2018 Hazel Park Schools Communicator : Schools Implement Behavior and Learning Support Initiative

MICHIGAN’S INTEGRATED BEHAVIOR AND LEARNING SUPPORT INITIATIVE (MIBLSI) IS A STATE-AND FEDERALLY- FUNDED PROJECT. MIBLSI helps intermediate and local school districts implement and sustain a multi-tier system of supports (MTSS) in their schools to improve student outcomes in behavior and learning. The purpose is to provide support within the district as a whole as well as in each building by installing Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS).

“I am the coordinator for the behavior part of the program, which is called Promoting Positive School Climate,” said Dr. Michelle Krause, Hazel Park’s Supervisor of Special Education. The Promoting Positive School Climate (PPSC) program helps districts focused on utilizing behavioral resources.

“The process begins by installing a District leadership team who will then support building level teams,” explained Dr. Krause. “The installation of the leadership team began late last year and continued into this year. Part of that team’s job was to identify individuals at each building who would take on the role of PBIS trainer and coach. Second, was for each building to identify PBIS building level leadership teams who would support their building in the implementation process. The trainers and coaches were identified, trained, and then came back to the district to train the building level teams.”

This year Hazel Park had four training sessions and the focus was on developing Tier 1 interventions and supports. Buildings identified behavior expectations for all students and developed how those expectations would be acknowledged. A formal kickoff occurred in January in which students were taught expectations in each area of their buildings.

Next year, Hazel Park will begin focusing on Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions for those who need more individualized attention. These may include a check-in, check-out system in which a student is paired with an adult who acts as their support. It may also involve developing individual behavior plans.

“As we proceed with implementation, the coaches support teachers in the classroom to assist in using the building-wide system to build a classroom management system,” Dr. Krause said. “Additionally, all buildings use the School-wide Information System (SWIS) which allows tracking of behavioral referrals so that we can access that data at any point in time and use it to adjust what we are doing both as a district as well as in individual schools.”

The program is reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure it is progressing as expected. “We regularly review progress in implementation and behavioral data with our board of education. Each building holds monthly building leadership team meetings to discuss student data and see if there are any areas that need adjustment or revision,” said Dr. Krause.