Module 11 – Sustainability
This module identifies the most important perceived barriers and enablers regarding sustainability of Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) school-wide positive behavioural interventions and supports.
Sustaining PBL
The most cited barriers were:
- staff buy-in
- resources, including time and money.
Enablers in sustaining school-wide PBL:
- commitment of staff
- principal support
- relevant and current training for all
- effective team systems and practices in place
- embedded and efficient data practices.
Embed PBL to enhance sustainability through:
- Strategic planning:
- Ensure all aspects of PBL are documented in the strategic directions including the milestones.
- Procedures development
- School procedures reflect decisions to reinforce importance of the PBL framework.
- Establish appropriate committees or working parties
- Certain aspects can be done more efficiently by a team with final approval by the whole PBL team.
Consider ensuring success by:
- providing an integrated continuum of behavioural and academic support for all students
- developing, implementing and sustaining evidence-based practices
- ensuring system-based approaches are simple and effective
- communicating your baseline data and demonstrate improvements
- building and refining simple, effective systems
- creating sustainable systems.
Continuous improvement considerations:
- Are we doing what we said we would do?
- Are our efforts benefiting current students?
- Are our efforts supporting staff?
- Are our efforts supporting the community?
- Are our efforts an efficient use of resources?
Sustainable elements include:
- high expectations
- principal support and active leadership
- committed staff and team that uses an action plan and is informed by current data
- ongoing self-assessment and evaluation to determine achievements and set new goals
- inclusion in the school plan and wellbeing procedures
- regular communication with all stakeholders.
Stakeholder engagement
Creating partnerships with anyone who is invested in the wellbeing and success of a school and its students is imperative. Stakeholders have a personal, professional and/or financial stake in the school and its students.
Creating partnerships with stakeholders is critical throughout implementation of across all 3 tiers. This engagement should be built around the concept that staff, students, families, and communities all have a shared vision for what learning and success should look like and how best to accomplish it.
Stakeholders include staff, parents, carers, families and community.