The Evolution of Discipline Practices: School-Wide Positive Behavior Supports

TLDR

Schools have shifted toward school‑wide positive behavior support in response to public calls for better discipline systems, building on the emerging technology of positive behavior support. The thesis of this paper is that the current problem behavior of students in elementary and middle schools requires a preventive, whole‑school approach. The paper defines the features of positive behavior support, explains their application to whole‑school interventions, and outlines the steps used to implement school‑wide positive behavior support in more than 500 schools nationwide.

Abstract

SUMMARY In response to public requests to improve the purpose and structure of discipline systems, schools have increased their emphases on “school-wide” positive behavior support. The thesis of this paper is that the current problem behavior of students in elementary and middle schools requires a preventive, whole-school approach. The foundation for such an approach lies in the emerging technology of positive behavior support. The features of positive behavior support are defined, and their application to whole-school intervention articulated. Finally, the steps that have been used to implement school-wide positive behavior support in over 500 schools across the nation are described.