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VH Nelson Elementary School

Empowering all students to succeed in a changing world

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS)

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS)

What is PBIS?
PBIS stands for Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports. It is a proactive systems approach to establishing behavioral supports and a social culture that supports all students to achieve social, emotional, and academic success.

At East Maine, PBIS is supported through four main components: expectations, referrals, Gotchas, and celebrations. The goal is to create a positive environment where children learn to understand their behaviors, correct their mistakes, and develop empathy for others. PBIS is used throughout District 63 and the state of Illinois. For more information, please visit theMidwest PBIS Network. 

Prevention Principles and Practices:
All District 63 schools have school-wide expectations. All Behavior expectations are positively stated and express what behaviors are expected at school. We explicitly teach each student the expectations across all school settings. By explaining and practicing expected behaviors, we ensure that all students are aware of what behaviors are expected when they are in the classroom, hallway, lunchroom, bathroom, or anywhere else on school premises. Each building has a team that meets to review data and plan events to support all student behavior learning, as well as to support students who need additional supports for behavior.

Here is a link to a sample matrix. It will show the school-wide expectations in various school environments: Matrix Link

  • What if a child needs more support?
    If a student needs additional supports, he or she will be referred to the PBIS Tier 2/3 team. These teams work with the classroom teachers and families to offer extra interventions to assist the student throughout the day. These can include Check In-Check-Out (CICO), Social-Academic Groups (SAIG), mentoring, and more. Students are identified for these additional supports through classroom and referral data as well as through teacher and parent input. If you think that Tier 2/3 interventions would benefit your child, please contact your child's classroom teacher.

    What is CICO?
    CICO is an intervention that includes a beginning of the day check-in and an end of the day check-out with a CICO coach, a teacher or staff member that has volunteered to work with the students receiving CICO support. Each student involved is given a CICO plan, which allows them to receive feedback on social or academic behavior concerns throughout the day. During the student’s day, he/she is given points for following expectations in each period/subject. The student works with his/her coach to set goals and reflect on the day. The CICO program helps students be reflective, build confidence, and to develop an additional positive relationship at school.

    Here is an example of a CICO point sheet:
    Sample 1  Sample 2 Here is a video of what a CICO meeting looks like:  

  • Family involvement is key to any behavior system. Here are some ideas for you to support PBIS at home:

    • Remind your child of the PBIS expectations before they leave for school.
    • Use the school Matrix as a tool to reinforce expectations and develop your own matrix with expectations for home.
    • Recognize and praise your child for the positive behaviors he/she engaged in throughout the day.
    • If your child receives a referral, discuss the situation with him or her. Try to use the referral as a teaching tool to support positive behaviors in the future.
    • Help your child get ready to go to school or the bus on time. Help your child remember the things they will need to be successful, such as completed homework, library books, permission slips, and gym shoes.
    • Please help monitor school-wide expectations with your child during school events. For example, remind your child to use playground equipment appropriately before and after school.