A Model for Statewide Evaluation of a Universal Positive Behavior Support Initiative

Abstract

Several statewide evaluations of Tier 1/Universal Level Positive Behavior Support (PBS) implementation efforts have been conducted, adhering to the evaluation template developed by Horner, Sugai, and Lewis-Palmer in 2005. Building on these examples, Florida’s Positive Behavior Support Project developed a comprehensive evaluation system that sought to answer critical questions about building a scalable and sustainable PBS system at the state level that also provides data for decision making at the school and district levels. This article describes Florida’s evaluation system as a model driven by 12 questions, including topics of implementation fidelity as both a dependent and independent variable, and expanding traditional questions of statewide evaluations to include consumer satisfaction, team processes, barriers and facilitators to implementation, and attrition. The data indicated that implementing Tier 1/Universal Level PBS with fidelity was associated with improved student outcomes. Additional findings are described as are considerations for future directions.