Getting started with the PAPBS network begins with a few key steps to lay the groundwork for successful PBIS implementation. Schools and districts will complete an application, establish a core team, and connect with regional support to begin their journey toward positive, lasting change.
These steps include:
1. Schedule a District Overview
- Contact your Regional Coordinator (listed below) to connect you with a local PaPBS Facilitator.
- Overview session is free and lasts 2-3 hours.
- Attendees should include:
- Superintendent or disignee
- Director of Special Education
- Principals and key administrators
- Session includes:
- Overview of SWPBIS practices, data, and systems
- District-level and building-level implementation steps
- Review of district commitments
- Start of action planning
2. Begin implementation
- After the overview, your PAPBS Network Facilitator will support your distict leadership team.
- Once the district commitment is signed:
- Begin detailed action planning
- Prepare for a 3-5 year process including training, implementation, data collectin, and fidelity measures.
3. Regional Coordinators:
When schools join the PAPBS network, they commit to building a strong foundation for sustainable PBIS implementation. This includes assembling a dedicated team, engaging in ongoing training and coaching, and using data to guide decision-making. These commitments ensure that the school community is fully supported in creating positive, equitable learning environments for all students. Similarly, the PAPBS Network commits to an equal amount of training, consultation and coaching to support implementation efforts.
Commitments Include:
- School building/district administrative overview and discussion with external coach to review project requirements and expectations
- Completion of a school building/district-wide PBS Blueprint, designating improved school climate/behavior as one of the top three school improvement plan goals in each building through implementaion of SWPBIS
- Working with an external coach (IU consultant/district behavior specialist) with specific FTE (05-.10) to coordinate school building/district SWPBS activities; i.e., an average of 1-2 days over a month's time
- Development of a cross-agency school building/district leadership team – including parents/caregivers and students – to plan, analyze, review and monitor district SWPBIS activities
- Necessary time and resources for building core team training in SWPBIS research-based practices and implementation processes. This has included:
- Training delivered in a timely manner to ensure continuity of understanding and application
- 3-5 days for SWPBS training in universal (all students) prevention/intervention for all personnel
- 3-5 days of professional development in secondary (some students) prevention/intervention for all personnel
- 3-5 days of professional development in tertiary (few students) prevention/intervention for all personnel
- Allocation of funds to adequately support SWPBIS activities
- Development of a continuum of opportunities to involve parents/caregivers and students in district and building level SWPBIS activities
- Adherence to timelines, protocols and requirements of the Commitment to Fidelity Implementation written agreement
- Support for SWPBIS as described above for a minimum of three years
If your school joins the PAPBS Network, multiple items will be gathered as part of development and implementation.
Components may Include:
- Documents developed as part of a school's MTSS/PBIS Handbook
- PowerPoint Presentations
- Photographs
- Highlights from district action plans
- Media coverage
- Grant award letters
- Documentation of family/community activities
- Tier evaluation activities conducted by the PAPBS Network
- PBS school-based and/or coaches' meeting minutes
- PBS school-based action plans and implementation plans
- Announcements
- Reports
- School improvement plans
- Dissemination of PAPBS information (how, to whom, when, why, etc.)
- Documentation of fundraising events and outcomes
- Data-based decision-making indicating changes made to implementation (specifically what was altered, when, by whom and the outcome based on data)
- Collaboration efforts with school-based personnel, other schools, districts and state
District Coaches:
The role of the District Coach in the PAPBS Network is to support the larger organization in the installation, implementation, and sustainability of PBIS across all three tiers. District Coaches are provided additional training to help support each coach's leadership efforts and to provide tools and evidence based strategies provided by the PAPBS Network.
Resources:
One of the tools that District Coaches are encouraged to use is the
District Systems Fidelity Inventory (DSFI). Please see the resources below, designed by Dr. Kelsey Morris from the University of Missouri, that were designed for Pennsylvania District Coaches to support the use of this tool.
Q: What is a facilitator and why do we need one?
A: A PAPBS Independent SW Facilitator has applied for, been traned through, and mentored via the PAPBS Network established protocol. While it may seem easier to download free materials off the internet, it is important to recognize the science of implementation and only a trained facilitator can provide the critical understanding of the evidence-based practices.The PaPBS network has over 10 years of data to support the procedures and protocols we encourage. When implementing Schoolwide PBIS, there is a lot to learn and develop. A PaPBS Indepent SW Facilitator can help you through the process and make sure the steps needed to build a solid foundation are developed. In addition, working with a Facilitator is required to be a part of the PAPBS network.
Q: How do I find my facilitator?
A: When looking to find an indepent SW Faciliatator, contact th regional office where your porogram is located. There are Regional Coordinators loced in the three PaTTAN offices.
Please contact any of the following:
Q: What is "Implementation Fidelity" and why is it important?
A: Replace the term “fidelity” with “accuracy.” Implementation fidelity or accuracy is achieved when a program has implemented the steps for a specific tier and reached the percentages designated by the evaluation tools used to measure implementation. Each tier of PBIS has specific assessment tools that are used to evaluate implementation fidelity/accuracy. These fidelity tools come from the national center for PBIS. The PaPBS Network is part of the national technical assistance network. Please check out Center on PBIS It is very important that a program is implementing PBIS with fidelity/accuracy to gain the maximum benefit of the School-Wide PBIS framework. The data from schools in Pennsylvania network supports this assertion in the PAPBS Program Evaluation conducted by Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Q: What is the purpose of School-Wide Recognition?
A: The purpose of the PAPBS network recognition system is to identify and publicly recognize School Wide (SW) Sites for successful implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). It also affords SW Sites and districts the opportunity to accurately self-reflect on their progress implementing and sustaining PBIS.
Q: What are the categories for recognition?
A: There are four categories of PAPBS Network recognition:
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Universal (Tier One) Initial Implementation with Fidelity
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Universal (Tier One) Sustained Implementation with Fidelity
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Universal and Tier Two Implementation with Fidelity
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Implementation Fidelity at all three Tiers
Q: How do I join the Network?
A: Joining the network is as simple as contacting a Regional Coordinator who will connect you with an Independent PAPBS facilitator who will provide an overview of the framework and steps needed to become a part of the network. There are Regional Coordinators located in the three PaTTAN offices. Please find their contact information on this page.
Q: What training is offered to reach fidelity?
A: Prior to training through the network, a network facilitator will work to prepare a district Is the following areas: Establish District Commitment, Establish District roll out plan, Establish District/School readiness.
Q: Where/how do we get the training we need?
A: Each building works PAPBS Independent Schoolwide (SW) Network Facilitator to complete PBIS Tier 1 coaching and training. The facilitator will continue to work with your team as your building works to achieve fidelity at Tier 1. Buildings that achieve fidelity at this level will continue to work with the facilitator to establish advanced tiers (Tiers 2 and 3) with additional training and on-going support.