PBIS-RJ
Creating Trauma-Responsive Schools that Actively Support SEL Development
San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) - SWSS Department
What is Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)?
What is Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)?
PBiS - Guiding Principles
Articles - Positive Behavioral Interventions; What is PBIS?
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an evidence-based three-tiered framework for improving and integrating the data, systems, and practices which affect student outcomes every day. PBIS supports the success of all members of the school community (staff & students).
PBIS.orgPositive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an evidence-based three-tiered framework for improving and integrating the data, systems, and practices which affect student outcomes every day. PBIS supports the success of all members of the school community (staff & students).
"The most effective tool teachers have to handle problem behavior is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) programs help teachers recognize the significance of classroom management and preventive school discipline to maximize student success. PBIS strategies are critical to providing all young people with the best learning environment."
"The most effective tool teachers have to handle problem behavior is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) programs help teachers recognize the significance of classroom management and preventive school discipline to maximize student success. PBIS strategies are critical to providing all young people with the best learning environment."
— NEA President Lily Eskelsen GarcĂa
What is Restorative Justice (RJ)?
What is Restorative Justice (RJ)?
Restorative Justice: Guiding Principles
Article - Restorative Practices in Schools Work...But They Could Work Better
Restorative Practices is an emerging social science that studies how to build social capital and achieve social discipline through participatory learning and decision-making. Though new to the social sciences, restorative practices has deep roots within indigenous communities throughout the world.
Restorative Practices is an emerging social science that studies how to build social capital and achieve social discipline through participatory learning and decision-making. Though new to the social sciences, restorative practices has deep roots within indigenous communities throughout the world.
Restorative Practices are a proactive set of informal and formal processes. The goal is to build relationships and a sense of community to prevent conflict and wrongdoing from occurring.
Restorative Practices are a proactive set of informal and formal processes. The goal is to build relationships and a sense of community to prevent conflict and wrongdoing from occurring.
Restorative Justice is responsive and also consists of formal or informal responses to wrongdoing after it occurs.
International Institute of Restorative Practices (IIRP)Restorative Justice is responsive and also consists of formal or informal responses to wrongdoing after it occurs.
“Responsive Restorative Justice practices build accountability, promote social-emotional growth, and support positive behaviors in schools. However, if RJ efforts do not also address the need for preventative practices to transform school climate, the singular emphasis on behavior management may distort the initiative and preclude the opportunity to promote interconnectedness and well-being.”
“Responsive Restorative Justice practices build accountability, promote social-emotional growth, and support positive behaviors in schools. However, if RJ efforts do not also address the need for preventative practices to transform school climate, the singular emphasis on behavior management may distort the initiative and preclude the opportunity to promote interconnectedness and well-being.”
— NEPC: National Education Policy Center - Gregory & Evans
History of PBIS-RJ Implementation in SBCUSD
History of PBIS-RJ Implementation in SBCUSD
As a result of high suspension rates and emerging research which began to question the effectiveness of Zero Tolerance practices SBCUSD initiated a Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS) pilot in 2003. Over the next two years, 7 SBCUSD schools (4 elementary and 3 middle schools) began creating school-wide proactive discipline systems. As a result of the student outcome data produced through the pilot, two district psychologists were hired to support middle school implementation of PBIS during the 2005-2006 school year.
As a result of high suspension rates and emerging research which began to question the effectiveness of Zero Tolerance practices SBCUSD initiated a Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS) pilot in 2003. Over the next two years, 7 SBCUSD schools (4 elementary and 3 middle schools) began creating school-wide proactive discipline systems. As a result of the student outcome data produced through the pilot, two district psychologists were hired to support middle school implementation of PBIS during the 2005-2006 school year.
By 2011, middle school Office Referral rates had dropped by an average of 55% and the total incidents of Suspension decreased by an average of 26%. During that time, a number of district-level supports were created, including, but not limited to, the following:
By 2011, middle school Office Referral rates had dropped by an average of 55% and the total incidents of Suspension decreased by an average of 26%. During that time, a number of district-level supports were created, including, but not limited to, the following:
The Universal Expectations of Be Safe, Be Responsible, Be Respectful were adopted in 2004 and schools began developing positive examples for all locations on campus, making it possible to teach expectations school-wide. Several of the pilot schools took behavior instruction to a deeper level by also adopting a full SEL curriculum (I Can Problem Solve & Skill-streaming) to teach daily social skills. By 2009, the 16 Classroom Survival Skills were adopted, making the practice of social/behavioral instruction a reality in classrooms across pilot and middle school campuses. At that point Expectations by Location, Unique Classroom Procedures and Classroom Survival Skills became the curriculum to teach social-behavioral skills.
The Universal Expectations of Be Safe, Be Responsible, Be Respectful were adopted in 2004 and schools began developing positive examples for all locations on campus, making it possible to teach expectations school-wide. Several of the pilot schools took behavior instruction to a deeper level by also adopting a full SEL curriculum (I Can Problem Solve & Skill-streaming) to teach daily social skills. By 2009, the 16 Classroom Survival Skills were adopted, making the practice of social/behavioral instruction a reality in classrooms across pilot and middle school campuses. At that point Expectations by Location, Unique Classroom Procedures and Classroom Survival Skills became the curriculum to teach social-behavioral skills.
A district-wide Office Referral Form was adopted in 2007, which provided SBCUSD with a universal form to document Problem Behaviors, Environmental Factors, Functional Factors, & Location. This new form also expanded the menu of consequences administrators could choose from to include options for Skill & Relationship Development. As a result of enacting a universal referral form, it was possible for the IT Department to develop an in-house database to manage discipline data (SB2000, Aeries). This provided site teams the ability to generate immediate, up-to-date Office Referral & Suspension Reports for data analysis.
A district-wide Office Referral Form was adopted in 2007, which provided SBCUSD with a universal form to document Problem Behaviors, Environmental Factors, Functional Factors, & Location. This new form also expanded the menu of consequences administrators could choose from to include options for Skill & Relationship Development. As a result of enacting a universal referral form, it was possible for the IT Department to develop an in-house database to manage discipline data (SB2000, Aeries). This provided site teams the ability to generate immediate, up-to-date Office Referral & Suspension Reports for data analysis.
In 2008, the focus expanded from building school-wide systems to implementing evidence-based classroom practices, i.e., Re-Teaching Expectations, Clarifying Expectations, Cueing/Prompting Expected Behaviors, Providing Structured Choices, Conducting Problem-Solving Meetings, Reviewing Academic/Discipline Data. These practices provided classroom teachers with the tools necessary to get the majority of students demonstrating the expectations on a regular basis. The Low-Level Referral Form, was then created as a way to document the interventions being done in classrooms to support students demonstrating Chronic Minor Offenses.
In 2008, the focus expanded from building school-wide systems to implementing evidence-based classroom practices, i.e., Re-Teaching Expectations, Clarifying Expectations, Cueing/Prompting Expected Behaviors, Providing Structured Choices, Conducting Problem-Solving Meetings, Reviewing Academic/Discipline Data. These practices provided classroom teachers with the tools necessary to get the majority of students demonstrating the expectations on a regular basis. The Low-Level Referral Form, was then created as a way to document the interventions being done in classrooms to support students demonstrating Chronic Minor Offenses.
In 2010, the SBCUSD Progressive Discipline Matrix was revised to include PBIS values and to ground disciplinary practices within a multi-tiered system of behavior support. The Matrix provided clear definitions and guidelines regarding Minor Offenses, Chronic Minor Offenses, and Major Infractions and expanded the menu of administrative consequences to include both Instructional & Relational Interventions in the context of suspendable offenses.
In 2010, the SBCUSD Progressive Discipline Matrix was revised to include PBIS values and to ground disciplinary practices within a multi-tiered system of behavior support. The Matrix provided clear definitions and guidelines regarding Minor Offenses, Chronic Minor Offenses, and Major Infractions and expanded the menu of administrative consequences to include both Instructional & Relational Interventions in the context of suspendable offenses.
From 2004-2011, both the Office Referral and Low Level Referral forms were modified several times based on staff feedback and emerging research. One significant modification occurred in 2011 when Minor Offenses were re-defined as the "failure to demonstrate a social skill or expectation," which led to the removal of the terms "Disruption," "Defiance," "Disrespect," and "Non-Compliance" from both the Low Level and Office Referral Forms. This change in language marked a significant cultural turning point. Staff descriptions of student behavior began to shift from vague, often emotionally charged, labels to more precise descriptions of the skills students should be demonstrating to be successful, i.e., Disruption > Staying on Task.
From 2004-2011, both the Office Referral and Low Level Referral forms were modified several times based on staff feedback and emerging research. One significant modification occurred in 2011 when Minor Offenses were re-defined as the "failure to demonstrate a social skill or expectation," which led to the removal of the terms "Disruption," "Defiance," "Disrespect," and "Non-Compliance" from both the Low Level and Office Referral Forms. This change in language marked a significant cultural turning point. Staff descriptions of student behavior began to shift from vague, often emotionally charged, labels to more precise descriptions of the skills students should be demonstrating to be successful, i.e., Disruption > Staying on Task.
As a result of the work accomplished from 2004-2011 by the pilot and middle schools, the SBCUSD School Board extended the PBIS mandate in 2011-2012 to include all district schools, K-12. At that time, the task of Student Services was to reduce suspension rates and ensure all schools were safe and orderly - outside of a Zero Tolerance approach.
As a result of the work accomplished from 2004-2011 by the pilot and middle schools, the SBCUSD School Board extended the PBIS mandate in 2011-2012 to include all district schools, K-12. At that time, the task of Student Services was to reduce suspension rates and ensure all schools were safe and orderly - outside of a Zero Tolerance approach.
In 2013, Restorative Justice (RJ) was embedded into the PBIS mandate. RJ provided a set of evidence-based practices to support the building, maintaining, and repairing of relationship and community (peer/peer, staff/student). As schools moved further away from a Zero Tolerance stance, RJ gave schools a pathway to focus on behavior within the context of relational accountability.
In 2013, Restorative Justice (RJ) was embedded into the PBIS mandate. RJ provided a set of evidence-based practices to support the building, maintaining, and repairing of relationship and community (peer/peer, staff/student). As schools moved further away from a Zero Tolerance stance, RJ gave schools a pathway to focus on behavior within the context of relational accountability.
From 2011-2016 multiple program specialist were hired to support site-level implementation. By 2016, the PBIS/RJ initiative became part of Student Wellness & Support Services (SWSS) - a department that was re-structured to support school climate and culture, mental health and wellness, counseling, and health services. As a way of acknowledging the expanded mandate, PBIS Teams started to be referred to as Tier 1 Climate & Culture Teams.
From 2011-2016 multiple program specialist were hired to support site-level implementation. By 2016, the PBIS/RJ initiative became part of Student Wellness & Support Services (SWSS) - a department that was re-structured to support school climate and culture, mental health and wellness, counseling, and health services. As a way of acknowledging the expanded mandate, PBIS Teams started to be referred to as Tier 1 Climate & Culture Teams.
PBIS/RJ systems/supports have benefitted greatly from the merging of these disciplines. Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) has re-emerged as a rich set of human competencies that can be modeled, taught and practiced by staff using existing PBIS systems and practices to support school-wide implementation.
PBIS/RJ systems/supports have benefitted greatly from the merging of these disciplines. Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) has re-emerged as a rich set of human competencies that can be modeled, taught and practiced by staff using existing PBIS systems and practices to support school-wide implementation.
Commitment to Trauma-Informed practices expanded the original PBIS goal of creating learning environments that are physically safe and orderly to include psychological and emotional safety.
Commitment to Trauma-Informed practices expanded the original PBIS goal of creating learning environments that are physically safe and orderly to include psychological and emotional safety.
In 2017, each school selected Site Climate & Culture Coaches (SC3's) to participate in a three-year grant which included monthly professional development on a variety of topics including the effects of trauma; the development of affect, feelings, and emotions; brain states; mindfulness practices; and verbal de-escalation strategies among others. Terms such as "co-regulation" and "self-regulation" are now entering the cultural conversation as staff increasingly acknowledge their responsibility to tend to their own SEL development in order to effectively support the growth of their students.
In 2017, each school selected Site Climate & Culture Coaches (SC3's) to participate in a three-year grant which included monthly professional development on a variety of topics including the effects of trauma; the development of affect, feelings, and emotions; brain states; mindfulness practices; and verbal de-escalation strategies among others. Terms such as "co-regulation" and "self-regulation" are now entering the cultural conversation as staff increasingly acknowledge their responsibility to tend to their own SEL development in order to effectively support the growth of their students.
The most recent extension of the cultural journey (2018-2019) includes all administrators participating in a three-year training supported by Special Education and Student Wellness & Support Services to provide training for site leaders as they build Schools and Classrooms that promote Healing-Centered Engagement (Dr. Nikki Elliot, Center for NeuroDiversity of Laverne). This latest project continues the cultural goal to build the capacity of staff to understand and effectively respond to the underlying issues which challenge student's success.
The most recent extension of the cultural journey (2018-2019) includes all administrators participating in a three-year training supported by Special Education and Student Wellness & Support Services to provide training for site leaders as they build Schools and Classrooms that promote Healing-Centered Engagement (Dr. Nikki Elliot, Center for NeuroDiversity of Laverne). This latest project continues the cultural goal to build the capacity of staff to understand and effectively respond to the underlying issues which challenge student's success.
Even with all of the work that has been achieved, there is still much to be done at both the district and site level to ensure sustainability with continuous regeneration of PBIS/RJ. It is important to keep in mind that with each year comes new challenges (new administration, new certificated/classified staff, evolving research) that all challenge fidelity of implementation. Therefore, as SBCUSD continues to move forward, it will be important for schools to not only monitor and expand Tier 1 implementation, but also develop solid Tier 2 interventions, and ensure behavior support plans are written and implemented with fidelity at Tier 3. This site will be continuously developed/modified to support site personnel as they continue their implementation journey.
Even with all of the work that has been achieved, there is still much to be done at both the district and site level to ensure sustainability with continuous regeneration of PBIS/RJ. It is important to keep in mind that with each year comes new challenges (new administration, new certificated/classified staff, evolving research) that all challenge fidelity of implementation. Therefore, as SBCUSD continues to move forward, it will be important for schools to not only monitor and expand Tier 1 implementation, but also develop solid Tier 2 interventions, and ensure behavior support plans are written and implemented with fidelity at Tier 3. This site will be continuously developed/modified to support site personnel as they continue their implementation journey.
What is the Tiered Fidelity Inventory (TFI)?
What is the Tiered Fidelity Inventory (TFI)?
The Tiered Fidelity Inventory (TFI) is based on the features and items of existing SWPBIS fidelity measures (e.g., SET, BoQ, TIC, SAS, BAT, MATT). The purpose of the this nationally recognized tool is to provide one efficient yet valid and reliable instrument that can be used over time to guide both implementation and sustained use of SWPBIS.
The Tiered Fidelity Inventory (TFI) is based on the features and items of existing SWPBIS fidelity measures (e.g., SET, BoQ, TIC, SAS, BAT, MATT). The purpose of the this nationally recognized tool is to provide one efficient yet valid and reliable instrument that can be used over time to guide both implementation and sustained use of SWPBIS.
The TFI is a product developed as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs National Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.
The TFI is a product developed as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs National Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.
SWSS Department: S. Johns, J. Patrick - 2020
Images obtained from Google Images and/or created by Johns/Patrick