Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Initiative

Maryland’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Initiative is a collaboration of the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), Sheppard Pratt Health System, and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. This partnership, known as PBIS Maryland, is responsible for providing training and technical assistance to the local school systems in the implementation and management of PBIS.

Each of the 24 local school systems is a partner in the PBIS Maryland Initiative and provides leadership and coaching to support participating schools within its jurisdiction. In addition, ongoing technical assistance has been consistently provided to Maryland through the National Technical Assistance Center for PBIS. The implementation of PBIS is built upon the public health logic model of three-tiered prevention. If the behavior of some students is not responsive, more intensive behavioral supports, (targeted or secondary tier) or a highly individualized plan (intensive or tertiary tier) are provided. Outcomes for all children improve by reducing problem behaviors and making schools more effective, efficient, and positive work environments for both students and staff. View Maryland’s Three-Tiered Instructional and PBIS Framework.

PBIS is a framework or approach for assisting school personnel in adopting and organizing evidence-based behavioral interventions into an integrated continuum through defining, teaching, and acknowledging behavioral expectations. By reinforcing positive behaviors, schools find that teachers spend more time teaching, as class disruptions, office referrals and suspensions are reduced.

PBIS is not a packaged curriculum, a scripted intervention, or a stand-alone strategy. PBIS is a prevention-oriented way for school personnel to (a) organize evidence-based practices, (b) improve their implementation of those practices using data, and (c) maximize academic and social behavior outcomes for students. PBIS supports the success of all students.

The Howard County Public School System has been involved in PBIS since the 1999-2000 school year. Currently 58 of the 74 Howard County public schools participate in the PBIS initiative. Please visit your child’s school website or contact the school for specific information about PBIS in that school.

For more information about PBIS Maryland go to www.PBISMaryland.org

PBIS Recognition Awards

Bronze Awards

The first recognition level is the PBIS Maryland Bronze Recognition Award. This award is targeted to schools that are in the implementation phase for school-wide PBIS. The requirements are minimal and a school can only receive the award for 2 consecutive years.

Silver Awards

The second recognition level is the PBIS Maryland Silver recognition award, intended for those schools that have successfully implemented school-wide PBIS and can demonstrate that their implementation has had positive effects on their discipline data for at least one year. Since the application must be submitted during the school year, schools are required to compare a portion of the current school year with a month-to-month comparison, to demonstrate positive effects.

Gold Awards

The third and highest level of PBIS Maryland recognition is the PBIS Maryland Gold Recognition Award and will only be awarded to those schools that are demonstrating sustainability for the systems, practices, and data utilization for school-wide PBIS and can demonstrate that their implementation has had positive effects on both their discipline and achievement data for at least two years. Since the application must be submitted during the school year, schools are required to compare a portion of the current school year by month-to-month comparison to demonstrate positive effects.

Schools that Participate