Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS)

Ducketts Lane is proud to announce that we are a PBIS School!

"PBIS" is short for Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports. It is a nationallyrecognized and research based process that supports positive learning environments. PBIS is used interchangeably with SWPBS, which is short for "School-wide Positive Behavior Supports."

PBIS is a framework or approach for assisting school personnel in adopting and organizing evidence-based behavioral interventionsinto an integrated continuum through defining, teaching, and acknowledging behavioral expectations. By reinforcing positive behaviors, schools find that teachers spend more time teaching, as class disruptions, office referrals and suspensions are reduced.

PBIS is not a packaged curriculum, a scripted intervention, or a stand-alone strategy. PBIS is a prevention-oriented wayfor school personnel to (a) organize evidence-based practices, (b) improve their implementation of those practices using data, and (c) maximize academic and social behavior outcomes for students. PBIS supports the success of all students.

PBIS uses a three-tiered prevention logic that requires all students to receive supports at the universal or primary tier.If the behavior of some students is not responsive, more intensive behavioral supports, (targeted or secondary tier) or a highly individualized plan (intensive or tertiary tier) are provided. View Maryland's Three-Tiered Instructional and PBIS Framework.

The Howard County Public School System has been involved in PBIS since the 1999-2000 school year. Currently 55 of the 74 Howard County public schools participate in the PBIS initiative. (www.hcpss.org)