SWPBS: Examination of Cultural Relevance

SWPBS: Examination of Cultural Relevance

Breda O’Keeffe, George Sugai, & Lindsay Fallon

University of ConnecticutCenter for Behavioral Education & Research

October 15 2010www.pbis.org www.cber.org

www.pbis.org

Describe & discuss guidelines for

implementing SWPBS in

educational settings in ways that

are culturally & contextually

relevant, & promote educationally

& socially important positive

outcomes for all students

Purpose

Agenda

“Quotes”• “Doesn’t seem right that black males have the highest rates of out of

school suspension incidents & days in our middle & high schools. What’s that all about?”

• “What a deviant group of kids; they aren’t responding to our program?”

• “Our Hispanic/Latino kids are 3 times more likely to dropout of school than any other demographic in our district.”

• “Why are so many kids of color are being referred to special education?”

• “No wonder families are disengaged; what happens at school is so foreign & uninviting.”

• “The school is located in the hub of the community, but it functions like a different country.”

Challenge: Disproportionality Data & Failure to Succeed

Our Questions

Our Starting Point

SWPBS Conceptual Foundations

Behaviorism

ABA

PBS

SWPBS

Behavior Analysis

Early Conclusion…

Nothing is inherently biased or culturally irrelevant about practices & systems of PBIS

implementation.

However, we definitely can improve kid outcomes by making enhancements that make

those practices & systems more reflective of the norms, expectations, & learning histories

of kids, family & community members, & school staff.

PBIS (aka SWPBS) is

Framework

Continuum

Academically

All

SWPBS Logic!Successful individual student behavior support is linked to host environments or school climates that are effective, efficient, relevant, durable, scalable, & logical for all students(Zins & Ponti, 1990)

Systems Implementation Logic

Horner, R. H., Sugai, G., & Anderson, C. M. (2010). Examining the evidence base for school-wide positive behavior support. Focus on Exceptionality, 42(8), 1-14.

www.pbis.org

Implementation must be culturally responsive & shaped

Reconceptualizing Culture from Behavior Analytic Perspective for SWPBS

Findings

QualitativeTotal Intervention

DescriptionReviews/ Current Issues

Case Studies

Other

21 9 8 2 2

QuantitativeTotal Records Reviews Case Studies Experimental

7 4 2 1

Jones et al., 2006

Literature Review: ExampleSWPBS Components Adaptation to Context

A few explicit expectations

Reflect values of local culture

Teach expectations Biographies of Am. Indian Historical Figures

System for Reinforcement

$ with historical figures’ faces, sent home to be signed

Literature Review Summary

General Guidelines

Classroom Educator Guidelines

Professional Development Guidelines

Effective Social & AcademicSchool Culture

Common Vision/Values

Common Language

Common Experience

PBIS

Contact

• george.sugai@uconn.edu• breda.okeeffe@uconn.edu