PBIS Continues to Pay-Off!

A dance? Basketball? Computer games? Movie watching? What is going on here? A few weeks ago, we held our first quarter social where 99% of our student body was eligible to participate in a assortment of activities based on their consistent demonstration of positive behavior and exhibiting the ELMS Expectations of being safe, respectful, responsible and prepared during the first quarter of this year.

For the 3rd year in a row, ELMS has been using Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to create a school climate that provides clear behavioral expectations and consequences for students, which are enforced consistently by all staff. When students meet the expectations established, our staff reinforces their positive behavior by providing a variety of rewards and incentives to celebrate their success.

In addition to earning the “right” to attend quarterly socials, students have the opportunity to receive STAR cards for demonstrating the ELMS Expectations in class, in the hallways and even on the bus. STAR cards can be redeemed for all types of “cool” middle school prizes including food during each social.

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For those students who fail to meet our behavioral expectations on a consistent basis and receive office referrals, they have time taken away from quarterly socials. For each office referral a student receives during the quarter, there is a half-hour taken away from their participation in the two-hour social. At ELMS, this is a huge consequence. Students who receive office referrals are encouraged to earn back their lost time by doing “community service” for the school.

Our data tells us our approach is working! This past quarter, we had a 10% reduction in office referrals when compared to the same time period last year. And since we began the use of PBIS, ELMS has realized a 60% reduction in office referrals. In addition, our suspensions have been reduced by nearly 85%

Our positive, yet firm approach with students has proven to be very successful. In fact, our school was recognized as a Maryland State PBIS Exemplar School in 2008.

What types of rewards and incentives does your school use to reinforce positive behaviors?