbed. Education and T reatment of Children, 28, 328–344

    Google Scholar 

  • Horner, R. H. (1994). Functional assessment: Contributions and future directions. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 401–404

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Horner, R. H., Sugai, G., & Todd, A. W. (2001). “Data” need not be a four-letter word: Using data to improve schoolwide discipline. Beyond Behavior, 11(1), 20–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Horner, R. H., Sugai, G., Todd, A. W., & Lewis-Palmer, T. (2005). School-wide positive behavior support: An alternative approach to discipline in schools. In L. Bambara & L. Kern (Eds.), Individualized supports for students with problem behaviors: Designing positive behavior plans (pp. 359–390). New York: Guilford Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Irvin, L. K., Horner, R. H., Ingram, K., Todd, A. W., Sugai, G., Sampson, N. K., & Boland, J. B. (2006). Using office discipline referral data for decision making about student behavior in elementary and middle schools: An empirical evaluation of validity. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 8, 10–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kutash, K., Duchnowski, A., & Lynn, N. (2006). School-based Mental Health: An Empirical Guild for Decision-makers. The Research and Training Center for Children's Mental Health, Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehr, C. A., Sinclair, M. F., & Christenson, S. L. (2004). Addressing student engagement and truancy prevention during the elementary years: A replication study of the Check and Connect model. Journal of Education for Students Placed At Risk, 9, 279–301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis-Palmer, T., Sugai, G., & Larson, S. (1999). Using data to guide decisions about program implementation and effectiveness. Effective School Practices, 17(4), 47–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, T. J., & Sugai, G. (1999). Effective behavior support: A systems approach to proactive school-wide management. Focus on Exceptional Children, 31(6), 1–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, G. (1995). Preventing antisocial behavior in the schools. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 28, 467–478

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, R. G. (1998). Constructive discipline for school personnel. Education and T reat-ment of Children, 22, 36–54

    Google Scholar 

  • National Center on Education and the Economy. (2007). Tough choices or tough times. Hoboken, NJ: Jossey-Bass

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, J. R. (1996). Designing schools to meet the needs of students who exhibit disruptive behavior. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 4, 147–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, J. R., Johnson, A., & Marchand-Martella, N. (1996). Effects of direct instruction, cooperative learning, and independent learning practices on the classroom behavior of students with behavioral disorders: A comparative analysis. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 4, 53–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O'Neill, R. E., Horner, R. H., Albin, R. W., Sprague, J. R., Storey, K., & Newton, J. S. (1997). Functional assessment and program development for problem behavior: A practical handbook(2nd ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole

    Google Scholar 

  • Rose, L. C., & Gallup, A. M. (2007, September). 39th annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup poll of the public's attitude toward the public schools. Kappan, 33–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Safran, S. P., & Oswald, K. (2003). Positive behavior supports: Can schools reshape disciplinary practices? Exceptional Children, 69, 361–373

    Google Scholar 

  • Simonsen, B., & Sugai, G. (2007). School-wide positive behavior support: A systems level application of behavioral principles. In S. W. Evans, Mark D. Weist, & Z. N. Serpell (Eds.), Advances in school-based mental health interventions: Best practices and program models (pp. 8-2 – 8-17). Kingston, NJ: Civic Research Institute

    Google Scholar 

  • Skiba, R. J., & Peterson, R. L. (1999). The dark side of zero tolerance: Can punishment lead to safe schools? Phi Delta Kappan, 80, 372–382

    Google Scholar 

  • Skiba, R. J., & Peterson, R. L. (2000). School discipline at a crossroads: From zero tolerance to early response. Exceptional Children, 66, 335–347

    Google Scholar 

  • Sprick, R., Sprick, M., & Garrison, M. (1992). Foundations: Developing positive school-wide discipline polices. Longmont, CO: Sopris West

    Google Scholar 

  • Sugai, G., Lewis-Palmer, T., & Hagan-Burke, S. (1999–2000). Overview of the functional behavioral assessment process. Exceptionality, 8, 149–160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sugai, G., Horner, R. H., Dunlap, G. Hieneman, M., Lewis, T. J., Nelson, C. M., Scott, T., Liaupsin, C., Sailor, W., Turnbull, A. P., Turnbull, H. R., III, Wickham, D. Reuf, M., & Wilcox, B. (2000). Applying positive behavioral support and functional behavioral assessment in schools. Journal of Positive Behavioral Interventions, 2, 131–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sugai, G., & Horner, R.H. (2002). The evolution of discipline practices: School-wide positive behavior supports. Child and Family Behavior Therapy, 24, 23–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sugai, G., Horner, R. H., & McIntosh, K. (2008). Best practices in developing a broad-scale system of support for school-wide positive behavior support. In A. Thomas & J. P. Grimes (Eds.), Best practices in school psychology V (Vol. 3, pp. 765–780). Bethesda, MD: National Association of School Psychologists

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, H. M., Horner, R. H., Sugai, G., Bullis, M., Sprague, J. R., Bricker, D., et al. (1996). Integrated approaches to preventing antisocial behavior patterns among school-age children and youth. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 4, 194–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, H. M., Ramsey, E., & Gresham, F. M. (2005). Antisocial behavior in school: Evidence-based practices (2nd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, J. A., & Dusek, J. B. (1998). Compiling school base rates for disruptive behaviors from student disciplinary referral data. School Psychology Review, 27, 138–147

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2009 Springer Science + Business Media B.V

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Sugai, G., Horner, R.H. (2009). Defining and Describing Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support. In: Sailor, W., Dunlap, G., Sugai, G., Horner, R. (eds) Handbook of Positive Behavior Support. Issues in Clinical Child Psychology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-09632-2_13

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics