Gray Avenue Middle School

School-wide PBIS is a research-based framework that has been proven to improve school climate, reduce problem behaviors, and increase academic instructional time in schools. Previously, school-wide discipline has focused mainly on reacting to specific student misbehavior by implementing punishment-based strategies including reprimands, loss of privileges, office referrals, suspensions, and expulsions. Research has shown that the implementation of punishment, especially when it is used inconsistently and in the absence of other positive strategies, is ineffective. Introducing, modeling, and reinforcing positive social behavior is an important aspect of a student’s educational experience. Teaching behavioral expectations and recognizing students for following them is a much more positive approach than waiting for misbehavior to occur before responding. With clear expectations in place, students will learn appropriate behaviors in the same way they learn to read-through instruction, practice, feedback, and encouragement.