Previous research has demonstrated a need for contextual fit when implementing behavior supports in high schools (Flannery et al., "The High School Journal," 96(4), 267-282, 2013; Flannery & Kato, "Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education for Children and Youth," 61(1), 69-79, 2017). As high schools move beyond the…

There is increased focus on narrowing the research-to-practice gap in education for students with autism. Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an evidence-based and widely implemented framework designed to improve outcomes for all students; however, relatively little attention has focused specifically on using the PBIS framework…

When implementing schoolwide PBIS in secondary schools, creating effective acknowledgment systems for expected student behavior can be challenging. To overcome this challenge, it is helpful to understand acknowledgement preferences from the student point of view. In this study, we surveyed students in three middle, two traditional, and two…

In recent years, high schools have turned to PBIS to address issues related to dropout rates, school climate, and disciplinary practices. However, high schools pose unique implementation challenges when compared to elementary and middle schools, such as large school sizes, organization and culture focused on academics rather than behavior, and the…

Despite the fact that schools remain incredibly safe spaces for children and youth to spend time, the occurrence of mass school shootings, although rare, is a pressing issue for our society. In this paper we discuss the importance of action, advocacy, and research related to mass school shootings. Specifically, we discuss research-based actions…

Exclusionary discipline practices are frequently utilized in schools despite decades of research indicating their ineffectiveness (American Psychological Association Zero Tolerance Task Force, 2008; Losen & Skiba, 2010; Muñiz, 2021). Research shows that removing students from the classroom does not change student behavior, is administered…

In this article, the authors introduce precorrection as a feasible, effective strategy for teachers and families to use to increase engagement and minimize disruptive behavior in a range of learning contexts. The authors provide step-by-step guidance to illustrate how precorrection can be used by teachers in in-person and remote learning…

As a result of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), schools and districts are encouraged to implement school-wide initiatives to improve outcomes for all students. In accordance with the ESSA, this research study investigated the relationship between school improvement planning and the implementation of school-wide interventions. The study…

For more than 20 years, the schoolwide positive behavioral interventions and supports (SWPBIS) literature base has been growing as it relates to implementation and sustainability across various settings and grade levels. While the research is clear that SWPBIS is an effective multitiered framework, gaps in the literature exist. Specifically, the…

The prevalence of racial disparities in discipline outcomes continues despite a prominence of new strategies and research. When implemented with fidelity, PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) is shown to contribute to reductions in school suspension, expulsion, and other positive educational outcomes. Despite its promise for making…

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) are effective when schools address perceived obstacles for teachers, engage in the problem-solving process using disaggregated behavior data, and routinely use reliable measurement tools to evaluate its level of implementation. Although PBIS schools have made great strides in outcomes for…

In response to the call for inclusion, teachers are now managing challenging behavior in the general education classroom at increased rates. Co-teaching has been relied on by many teachers in order to create more inclusive classrooms, however, teachers continue to report feeling ill-prepared to manage student behavior effectively. Although many…

Schools are seeking additional ways to cultivate positive school climate and culture, address problematic behavior, and increase the social-emotional behavior competencies of students. Restorative Practices (RP) is a whole-school practice that emphasizes prevention and positive responses to challenging behavior that can be used across all settings…

Student voice is essential for PBIS, but a tool for gathering students' perspectives of PBIS is not available in the literature. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a universal-level PBIS survey for students, the Student Perceptions of Behavior and Discipline (StPBD). This survey was designed to mobilize student engagement and…

The most common behaviors eliciting a student referral for special education evaluation related to emotional disturbance (ED) are adult- and peer-targeted aggression. Curiously, the word aggression, which is an externalizing behavior, does not appear anywhere in the federal description of ED. Despite the lack of clarity surrounding definitions, as…