Leveraging State-Level Partnerships to Scale-Up Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports in U.S. Schools

Area of Science:

• Education
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a widely adopted framework in U.S. schools.
• State leadership teams are crucial for the successful scale-up and implementation of PBIS.
• Partnerships between state teams and the National Technical Assistance Center on PBIS are vital for progress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To showcase successful collaborations between state PBIS leadership teams and the Center on PBIS.
• To identify exemplary partnerships that led to significant improvements in school and student results.
• To offer recommendations for sustaining PBIS initiatives in educational settings.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of exemplary partnerships between state leadership teams and the Center on PBIS.
• Structured interviews with 12 state leadership team members.
• Leveraging over 25 years of collective experience in supporting state leadership teams.

Main Results:

• Identified key elements of successful state-level PBIS partnerships.
• Documented meaningful and socially significant improvements in school and student outcomes attributed to these partnerships.
• Gathered insights into effective strategies for PBIS scale-up and sustainability.

Conclusions:

• Strong partnerships between state leadership teams and the Center on PBIS are essential for effective implementation and positive outcomes.
• Recommendations are provided to help state teams navigate current challenges and sustain PBIS.
• The findings support the continued expansion and long-term success of PBIS in schools nationwide.