Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports

The goal of PBIS is to create a positive, beneficial environment for students, teachers, and school staff. PBIS is built on research-based, proven techniques; every decision in the approach is based in data.

PBIS is implemented by several Sheppard Pratt schools in collaboration with state, local, and community agencies throughout Maryland and across the Mid-Atlantic region.

What is PBIS?

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an approach for creating a safer, more positive school environment. Through PBIS, educators learn how and when to use proactive, evidence-based positive behavioral interventions, rather than reactionary measures, throughout the school and within the classroom in a way that supports students both academically and socially.

How does PBIS help kids?

Many kids come to our schools lacking some foundational communication and social skills; through a PBIS framework, we teach them the rules and expectations for positive behavior at school, and continuously constructively reinforce those behaviors throughout all school settings. PBIS is about supporting students, encouraging them to make good decisions. These efforts result in a positive, school-wide energy.

One of the foundational goals of PBIS is to encourage favorable staff-to-student relationships. We work to promote positive student behavior, and decrease reactive management and punishment. This can result in better learning and social outcomes for all students and staff, can help students to maximize academic achievement, and increases students’ openness to learning. Implementing PBIS can lead to less bullying, better grades, and a more beneficial school experience.