Evidence-Based PBIS Strategies: Your Complete Guide to Building Positive School Culture

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) has transformed schools across the country by shifting focus from punitive discipline to proactive teaching of behavioral expectations and consistent positive reinforcement. This comprehensive framework helps educators create predictable, safe learning environments where all students can thrive academically and socially while reducing office discipline referrals and improving overall school climate.

Successful PBIS implementation requires a combination of evidence-based practices, data-driven decision making, and the right tools to recognize and reward students who demonstrate expected behaviors. The following 15 strategies represent research-backed approaches that educators can implement at the classroom and school-wide level to build lasting positive change in student behavior and academic outcomes.

1. Tangible Reward Systems That Reinforce Positive Behavior
   
   

   Token economies and tangible reward systems provide students with concrete recognition for meeting behavioral expectations, helping them visualize their progress while teaching delayed gratification and goal-setting skills.
   
   

   Strategic use of physical rewards as part of a comprehensive positive behavioral interventions and supports framework can enhance student motivation, reinforce expected behaviors, and create lasting positive associations with appropriate behavior in classroom and school-wide settings.

   • Custom Wristbands
     Durable cloth or silicone wristbands work perfectly as tier-based achievement indicators in multi-tiered systems of support, allowing students to collect different colors or designs as they progress through behavioral milestones and demonstrate positive behaviors throughout the school year.
     
   • Custom Patches
     Collectible woven or PVC patches serve as tangible badges of achievement that students can display on backpacks or clothing, creating visible recognition that builds pride in good behavior and encourages peers to work toward similar accomplishments within the classroom PBIS framework.
     
     
   • Custom Lanyards
     Personalized lanyards featuring school values or PBIS expectations provide daily reminders of behavioral expectations while serving functional purposes for ID badges, creating consistent visual reinforcement of positive school climate and expected behavior.
     
     
   • Custom Ribbons
     Award ribbons and custom-printed recognition ribbons offer an affordable way to acknowledge individual students who demonstrate appropriate behavior and can be used for certificates, bulletin board displays, or as part of larger celebration events that reinforce positive classroom behavior support.
     
     
   • Custom Keychains
     Small, portable key fobs and custom keychains make excellent rewards for younger students who value collectible items as part of token economies, providing a lasting memento that reinforces the connection between positive choices and meaningful recognition in evidence-based practices.
     
     

2. Establish Clear, Consistent Schoolwide Expectations
   

   School-wide implementation of PBIS begins with defining three to five core behavioral expectations that apply across all settings, from classrooms to hallways to cafeterias. 

   These expectations should be:

   • Positively stated
   • Easy to remember
   • Clearly communicated 
     
     

   When behavioral expectations are consistent across all environments, students learn to generalize appropriate behaviors regardless of location or context, reducing confusion and increasing compliance. 

   Many successful schools use acronyms or memorable phrases to help students internalize expected behaviors, making it easier for individual students to meet expectations and for teachers to provide specific feedback when acknowledging positive classroom behavior.
   
   

3. Teach Behavioral Expectations Explicitly

   
   Teachers must provide direct instruction in behavioral expectations through modeling, practice, and feedback, just as they teach academic content. Students cannot meet expectations they don't fully understand, which is why successful implementation includes dedicated lesson time at the beginning of the school year to teach and demonstrate what each expectation looks like in different settings.

   Effective teaching strategies include using concrete examples and non-examples, role-playing scenarios, and providing opportunities for students to practice expected behaviors in authentic contexts. This explicit instruction particularly benefits students with disabilities, English language learners, and those who may not have been exposed to these behavioral norms in other environments, ensuring equitable access to behavior support across diverse student populations.
   
   

4. Implement Active Supervision and Monitoring

   Active supervision involves teachers strategically positioning themselves to scan, move, and interact with students throughout classroom and common areas. This proactive approach to classroom management allows educators to prevent problem behavior before it escalates while simultaneously catching and reinforcing positive behaviors in real-time.

   Effective active supervision includes: 

   • Scanning the environment every few minutes
   • Moving unpredictably throughout spaces to maintain proximity to all students
   • Providing positive interactions at a ratio of at least four positive comments for every one corrective statement. 

   This evidence-based practice proves particularly powerful during transitions and unstructured times when disruptive behavior is most likely to occur, helping maintain a positive learning environment while addressing minor issues before they require more intensive interventions and supports.
   
   

5. Use Specific and Timely Verbal Praise

   
   Verbal praise serves as one of the most powerful and cost-free tools in positive behavior intervention strategies, though generic praise like "good job" lacks the specificity needed to reinforce particular behaviors effectively. Specific praise clearly identifies what the student did correctly, connects the behavior to school expectations, and is delivered immediately following the appropriate behavior to strengthen the connection between action and recognition.

   Research shows that sincere praise delivered at a ratio of four to five positive comments for every one correction significantly improves student behavior and classroom climate while strengthening teacher-student relationships. 

   Effective praise statements might sound like "Thank you for raising your hand and waiting patiently to share your idea" or "I noticed you helped your classmate without being asked, that demonstrates respect," making the connection between student actions and positive outcomes crystal clear.
   
   

6. Create Predictable Classroom Routines and Procedures

   Establishing consistent classroom routines reduces anxiety, minimizes transitions that can lead to behavior problems, and maximizes instructional time by eliminating confusion about what students should be doing at any given moment. 

   When students understand the structure and flow of the school day, they can focus their energy on learning activities rather than trying to figure out expectations, particularly benefiting students who struggle with executive functioning or who have experienced trauma.

   Effective classroom management through predictable routines requires clear procedures for:

   • Entering the classroom
   • Transitioning between activities
   • Seeking help
   • Turning in work
   • Managing materials

   Teachers who invest time teaching these classroom routines at the beginning of the school year and reinforcing them consistently experience fewer disruptions and create learning environments where all students can succeed academically and behaviorally.
   
   

7. Develop a Multi-Tiered System of Support

   
   The three-tiered PBIS framework provides differentiated levels of behavioral interventions and supports based on student needs, with approximately 80% of students succeeding with universal Tier 1 supports alone. 

   • Tier 1 includes school-wide expectations and proactive strategies that benefit all students.
   • Tier 2 offers targeted interventions for the 10-15% of students who need additional support.
   • Tier 3 provides intensive, individualized supports for the 1-5% of students with the most significant behavioral challenges.

   This multi-tiered approach ensures that limited resources are allocated efficiently, with most effort focused on prevention through universal supports while still providing appropriate assistance to students who need more intensive intervention. School teams use data to identify which students need additional supports and monitor progress to determine when students can step down to less intensive tiers or when more support is needed.
   

   Bring Your Token Economy to Life with Custom Recognition Items

   Token economies work best when students can see and collect their achievements through tangible rewards that hold real meaning and value in their daily lives. Laced Up specializes in creating custom wristbands, patches, lanyards, and other recognition items that turn abstract behavioral goals into collectible achievements students are excited to earn.

   Contact our team today to explore bulk pricing and design options that align perfectly with your school's PBIS values and reward system.
   
   

8. Utilize Data-Driven Decision Making

   
   Collecting and analyzing behavioral data allows school teams to identify patterns in problem behavior, evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and supports, and make informed decisions about resource allocation and strategy adjustments. Data sources include office discipline referrals, behavioral incident reports, classroom observations, and student surveys, all of which provide insight into when, where, and why inappropriate behaviors occur most frequently.

   Regular data review by PBIS teams helps identify: 

   • Settings where additional supervision or teaching may be needed 
   • Times of day when behavior problems spike
   • Individual students who may benefit from targeted or individualized support 
     
     

   This evidence-based approach moves schools away from reactive discipline toward proactive prevention, allowing educators to address the root causes of disruptive behavior rather than simply responding to incidents after they occur.
   
   

9. Establish Behavior Contracts for Targeted Interventions

   Behavior contracts serve as Tier 2 interventions that formalize agreements between students, teachers, and sometimes families regarding specific behavioral goals and the rewards or consequences associated with meeting or not meeting those goals. 

   These written agreements clearly outline expected behaviors, create accountability, and provide structure for students who need more support than universal Tier 1 strategies alone can provide.

   Effective behavior contracts include measurable goals, specific time frames, regular check-ins for progress monitoring, and meaningful incentives that motivate the individual student. The collaborative process of developing behavior contracts helps students take ownership of their behavioral growth while ensuring teacher classroom management practices remain consistent and fair, making this strategy particularly effective for students who respond well to clear structure and predictable outcomes.
   
   

10. Implement Check-In/Check-Out (CICO) Systems

    
    Check-In/Check-Out functions as a widely used Tier 2 intervention where students meet briefly with a mentor or designated staff member at the beginning and end of each school day to set goals, review progress, and receive encouragement. 

    This structured system provides additional adult support, increases positive interactions, and helps students self-monitor their behavior throughout the school day without requiring extensive teacher time or resources.

    During check-in meetings, students receive a daily progress report card that tracks specific behaviors across all class periods, with teachers providing quick ratings and feedback throughout the day. The end-of-day check-out allows students to celebrate successes, problem-solve challenges, and often involves sharing results with families to build home-school connections that reinforce positive behavioral interventions across settings.
    
    

11. Design the Physical Environment to Support Positive Behavior

    The physical layout of classrooms and common areas significantly impacts student behavior, with thoughtful environmental design serving as a preventive strategy that reduces opportunities for problem behavior while promoting expected behavior. 

    Considerations include: 

    • Strategic seating arrangements that minimize distractions
    • Clear pathways that facilitate smooth transitions
    • Adequate personal space that prevents conflicts
    • Visual reminders of behavioral expectations 

    Research shows that environmental modifications can dramatically reduce disruptive behavior, particularly for students with attention difficulties or those who struggle with self-regulation. 

    Simple changes like ensuring all students can see instructional materials without straining, creating defined areas for different activities, using natural lighting when possible, and reducing visual clutter can improve focus and create a calmer atmosphere that supports both academic success and positive behavior.
    
    

12. Provide Opportunities for Student Choice and Autonomy

    
    Allowing students to make choices about their learning activities, work locations, or how they demonstrate mastery increases engagement and reduces behavior problems by giving students a sense of control and investment in their education. 

    Choice means providing structured options within clear parameters, such as choosing between two acceptable assignments, selecting where to work during independent time, or deciding the order in which to complete tasks.

    When students feel they have autonomy and their preferences are respected, they demonstrate greater willingness to meet classroom expectations and show less tendency toward attention-seeking or avoidance behaviors. 

    This strategy proves particularly effective for older students who crave independence and can feel resentful of overly controlling environments, making it a key component of positive classroom behavior support that acknowledges students' developmental need for increasing self-direction.
    
    

13. Build Strong Teacher-Student Relationships

    Positive relationships between teachers and students serve as the foundation for all effective behavioral interventions and supports, with research consistently showing that students are more motivated to meet expectations when they feel valued, understood, and connected to their educators. 

    Building these relationships requires intentional effort, including greeting students by name, showing genuine interest in their lives outside school, attending their extracurricular events, and creating opportunities for one-on-one conversations that go beyond academic or behavioral corrections.

    Strong teacher-student relationships prove especially critical for students who have experienced trauma, face challenges at home, or have historically struggled with school discipline. When students believe their teachers care about them as individuals and have high expectations for their success, they respond more positively to redirection, persist through challenges, and demonstrate the social-emotional growth that PBIS programs aim to foster.
    
    

14. Use Restorative Practices Instead of Punitive Consequences

    
    Restorative practices focus on repairing harm and rebuilding relationships rather than simply punishing inappropriate behaviors, shifting the emphasis from "What rule was broken?" to "Who was affected and how can we make this right?" 

    This approach aligns with the PBIS philosophy of teaching rather than punishing, helping students understand the impact of their actions while developing empathy, problem-solving skills, and personal responsibility.

    Restorative interventions might look like:

    • Facilitated conversations between students involved in conflicts
    • Community circles where classmates discuss how behavior affects the learning environment
    • Action plans where students who caused harm work to repair relationships and restore trust
      
      

    These evidence-based practices have been shown to reduce suspensions and office discipline referrals while improving school climate, particularly benefiting students from underrepresented groups who are disproportionately affected by traditional exclusionary discipline approaches.
    
    

15. Conduct Regular Professional Development and Team Meetings

    Successful implementation of PBIS requires ongoing professional development that keeps all staff members aligned on behavioral expectations, intervention strategies, and the philosophical shift from punishment to prevention. 

    Regular training sessions provide technical assistance on evidence-based practices, allow teams to troubleshoot implementation challenges, and ensure new staff members understand the school's approach to behavior support, creating consistency essential for positive outcomes.

    PBIS team meetings should occur at least monthly to review behavioral data, assess fidelity of implementation, celebrate successes, and adjust strategies based on what the data reveals about student needs and school climate. 

    These collaborative sessions provide opportunities for teachers to share what works in their classrooms, problem-solve challenging situations together, and ensure the entire school community remains committed to the PBIS framework even when faced with limited resources or competing priorities during the busy school year.
    

Ready to Create Custom PBIS Rewards That Motivate Students to Learn?

The tangible rewards in your PBIS program should reflect the pride and achievement students feel when they meet behavioral expectations and contribute positively to your school community. Laced Up offers a complete range of customizable recognition items, from collectible patches and award ribbons to custom wristbands and lanyards, that reinforce your school's values while providing students with meaningful keepsakes they'll treasure long after the school year ends.

Reach out now to discuss your PBIS reward needs and discover how our custom products can strengthen your positive behavior support system with bulk order pricing designed for schools and districts.