Best practices in developing a positive behavior support system at the school level

School-wide positive behavior support (PBS) is a broad set of research-validated strategies designed to create school environments that promote and support appro-priate behavior of all students. These environments are brought about through the identification of common behavioral expectations that are valued by the school community and can apply to all students in all school settings and situations. These common expectations are directly and explicitly taught to all students to create an atmosphere in which students know what is expected of them at all times. Further-more, in a PBS framework, students are systematically and frequently acknowledged for their appropriate behavior. Undesired behavior, when it occurs, is responded to swiftly and consistently. A school envir-onment is therefore created that (a) teaches students skills to behave appropriately, (b) positively acknowl-edges students engaging in those behaviors, and (c) provides consistency and stability in interactions among students and staff members. A method of ongoing data collection regarding student behavior is a hallmark of PBS, emphasizing the need to use such information for making decisions about the effectiveness of the school’s universal pre-vention efforts and about group and individua