What is Positive Behavior Support?

Positive behavior support (PBS) is a comprehensive approach designed to improve the quality of life for children, youth, and adults and to reduce problem behaviors and conflicts. PBS involves a collaborative effort among many individuals to re-engineer environments to provide sufficient encouragement and commendation, instruction in life skills, and behavioral interventions to ensure the development of lifestyles that promote success and happiness in schools, families, and communities.

PBS is a multi-level approach that can and should be implemented at a basic level for all students school-wide, at a more focused level for students who are identified as being at risk for developing future academic and social problems, and at an intense level for those who are currently displaying challenging behavior problems and academic deficiencies. When implemented well, the PBS approach creates a culture of caring, teaching, and nurturing, where everyone can succeed, be safe, and feel needed; a school where civility is taught, understood, and practiced; a community where students, teachers, administrators, and parents consistently practice the "golden rule." PBS is based on empirically validated strategies and system change procedures, structured to produce socially important outcomes. PBS proactively teaches social interaction skills, self-management skills, and other life skills necessary for living a quality life. When problem behaviors do occur, more functional and appropriate replacement behaviors are taught, and an environmental support network is established.