General Information
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an evidence-based, data-driven framework proven to reduce disciplinary incidents, increase a school’s sense of safety, improve school climate, and support improved academic outcomes for all students.
Some of the critical elements of PBIS are:
- PBIS Leadership Team that guides the implementation
- A Statement of purpose
- Three to five school-wide positive behavioral expectations
- Procedures for teaching the expectations, including a behavioral matrix explaining how those expectations will look in the school
- Lesson plans that incorporate the behavioral expectations
- Acknowledgement system that recognizes students using expected behavior – both within and outside the classroom
- Flowchart of detailed procedures showing how to handle student misbehaviors school-wide – both within and outside the classroom
- Data-based system for monitoring implementation, fidelity, and outcomes
Documents and Resources
Evidence-Based Classroom Strategies for Teachers
Georgia Map of Active PBIS Districts 2017-2018
Georgia PBIS Levels of School Recognition Jan 2017
What is PBIS?
Ga DOE Strategic Plan
PBIS World
Find My School's Suspension Rate
April 16, 2014 "Be There" Report on PBIS in Columbus, GA
GA Department of Education PBIS Webpage
Video Overview of PBIS by Gwinnett County Public Schools
National PBIS Website
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my child(ren) attend(s) a PBIS school?
Muscogee County School District is dedicated to implementing PBIS in every school, but is in the beginning stages of this implementation. Each year approximately ten schools will begin the process of developing PBIS. It takes at least 3-5 years from the beginning of implementation for a school to develop a full framework.
The following MCSD PBIS schools are “Operational” as of October 2017:
- Dimon Magnet Academy
- Double Churches Middle School
- Forrest Road Elementary School
- Richards Middle School
- Rothschild Leadership Academy
- South Columbus Elementary School
The following MCSD schools are at various stages of building a framework to becoming "Operational":
- Allen Elementary School
- Arnold Magnet Academy
- Baker Middle School
- Blanchard Elementary School
- Brewer Elementary School
- Carver High School
- Davis Elementary School
- Dawson Elementary School
- Dorothy Heights Elementary School
- Double Churches Elementary School
- Downtown Magnet Academy
- Early College Academy
- East Columbus Magnet Academy
- Eddy Middle School
- Fox Elementary School
- Gentian Elementary School
- Georgetown Elementary School
- Hannan Magnet Academy
- Johnson Elementary School
- Kendrick High School
- Key Elementary School
- Lonnie Jackson Academy
- Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School
- Matthews Elementary School
- Midland Academy
- Midland Middle School
- Rigdon Road Elementary School
- River Road Elementary School
- St. Mary’s Road Magnet Academy
- Waddell Elementary School
- Wesley Heights Elementary School
- Wynnton Arts Academy
How does a school become "operational"?
All ten (10) critical elements of PBIS must be fully developed and school-wide behavior data must show improvement. The ten critical elements are:
- An active and committed PBIS Team and Principal
- Monitoring of school-wide behavior data (at least monthly) and data-based decision-making
- Three to five clear/concise school-wide expectations and rules that are positively stated (ex: "walk" rather than "do not run"), posted in targeted locations throughout the school and apply to adults as well as students
- Formal and informal teaching of the school-wide behavior expectations and rules throughout the year
- An acknowledgement system to provide feedback to those following the taught and expected behaviors
- An effective discipline process that is written in narrative or flow chart form and is followed by all faculty and staff
- At least 80% of faculty and staff are committed to the framework and follow the systems and practices
- An action plan to implement and sustain the PBIS framework. This plan should be reviewed regularly. "Plan the work and work the plan."
- Classroom systems are aligned with school-wide expectations and the school-wide acknowledgement system
- Ongoing improvement through fidelity checks, self-assessment measures and walkthroughs.
Can PBIS be used at home?
Absolutely!!! Parents can find out what the school-wide expectations are at their child(ren)'s school and teach, reinforce, model the same expectations at home. Common expectations are "Respect", "Responsibility", and "Safety" but each school chooses 3-5 of their own. We encourage parents to be active PBIS participants and talk to school leaders about how you may get more involved in the framework.
How do I get more information about PBIS?
Go to our Documents/Resources section of this webpage and find links to several relevant sources.
What are the long and short term goals for PBIS in Muscogee County School District?
District Goals:
5 Years (2018-2019)
- Increase the number of PBIS schools to 100% of the schools in our district
- At least 20 schools achieve "operational" level
- At least 20 schools achieve "emerging" level
- Align district discipline policies and interventions to PBIS principles
- Become nationally recognized as a PBIS district
- Decrease discipline referrals by 50%
- Increase the number of PBIS schools to 50% of the schools in our district
- At least 10 schools achieve “operational” level
- At least 10 schools achieve “emerging” level
- Work toward aligning district discipline policies and interventions to PBIS principles
- Decrease discipline referrals by 30%
Contact Information
Dr. Kenya Gilmore Director of Project AWARE & PBIS
706-748-3292