Positive Behavior Support (PBS)
All Schools in Collier County, as well as the transportation department, implement Positive Behavior Support. Positive Behavior Support (PBS) gives people a new way to think about behavior. PBS is based on understanding why problem behaviors occur – the behavior’s function. This approach to behavior can occur school-wide, in a specific setting, classroom, or with an individual student. PBS is a productive strategy for teaching appropriate behavior and rewarding/ recognizing students exhibiting expected behavior. PBS is the application of evidence- based strategies and systems to assist schools to increase academic performance, increase safety, decrease problem behavior, and establish positive school cultures. PBS is designed to support teachers, administrators, related services personnel, family members, and outside agency personnel in building district-wide capacity to address challenging behavior exhibited by students in regular and special education programs.
PBS provides a positive and effective alternative to traditional methods of discipline. PBS methods are research-based and proven to significantly reduce the occurrence of problem behaviors in the school, resulting in a more positive school climate and increase academic performance. PBS is consistent with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which advocates the use of positive behavior intervention and school-based disciplinary strategies that reduce or eliminate the need to use suspension and expulsion as disciplinary options.
On a school-wide level, PBS on based on individual schools’ specific expectation s upon which a positive school culture is built. PBS relies on accurate and reliable discipline referral data to understand the behaviors occurring across campus. An analysis of the data allows a school team to identify the problem areas. Brainstorm interventions such as where and what to teach, reward and/or recognize the students exhibiting the expected behavior, and communicate findings, to the staff, students, and families. The PBS process is a team-based approach that relies on a strong collaboration between families and professionals from a variety of disciplines regardless of the level implemented. The PBS process resulted in the creation of effective intervention plans that will impede problem behaviors, teach new schools, and create support systems for students. More information about PBS can be found at http://flpbs.fmhi.usf.edu/index.asp

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