The Effect of Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Supports on Children in Impoverished Rural Community Schools

Abstract

This study describes the 1st-year effects of a Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support on four schools in impoverished communities in rural west Texas. The authors present pre- and postdescriptive data that demonstrate the positive effect upon decreasing discipline referrals, lowering in school suspension rates, and reducing failure rates. The authors hypothesized that using a Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support system is used in rural impoverished schools can help mitigate the negative consequences children experience in communities with few mental health services, thereby increasing their academic engagement and success.

Keywords:

• positive behavior supports
• rural impoverished schools
• schoolwide approach to discipline
• school positive behavior supports