PBIS: Transforming School Culture with A Framework for Positive Change

What Is PBIS?

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a research-based framework that helps schools improve social, emotional, and academic outcomes for all students, including those with disabilities and from underrepresented backgrounds.

Rather than focusing on punishment, PBIS builds a proactive and positive school culture. It’s about teaching behavior the same way we teach academics with clarity, consistency, and care.

The Core Principles of PBIS

At its heart, PBIS rests on three guiding principles that create consistency across classrooms and schools.

1. Proactive Approach

PBIS emphasizes prevention over reaction. Schools teach and reinforce positive behaviors before problems occur, helping students understand what success looks like in every setting, from the hallway to the cafeteria.

The result? Fewer disruptions and a more predictable, calm learning environment.

2. Data-Driven Decision Making

Decisions in PBIS are guided by data, not assumptions. Schools use ongoing data collection to:

• Identify student needs

• Monitor progress

• Adjust interventions as needed

By regularly reviewing data, educators can see trends, address problems early, and celebrate progress in real time.

3. Tiered System of Support (MTSS)

PBIS operates within a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) framework, offering increasing levels of help based on each student’s needs.

• Tier 1: Universal supports for all students (school-wide expectations, positive reinforcement).

• Tier 2: Targeted supports for groups of students at risk (small group interventions, mentoring).

• Tier 3: Intensive, individualized supports for students with significant behavioral or emotional needs.

This tiered system ensures that no child is overlooked, every learner receives the support they need to thrive.

Implementing PBIS: Key Strategies

Schools that implement PBIS with fidelity focus on teaching, modeling, and reinforcing desired behaviors while using data to guide decisions.

1. Define and Teach Expectations

Establish 3–5 clear, school-wide expectations (e.g., “Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible”). Explicitly teach what those behaviors look like in different settings: classrooms, hallways, playgrounds, buses.

2. Acknowledge and Reward Positive Behavior

Recognize and celebrate positive actions through praise, tickets, or point systems. Reinforcement creates motivation and shows that positive behavior matters.

3. Address Misbehavior Consistently

Develop clear, calm, and consistent responses to problem behaviors. Predictability helps students understand boundaries without feeling shamed or targeted.

4. Collect and Analyze Data

Use data systems (e.g., SWIS, Panorama, or district dashboards) to track incidents, referrals, and positive recognitions. Adjust interventions based on patterns, not perceptions.

Benefits of PBIS

PBIS transforms not just behavior, but the overall school climate.

For Students

• Higher engagement and academic success

• Fewer suspensions and office referrals

• Stronger social-emotional skills and sense of belonging

For Educators

• A calmer, more predictable classroom environment

• Fewer disruptions, more instructional time

• Improved collaboration and shared language around behavior

For Schools

• Unified vision and expectations across staff

• Better relationships among students, staff, and families

• Stronger culture of safety, respect, and equity

Steps for Successful PBIS Implementation

1. Establish a PBIS Team: Include administrators, teachers, support staff, and family/community partners.

2. Conduct a Needs Assessment: Use existing data to identify priorities.

3. Develop an Action Plan: Outline timelines, resources, and leadership roles.

4. Provide Professional Development: Train all staff on PBIS principles, expectations, and data tools.

5. Launch and Monitor: Implement strategies school-wide, collect feedback, and adjust as necessary.

(See additional resources at the Center on PBIS and OSEP Technical Assistance Center).

Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Challenge 1: Resistance to Change

Solution: Involve staff early, highlight success stories, and celebrate small wins to build buy-in.

Challenge 2: Inconsistent Implementation

Solution: Conduct fidelity checks, provide regular feedback, and celebrate consistent practices.

Challenge 3: Data Management

Solution: Use streamlined systems and train staff to analyze and use data effectively.

Change takes time, but with leadership, coaching, and consistency, PBIS becomes the foundation of a thriving school culture.

Conclusion

PBIS isn’t just a discipline system, it’s a school-wide framework for belonging and success.

By proactively teaching expectations, using data to guide decisions, and reinforcing positive behavior, schools create communities where students feel safe, valued, and motivated to succeed.

When behavior becomes predictable, learning becomes possible and every child has a fair chance to shine.

Written by Derek Setser, educator and founder of Turning Scholars Into Leaders. Explore related insights on Trauma-Informed Classrooms and Restorative Practices in Schools.