Florida's Positive Behavior Support Project: Creating a Positive Climate in Florida’s Schools

Many of Florida’s school administrators are now finding School-wide Positive Behavior Support (SWPBS) a powerful approach for decreasing behavior problems and increasing academic performance. Kim Herrmann and Stephanie Martinez, technical assistance specialists for the Florida Positive Behavior Support (PBS) Project, spent much time on the road this past summer introducing the program.

“The discipline of students with behavior problems is a major concern to schools,” said Herrmann. “Administrators are looking for something they haven’t tried, and something that has the research to prove it works. With nearly 5000 schools in our nation now implementing School-wide Positive Behavior Support (SWPBS) programs, PBS methods are proven to significantly reduce the occurrence of problem behaviors.”

Many PBS schools experience decreases in referrals relating to tardiness, disrespect and insubordination. Consequently, suspension and expulsion are used less frequently as disciplinary options.

PBS involves a change of focus from reaction —constantly pointing out what students do wrong—to proactive teaching and recognizing what children are doing right. It establishes positive relationships between teachers and students, and promotes a positive school climate.

“Why spend ninety-five percent of the time focusing on five percent of the students?” asked Stephanie Martinez. “The PBS model shifts attention away from inappropriate behavior and recognizes the eighty-to-eighty-five percent of students acting appropriately.

As the number of Florida’s schools using SWPBS increases, so does interest statewide. Herrmann and Martinez offered introductory sessions throughout the state this summer, and were overwhelmed by the response. “We were constantly answering requests to introduce the program,” said Herrmann. “We found that the best way to respond to so many requests was to create a multi-media presentation that can serve as a stand-alone piece for new and interested schools, staff overviews, parent orientations, and more.”

This summer, administrators in Osceola, Dade, St. Lucie and Hillsborough counties were the initial audience for a new administrator training in PBS and accompanying video that profiles Florida schools implementing the PBS model. Herrmann said she wanted to ensure a true picture of the program was presented. She and Martinez worked with the USF Media Innovation Team and visited thirteen PBS schools, filming hours of footage. The resulting 25-minute piece highlights each of the PBS components:

* Faculty Buy-in
* Using Data to Make Decisions
* Effective Consequences
* Teaching Expectations
* Reward Systems

Throughout the video, administrators comment about the implementation of PBS in their schools and remarked on the ease of school adaptability. Comments such as, “No two programs look the same,” “PBS lets the school drive what is Positive Behavior Support for that school, it addresses that school’s culture,” and “It is always a good fit” reflect a key feature of PBS. The program first looks at individual school discipline referral data to understand the behaviors occurring across a particular campus. A school team can then accurately identify the problem areas, brainstorm interventions such as where and what to teach, reward the students exhibiting the expected behavior, and communicate findings to the staff, students, and families. For one elementary school in Osceola County, discipline referrals went from 2100 to 500 for the year after implementing the school-wide program. The school also went from a D to three points from a B in state grading standards.

A companion PBS website http://flpbs.fmhi.usf.edu/index.asp, provides a clearinghouse for technical assistance and training, tools and resources, helpful links, frequently asked questions, and much more. The addition of a new message board also allows PBS schools throughout the state to communicate and share ideas.

Administrators will also learn by example from Florida’s PBS Model Schools. A PBS model school is one that has met specific criteria and has demonstrated innovative, creative, and functional ways of supporting PBS in their respective school. The list has grown from 17 schools in 2005-2006 to 39 schools for 2006-2007.

Herrmann and Martinez are optimistic about the future though it will mean some changes in the way the project has been operating. “Our attention has previously been focused on implementing school-wide PBS. In the future, we hope to emphasize the next steps of PBS, assisting schools with implementation of PBS at the targeted group and individual levels of support. We are ready to begin this phase as we have more model schools that are now ready to move towards complete or universal implementation of all levels of positive behavior support”.

The Florida PBS program is funded by the State of Florida, Department of Education, Division of Public Schools and Community Education, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS), through federal assistance under the Individuals with Disabilities Education ACT (IDEA), Part B.