Positive School Discipline

How to access this practice/program?

Visit http://positiveschooldiscipline.promoteprevent.org/course to review available training options.

What is the practice/program? 

Positive School Discipline is a comprehensive approach that uses discipline to teach rather than punish and, as a result, helps students succeed and thrive in school. Promotes positive student behavior while preventing negative and risky behaviors. Integrated into the policies, programs, and practices of a school and applied system-wide—in the classroom, school, and community—to create a safe, supportive learning environment for all students. 

Who is the practice/program for? 

The Positive School Discipline training is intended for district and campus leaders including educators, administrators, professional school counselors, and student support specialist.   

How is this practice/program implemented? 

This is a school-wide practice-framework. This Self-paced, interactive course for school leaders helps guide school leaders to create an environment where students can learn and thrive. 

What are the practices supported? 

Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) is an operational framework for achieving academic and behavior outcomes for all students. PBIS Ensures all students have access to effective and accurate instructional and behavioral practices as well as interventions. This schoolwide framework includes practices that are delivered by school personnel throughout a campus. 

Restorative practices are relational approaches that foster school climate and address student behavior by prioritizing belonging over exclusion, social engagement over control, and meaningful accountability over punishment. Building strong relationships and a sense of community is at the heart of these practices. Restorative practices are known to be used within school behavior management systems to ensure students focus on repairing social injury and damage. Additionally, these practices are intended to create positive school learning environments.  

What outcomes does the practice produce? 

• Improve school climate  
• Improve social skills and classroom behavior 
• Increase school connectedness 
• Reduce problem behaviors  
• Reduce bullying, aggression, and defiance 

What is the evidence? 

Noltemeyer, A., Palmer, K., James, A. G., & Petrasek, M. (2019). Disciplinary and Achievement Outcomes Associated With School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Implementation Level. School Psychology Review, 48(1), 81–87. https://doi.org/10.17105/SPR-2017-0131.V48-1 

This study examined the effectiveness of school wide PBIS (SWPBIS) or Tier 1 implementation on the discipline rates and school achievement of 153 schools. In this study school characteristics like economic status of students, student demographics, and attendance for example were accounted for. Results showed that schools with higher Tier 1 implementation of PBIS had 1 less out of school suspension (OSS) per 100 students than schools with lower levels of implementation. The data in this study did not show a significant impact of Tier 1 PBIS implementation on school achievement.  

Augustine, C. H., Engberg, J., Grimm, G. E., Lee, E., Wang, E. L., Christianson, K., & Joseph, A. A. (2018). Can Restorative Practices Improve School Climate and Curb Suspensions? An Evaluation of the Impact of Restorative Practices in a Mid-Sized Urban School District. Research Report. RR-2840-DOJ. In RAND Corporation. RAND Corporation. https://doi.org/10.7249/RR2840 

This study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) over 2 years with 44 schools. Each campus was randomly placed in a treatment group, receiving restorative practice implementation, and a control group not receiving implementation. Implementation of restorative practices was measured through researcher observations, surveys, and interviews of school staff. Impact of implementation was measured using data reflecting school discipline, attendance, achievement, student ratings of teachers and teacher ratings of school level learning conditions. Results showed that schools implementing restorative practices significantly decreased the number of days of suspension and the number of suspensions relative to schools that did not implement restorative practices. Teachers also reported that their relationships with students was also better when implementing restorative practices.  

What are the costs associated with implementing this practice/program? 

Please contact the program for the most recent costs and commitments, as these may change. 

The self-paced modules are available for free at http://positiveschooldiscipline.promoteprevent.org/course.  

What resources are helpful for understanding this practice/program? 

• Learn more about Positive School Discipline: http://positiveschooldiscipline.promoteprevent.org/about-us 
• Positive School Discipline course for school leaders: http://positiveschooldiscipline.promoteprevent.org/course 
• Find PBIS state coordinators for technical assistance here: https://www.pbis.org/about/pbis-state-coordinators#Texas
• Texas Education Agency (TEA) Restorative Practices Training and Information: https://tea.texas.gov/texas-schools/health-safety-discipline/restorative-practices-made-simple 

Rating: Research-Informed 

Secondary Components: Safe and Supportive School Climates; Positive Youth Development; Building Relationships, Managing Emotions & Decision-Making Skills