Mountain Grove Elementary School

School-wide positive behavior support (SW-PBS) is an instructional approach based on a decade or more of scientific evidence that demonstrates convincingly that appropriate social/interpersonal behaviors can be taught to all students by educators. SW-PBS is a proactive, prevention-focused package of strategies that addresses school-wide discipline problems.

Key characteristics of Universal Support (Tier 1) include the following approaches, strategies and procedures for use with all students in the building:

• School-wide team meets at least monthly to collect and review student behavioral data, make decisions based on the data, and share data periodically with all staff members.
• Common purpose and approach is adopted to student discipline across staff and all school settings.
• Clear set of 3-5 positively-worded school-wide behavioral expectations is established and posted throughout the school for all students. (MATRIX)
• Multiple specific examples are developed of what expected school-wide behaviors look like in all school settings.
• Procedures are established for teaching expected behaviors (i.e., direct instruction) to all students in all school settings. Examples/non-examples of expected behaviors are taught and retaught.
• Continuum of procedures is established for encouraging (positively acknowledging) expected behavior, including a whole school system for use with all students. (i.e., behavior bands, panther paws, Proud Panthers, and positive attendance awards)
• Procedures are established for on-going monitoring and evaluation of behaviors.
• Continuum of procedures is established for discouraging inappropriate behavior.

Universal support emphasizes proactive, prevention-focused, direct instruction targeted at teaching school-wide rules (expectations) to all students in all school settings. Research shows that 80% to 90% of all students can successfully learn and demonstrate expected school-wide behaviors with adequate proficiency through a universal PBS System.