When schools are struggling with student misbehavior they often go looking for a school climate program and usually land on one of the two most widely used in the world: either Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) or Restorative Practices. Both are evidence based to reduce problem behavior and improve school culture. Restorative PBIS combines these two powerful approaches, taking the best of each and balancing out some of the weaknesses (or criticisms) . Restorative PBIS is a framework that seamlessly integrates PBIS & Restorative Practices to create safe positive schools where consistent structure meets kindness and connection.
In my 26 years in schools, first as a school social worker and then as a school district administrator, I have come to believe that implementing Restorative PBIS is the single most powerful and strategic way to reduce problem-behavior, transform school culture and have it SUSTAIN. The good news is that it's easier than you think.
There are 4 main components of Restorative PBIS that when implemented will get schools the fastest, most sustainable results.
The 4 main components are:
Build Community and Relationships connect using Circles in both classrooms and the staff room - The first thing to do is to begin to build Community and Relationships through circles- both classroom circles and staff circles provide a solid foundation to build your Restorative PBIS system. Circles in schools should be a healthy mix of fun, community building activities as well as collaborative decision making and problem solving. This creates the foundation for a positive and supportive school environment.
Establish and Teach Expectations collaboratively - The next step is to Establish and Teach Expectations for your school collaboratively. Use circles to engage both staff and students in developing classroom and schoolwide expectations. Regularly teach these expectations throughout the year using circles to encourage student voice and input - especially on rules they feel strongly about, such as cell phone policies and dress code. If issues arise or agreements are broken, schools can address these concerns by bringing them back to staff and students in problem-solving circles to talk about what is happening and what we need to do to fix it.
Create a positive school culture by reinforcing positive behavior and showing genuine appreciation - Then you will create a positive school culture by developing a positive reinforcement system that shows genuine appreciation and gratitude among both students and staff. It focuses on no-cost rewards—like privileges and activities—instead of trinkets and small prizes. These rewards help strengthen students' connections with peers and staff. Sharing laughter and having fun together are powerful ways to build trust and community.
And Respond to Challenging Behavior and Harm with restorative language and PBIS systems - Finally, you will respond to behavior and discipline issues with Restorative language and PBIS systems. You will implement processes that promote accountability, repair harm, and help individuals move forward, reducing the chances of it happening again. When a student requires more than just a restorative conversation and needs a deeper intervention, PBIS provides evidence-based strategies with multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) to help them develop new, positive behavior patterns.
By blending the strengths of PBIS and Restorative Practices, you create a powerful, unified approach that enhances your school’s culture, climate, discipline, and support systems. With Restorative PBIS, you’ll save time and see better results by combining the two most effective programs in just 4 simple steps. The result? A more compassionate environment where both staff and students thrive.
Go to my website to learn more about how to implement Restorative PBIS in your school.
Why Blend PBIS with Restorative Practices?
PBIS and Restorative Practices are both evidence-based strategies but they achieve results in different ways with different strengths (and different perceived weaknesses). As a result, sometimes schools will give up because by themselves, PBIS or Restorative Practices, didn’t seem to solve all of their problems, something was missing.
While PBIS and Restorative Practices are effective on their own, integrating them offers several key benefits:
1. Efficiency in Addressing Behavior: PBIS focuses on prevention, setting clear expectations, and reinforcing positive behavior. Many schools report significant reductions in problem behavior (up to 60%) within the first year of PBIS implementation. This reduction in behavioral incidents allows educators more time to engage in restorative responses, which are vital for addressing more serious or persistent issues.
2. Building Trusting Relationships: Trust is crucial for student success. PBIS provides consistency and predictability, while Restorative Practices foster warm, accepting environments through practices like community-building circles. Together, these approaches create a foundation of trust that supports both learning and personal development.
3. Creating a Connected School Culture: PBIS promotes positive reinforcement systems, which improve behavior and encourage positive interactions between students and staff. Restorative Practices further deepen this connection by building relationships and promoting empathy. The combination strengthens both individual and collective well-being.
4. Meaningful Responses to Harm: PBIS offers evidence-based interventions that help students develop new behaviors and self-management strategies. However, it does not directly address the repair of relationships harmed by negative behavior. Restorative Practices fill this gap by promoting accountability and giving voice to those affected. Together, they provide a more comprehensive and meaningful response to harm.
5. Sustainability: One of PBIS's strengths is its ability to create a sustainable system through codified rules, expectations, and training for staff and students. When integrated with Restorative Practices, the entire system becomes more robust and enduring, as restorative processes become embedded into the school's operational structure.
Restorative PBIS provides a step-by-step roadmap to creating a positive, connected, and accountable school culture. It starts by creating a positive school culture by fostering connection and community, then on establishing clear behavioral expectations and itching them to the students, then creating a positive school culture, and then responding to challenging behavior with restorative processes that emphasizes empathy, understanding, and accountability. Instead of solely relying on punitive measures, Restorative PBIS seeks to build relationships and address underlying issues when behavioral incidents occur. Restorative PBIS reduces problem behavior, enhances school climate, and improves the well-being of both students and educators.
To implement Restorative PBIS in your school, check out my training options!
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