Tier 1 systems, data, and practices support everyone across all settings. They establish the foundation for delivering regular, proactive support and preventing unwanted behaviors. Tier 1 emphasizes modeling, teaching, and acknowledging positive social, emotional, and behavioral (SEB) skills. Teams, data, consistent policies, professional development, and evaluation are essential components for these practices to work effectively.

The core principles guiding Tier 1 PBIS include the understanding that we can and should:

• Effectively teach appropriate SEB skills to all students

• Intervene early before unwanted behaviors escalate

• Use research-based, scientifically validated interventions whenever possible

• Monitor student progress

• Use data to make decisions

Tier 2 practices and systems provide targeted support for students who are not successful with Tier 1 supports alone. The focus is on supporting students who are at risk for developing more serious unwanted behavior before they start. Essentially, the support at this level is more focused than Tier 1 and less intensive than Tier 3.

Tier 2 supports often involve group interventions with ten or more students participating. Specific Tier 2 interventions include practices such as social skills groups, self-management, and academic supports. Targeted interventions like these, implemented by typical school personnel, are likely to have positive effects for up to 67% of referred students. Tier 2 interventions are:

• Continuously available

• Accessible within 72 hours of referral

• Very low effort by teachers

• Aligned with school-wide expectations.

• Implemented by all staff/faculty in a school.

• Flexible and based on assessment.

• Function-based

• Allocated adequate resources

• Student chooses to participate.

• Continuously monitored

PBIS’ framework doesn’t just work with school-wide and targeted supports. It’s also an effective way to address sometimes dangerous, often highly disruptive behaviors creating barriers to learning and excluding students from social settings.

At most schools, there are 1-5% of students for whom Tier 1 and Tier 2 supports have not connected. At Tier 3, these students receive more intensive, individualized support to improve their behavioral and academic outcomes. Tier 3 strategies work for students with developmental disabilities, autism, emotional and behavioral disorders, and students with no diagnostic label at all.