Program Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PWPBIS) is a multi-tiered framework to systematically implement Pyramid Model practices with fidelity in early childhood settings. Implementation is guided by a leadership team who develops the infrastructure and ensures supports are available for early childhood professionals to provide high-quality services to children and families. In Pennsylvania, PW-PBIS is grounded in implementation science, bridging the gap between Pyramid Model practices and the high-fidelity implementation of those practices.
In Pennsylvania, there are many agencies and educational entities working collaboratively through the PaPBS Network to support the implementation of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) in school districts, school-age programs, and Early Childhood/Early Intervention settings. To meet the unique needs of young children, their families and the programs that support them, the PaPBS Network has a subcommittee: PaPBS Early Childhood Leadership Team. This team works with community partners to guide state-level work for PW-PBIS implementation.
The Pennsylvania Positive Behavior Support Early Childhood Leadership Team is comprised of diverse voices to support the PaPBS Network pertaining to Program-Wide PBIS. The leadership team has representation from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) Bureau of Early Intervention Services and Family Supports, Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA), Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) with School-Wide PBIS, Pennsylvania Key, Infant Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Consultation, Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), Supporting Positive Environments for Children (SPEC), The Devereux Center for Effective Schools (CES), Shippensburg University, and Early Intervention Specialists (EIS). The leadership team is committed to supporting facilitators and coaches in the PaPBS Program-wide Network to implement PBIS with fidelity. Programs implementing PW-PBIS are invited to join the PaPBS Network for ongoing resources and professional development opportunities for early childhood facilitators and coaches.
The PaPBS Network provides programs implementing PW-PBIS with the following benefits:
- Opportunities to participate in ongoing professional development to achieve implementation of PW-PBIS and Pyramid Model practices with fidelity;
- Annual PaPBS Network recognition of early childhood programs that reach fidelity at one or more of the three tiers;
- Marketing materials to promote PaPBS fidelity status to parents and community;
- At fidelity, Keystone STARS bonus points to help achieve or maintain a higher STAR level.
Summary of the similarities and nuances of Program Wide and School Wide PBIS
A review of the research base of the Pyramid Model Framework.
A summary fact sheet of the Pyramid Model Framework and Program Wide Implementation of the Pyramid Model Framework.
The goal of the pyramid model consortium is to establish a sustainable system of social -emotional support, we provide training and technical assistance to states, communities,and programs. We combine our expertise and a process that is rooted in implemenation science and evidence -based practices to help infants and young children develop.
The National Center for Pyramid Model innovations (NCPMI) is funded by the Office of Special Educaiton Programs to imporve and support the capacity of state systems and local porgrams to impement an early childhood mult-tiered system of support to improve the social emotinal, and behavioral outcomes of young children with, and at risk for developemental disabilities or delays..
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Program's (OSEP) and the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), the Technical Assistance Center on PBIS supports schools, districts, and states to build systems capacity for implementing a multi-tiered approach to social, emotional, and behavior support. The broad purpose of PBIS is to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and equity of schools and other agencies. PBIS improves social emotional and academic outcomes for all students, includign students with disabilities and students from underrepresented groups.
Resources
Pennsylvania OCDEL Announcement on the Reduction of Expulsion and Suspension in Early Childhood programs.
Pennsylvania OCDEL Announcement on Inclusion
Early Intervention Technical Assistance recently developed an online portal to provide easy access to important information and major initiatives. There are resources for families and early childhood programs, and information about the home-based PBIS project as well as Program-wide PBIS.