PTA & PBIS

National PTA 2012 Public Policy Agenda 112^th Congress, Second Session

Excerpt from General Education - Federal Policy Recommendations

• Require “school-parent compacts” to support school and family partnerships in the development of recommendations for

student attendance, expectations and supports for student behaviors. Compacts must include rational disciplinary policies that

include the implementation of school-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) or similar evidence-based

programs, and phase-out zero-tolerance policies and out-of-school suspension that contribute to the achievement gap.

• Increase investment for technical assistance, training, and implementation of the PBIS model of addressing behavioral

problems in schools, making it an allowable use of funds under ESEA-NCLB.

• Assist states in the development and implementation of integrated data systems in schools and districts,

allowing for:

1. Improved accuracy and consistency of local data on attendance maintained by individual schools and district-wide;

2. Improved monitoring and reporting on chronic absenteeism by grade school and by school; and

3. Use of data to inform implementation of school-wide strategies and to trigger supports and strength-based interventions

for students and their families.

Many states in the United States have policy or initiatives regarding PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions & Support).  This offers support for schools or districts within the state i.e. grant funds for implementation, training, and additional networking.

National PTA is lobbying for more support at the National level.  Wouldn't it be fantastic to have more support at the Washington State level?  If you are able, please email a quick note to Washington State PTA in support of PBIS.  I have already submitted a proposal through the following process.    

HELP SHAPE WSPTA’S 2013-14 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM

Even though the 2012 Legislature is barely finished, it’s time to start thinking about Washington State PTA’s legislative platform for the 2013 and 2014 legislative sessions.  WSPTA’s advocacy efforts are guided by our Legislative Principles, Resolutions and by the platform adopted by your delegates to the WSPTA Legislative Assembly held each year.  All previous short term issues adopted in October of 2010 and 2011 have expired, and an entirely new list of top issues will be adopted at this year’s Legislative Assembly, which will be October 19-20, 2012 at the SeaTac Marriott.  This is a member driven process—any member can submit a proposed issue for consideration.   More information about the issues process –including the form used to propose an issue for consideration—is available in the Advocacy section of the Washington State PTA website.  The deadline for submission is June 1, 2012, so now is the time to let your voice be heard.

Wenatchee school to implement PBIS - Fall 2012

Exciting NEWS - Lewis & Clark Elementary will be implementing PBIS and dropping Make Your Day starting this fall.  How did this come about?  Lewis & Clark choose the option and sent a team of teachers to the PBIS training in April.  The majority of the staff voted to continue their training and implement PBIS.  Way to go, Lewis & Clark Trailblazers! 

Note: Valley Academy of Learning will be implementing PBIS in the fall as well.  Valley is a public school that offers an alternative learning experience for parents wishing to homeschool.  

PBIS & Wenatchee Learns

What is Wenatchee Learns?  What does it have to do with PBIS?

Wenatchee Learns is a revolution in how Wenatchee plans for and supports education.  The mission is to establish a permanent, community-driven approach to learning success.  If Wenatchee is to thrive in a changing world, we must rewire local learning for a global future.

The planning process is led by the Wenatchee School District, guided by community advisors, and driven by input from community members.  The Identity section was developed through feedback from the community on what does a successful education system include.  The Direction and Path sections were developed through Wenatchee Learns committees.

PBIS is an acronym for Positive Behavior Interventions & Support.  PBIS is the research and evidence based framework for school-wide positive behavior support.  It is supported by the U.S. Department of Education through funding, policy, and law.  The U.S. Department of Education exclusively recommends PBIS in the 2011-2014 Strategic Plan.  The National PTA discusses PBIS in the 2012 Public Policy Agenda - Federal Policy Recommendations.  Most states throughout the United States have initiatives and/or policy regarding PBIS or acknowledge PBIS as the research based best practice for school-wide behavior management.

On March 13, 2012, Wenatchee School District Superintendent Brian Flones recommended to the Board that a committee be formed to review and present a recommendation on the research based best practices for school-wide behavior support (i.e. PBIS) to the Board.

Currently, the District School-wide Behavior Management committee is working on this recommendation.  The correlation between the PBIS framework and Wenatchee Learns is compelling.  Below is the link to the Wenatchee Learns page on Positive Behavior Support.  The yellow highlighted areas on the flow chart are just some of the correlations.  The committee noted many more areas that should be highlighted as well.  It is very exciting that the work our committee is doing supports a large portion of the Wenatchee Learns process.

http://wenatcheelearns.com/behaviorsupport/

I would recommend checking out the Wenatchee Learns web site for more information and how you can provide your input. 

http://www.wenatcheelearns.com/

Sources of information:
Wenatchee Learns Facebook Page
U.S. Department of Education www.ed.gov
National PTA http://www.pta.org/
National PBIS www.PBIS.org

Write a letter of support today!

It is not too late to write a letter of support to Wenatchee School District Superintendent Brian Flones for the formation of a committee to look at the research based best practices for school-wide behavior management - PBIS.  Below is an excerpt from the School Board minutes.

Wenatchee School District Board Meeting Minutes - April 10, 2012

Board Communication

"Several letters of support to the Superintendent and board to

re-visit the Classroom Behavior Models and for putting a

committee together."

So, go to Action Plan #4 and Examples for Action Plan#4 and write your letter today!

http://makeyourday-timeforchange.blogspot.com/2012/04/action-plan-4.html

http://makeyourday-timeforchange.blogspot.com/2012/04/examples-for-action-plan-4.html

For those of you just learning about the changes happening in Wenatchee School District, I would suggest going to the NEWS - Wenatchee Schools tab to get caught up.

For those still unclear on "what is the research?" and "how will it make a difference in our schools?"  I would suggest going to http://www.pbis.org/.  I do hope to offer more on this subject once my committee obligations are done for the season.  Thanks for being patient!

District School-wide Behavior Management Committee meets again today. Please support the committee members as we prepare for our June presentation to the School Board. Stay informed and involved. Check back soon for updates.

Wenatchee School District & PBIS

PBIS Overview Workshop was today! Dr. Flint Simonsen from Eastern Washington University and NorthWest PBIS gave an excellent presentation. There was at least one representative from just about every school in the Wenatchee School District including Wenatchee High School. Plus, several School Board members attended.  Awesome! Keep checking in for updates.  Share this Blog with friends in Wenatchee. Stay informed and involved!

Wenatchee School District learns about PBIS

Monday, May 7, the Wenatchee School District School Behavior Management Committee will be attending an overview workshop on PBIS.  Administrators, counselors, or representatives from each school will be attending.  Please support and thank these folks as they learn more about the latest research in School-Wide Positive Behavior Support and why this framework is successful for children.

 

This workshop will be led by Flint Simonsen, PhD of NorthWest PBIS.

http://www.pbisnetwork.org/