Schoolwide Positive Behavior Interventions and Support in Portuguese Schools: An Exploratory Study

Area of Science:

• Educational Psychology
• Behavioral Science
• School Administration

Background:

• Schoolwide Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) is a framework for promoting positive behavior and managing issues.
• Portugal's Decree-Law no. 54/2018 mandates multitiered support systems integrating learning, social-emotional, and behavioral aspects.
• Schoolwide PBIS principles align with this legislation, yet its adoption in Portugal remains unmapped.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the current practice of Schoolwide PBIS features in Portuguese schools.
• To assess school psychologists' self-reported knowledge of the Schoolwide PBIS framework and its implementation.
• To identify barriers and facilitators for Schoolwide PBIS adoption in the Portuguese educational context.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 375 school psychologists in Portugal.
• Data collected focused on the implementation of Schoolwide PBIS components and perceived knowledge levels.
• Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the survey responses regarding PBIS practices and awareness.

Main Results:

• A limited implementation of Schoolwide PBIS features was observed across Portuguese schools.
• A small percentage of school psychologists reported high knowledge of Schoolwide PBIS.
• The majority of participants indicated minimal or no knowledge of the Schoolwide PBIS framework.

Conclusions:

• The adoption and implementation of Schoolwide PBIS in Portuguese schools face significant challenges.
• There is a notable gap in awareness and knowledge regarding Schoolwide PBIS among school psychologists.
• Despite implementation hurdles, Schoolwide PBIS remains a relevant and effective framework for inclusive education.