Following a randomized controlled trial that showed effectiveness of an equity-centered positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) professional development intervention on student discipline in elementary schools, we studied the extent to which the intervention had differential effects on individual teachers' use of exclusionary…

Root causes of disproportionality in exclusionary discipline are multiply determined. Teachers' perceptions and implicit biases, enacted within the contexts of schools as racialised organisations, shape how educators interpret and respond to student behaviour. Focusing on the referral phase of the disciplinary process, this systematic review of…

This quantitative quality improvement study examined the impact of Schoolwide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) on African American students in a Southeastern school district. A review of the current literature highlighted the chronic absenteeism, low levels of achievement, and high discipline referrals of African American…

Students with disabilities (SWDs) face challenges in following rules and expectations. The problem addressed by this study was that SWDs experience disproportionate levels of exclusionary discipline when compared to their non-disabled peers. This quantitative causal-comparative study examined the impact of different levels of positive behavior…

The effects of imposing accountability pressures on public school teachers are empirically indeterminate. In this paper, we study the effects of accountability in the context of teacher responses to student behavioral infractions in the aftermath of teacher evaluation reforms. We leverage cross-state variation in the timing of state policy…

The problem addressed in this study is the disproportionality in office discipline referrals (ODRs) for Black students at a Northeast Florida Middle School despite the implementation of School-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS). The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand middle school teachers'…

Positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS) was first introduced with the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 1997. In this article, we describe the 25-year history of the PBIS implementation experience, including the core features of PBIS as a multitiered framework and the process and outcomes for…

This manuscript style dissertation investigates the impact of a brief positive psychology group intervention on both wellbeing and academic achievement among adolescents. Two experimental research studies were conducted to address this. Participants from a local high school engaged in a brief small group positive psychology intervention in both…

This quantitative ex post facto study investigated the relationship between the number of Office Discipline Referrals (ODRs) that result in out-of-school suspensions and levels of positive behavior intervention and support (PBIS) in elementary, middle, and high schools in three school districts in the Southeastern United States. Many public…

This study examined the use of a Positive Behavioral Intervention System (PBIS) to promote a positive school culture. PBIS focuses on promoting a positive school culture through behavioral interventions specific to the school, and providing feedback to students to reinforce positive behaviors (Contractor & Staats, 2014). The study focuses on…

This study examined the use of a Positive Behavioral Intervention System (PBIS) to promote a positive school culture. PBIS focuses on promoting a positive school culture through behavioral interventions specific to the school, and providing feedback to students to reinforce positive behaviors (Contractor & Staats, 2014). The study focuses on…

Academic and behavioral interventions used in classrooms and schools may decrease the number of Black adolescents referred for and receiving special education services in grades 9-12. School leaders and teachers that work together to understand the different supports available, as well as, how to apply them in the schools and classrooms prior to a…

Schools continue to rely on disciplinary exclusions as a consequence for behavioral rule violations, despite evidence that removing students from instruction for discipline purposes is associated with poor behavioral, academic, and social outcomes. School-wide positive behavior interventions and supports (SWPBIS) is one multitiered support…

The developmental path of children has not changed, but the world around them has. More than ever, it is imperative that students have the social and emotional skills to help them thrive in school, in their homes, and in their community. Mindfulness helps support social, emotional, and academic learning as it assists children in becoming more…

The purpose of this quantitative study was to better understand school wide Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (SwPBIS) implementation through a multi-dimensional conceptual lens of leadership efficacy. This study examined the relationship amongst the PBS team, faculty commitment, and student behavior outcomes within 71 Elementary schools…