Implementation of the School-Wide Positive Behavior Support Tier 1 System in a High School: Applying Good Behavior Ticket Cards and Positive Peer Reporting Cards

Abstract

Study objective: Investigation of effects of School-Wide Positive Behavior Support (SWPBS), particularly in a Tier 1 system, at the high school level. Design: ABCBCDE. Setting: A public high school. Participants: 734 students and 54 teachers. Interventions: A positive behavior matrix was created and posted at the school to remind students and teachers regarding behaviors expected on campus. Additionally, Good Behavior Ticket (GBT) cards and Positive Peer Report (PPR) cards were introduced as interventions to provide feedback to the students who exhibited the expected behaviors. The former cards were given out by teachers, and the latter, by students. Measures: The number of disciplinary actions received by the students who demonstrated the defined problem behaviors was a dependent variable. In addition, the number of Good Behavior Ticket and Positive Peer Report cards received by the students was the measure of the number of expected behaviors that occurred. Results: The results suggested that the School-Wide Positive Behavior Support Tier 1 system, comprised of the positive behavior matrix, Good Behavior Ticket cards, and Positive Peer Report cards, effectively reduced the number of disciplinary actions received by the students. Conclusion: Although the School-Wide Positive Behavior Support Tier 1 system appeared to be effective in reducing the number of disciplinary actions for the specific behaviors identified, some students still displayed problem behavior. More intensive and individualized interventions, such as Tier 2 and Tier 3 systems, may further reduce the number of problem behaviors.