WWC review of this study

Examining the Effects of Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports on Student Outcomes: Results from a Randomized Controlled Effectiveness Trial in Elementary Schools

Bradshaw, Catherine P.; Mitchell, Mary M.; Leaf, Philip J. (2010). Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, v12 n3 p133-148. Retrieved from: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ889024

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
     examining 
    11,738
     Students
    , grades
    K-5

Reviewed: March 2022

No statistically significant positive
findings
Meets WWC standards without reservations
General Literacy Achievement outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Maryland School Assessment (MSA) Grade 5 reading Score

Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Full sample;
11,738 students

10.67

9.78

No

--

Maryland School Assessment (MSA) Grade 3 reading Score

Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Full sample;
11,738 students

20.45

19.11

No

--
General Mathematics Achievement outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Maryland School Assessment (MSA) Grade 5 Math Score

Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Full sample;
11,738 students

22.61

16.98

No

--

Maryland School Assessment (MSA) Grade 3 Math Score

Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Full sample;
11,738 students

14.58

17.89

No

--
Intrapersonal Competencies outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Teacher Observation of Classroom Adaptation-Checklist (TOCA-C): emotion regulation

Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Full sample;
11,738 students

4.41

4.52

No

--
Student Behavior outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Percent received counseling for social skills development

Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Full sample;
11,738 students

20.00

22.00

No

--

Teacher Observation of Classroom Adaptation-Checklist (TOCA-C): aggressive and disruptive behaviors

Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Full sample;
11,738 students

2.01

1.94

No

--

Teacher Observation of Classroom Adaptation-Checklist (TOCA-C): concentration problems

Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Full sample;
11,738 students

2.78

2.69

No

--

Teacher Observation of Classroom Adaptation-Checklist (TOCA-C): prosocial behaviors

Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Full sample;
11,738 students

4.61

4.65

No

--

Percent received counseling for inappropriate behavior

Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Full sample;
11,738 students

15.00

16.00

No

--
Student Discipline outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

School-level suspension rate

Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Full sample;
11,738 students

-3.64

3.58

No

--

Office Disciplinary Referrals

Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Full sample;
11,738 students

N/A

N/A

No

--

Teacher Observation of Classroom Adaptation-Checklist (TOCA-C): out-of-school suspension

Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Full sample;
11,738 students

N/A

N/A

No

--


Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.

Characteristics of study sample as reported by study author.


  • Female: 47%
    Male: 53%

  • Rural, Suburban
    • B
    • A
    • C
    • D
    • E
    • F
    • G
    • I
    • H
    • J
    • K
    • L
    • P
    • M
    • N
    • O
    • Q
    • R
    • S
    • V
    • U
    • T
    • W
    • X
    • Z
    • Y
    • a
    • h
    • i
    • b
    • d
    • e
    • f
    • c
    • g
    • j
    • k
    • l
    • m
    • n
    • o
    • p
    • q
    • r
    • s
    • t
    • u
    • x
    • w
    • y

    Maryland
  • Race
    Asian
    4%
    Black
    45%
    Native American
    1%
    Other or unknown
    4%
    White
    46%
  • Ethnicity
    Hispanic    
    4%
    Not Hispanic or Latino    
    96%

Setting

The study took place in 37 Maryland public elementary schools from five rural and suburban school districts.

Study sample

The sample of students included slightly more males (53%) than females (47%). Students identified as African American (45%) and White (46%). Just under half (49%) received free or reduced-price meals. Thirteen percent received special education services.

Intervention Group

Schoolwide positive behavioral interventions and supports (Sugai & Horner, 2006) is a universal prevention strategy that aims to reduce disruptive behavior problems by targeting staff behavior, which in turn promotes positive change in student behavior. Each school forms a team comprising 5 to 6 members (e.g., teachers, administrators). The team attends annual training events, establishes an action plan to implement the strategies, develops materials to support program implementation, trains other staff members, and meets regularly to discuss behavior management procedures.

Comparison Group

Comparison schools conducted business as usual, and provided assurances that they would not participate in schoolwide positive behavioral interventions and supports training during the study period.

Support for implementation

Schoolwide positive behavioral interventions and supports teams attend an initial 2-day summer training and annual 2-day booster training events. All intervention schools receive at least monthly on-site support and technical assistance from a trained behavior support coach. Professional development and technical assistance were provided to the behavior support coaches through state-coordinated training events conducted four times each year.

Reviewed: February 2014

At least one finding shows strong evidence of effectiveness
At least one statistically significant positive finding
Meets WWC standards without reservations
Emotional/internal behavior outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Concentration

Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports vs. Business as usual

Four school years

Grades 3-5;
11,738 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
3

Emotion Regulation

Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports vs. Business as usual

Four school years

Grades 3-5;
11,738 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

-4
 
 
External behavior outcomes—Statistically significant positive effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Disruptive Behaviors

Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports vs. Business as usual

Four school years

Grades 3-5;
11,738 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
5
 

Office Discipline Referral

Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports vs. Business as usual

Four school years

Grades 3-5;
11,738 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
0

Office Discipline Referral

Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports vs. Business as usual

Four school years

Overall;
11,738 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
0
General Mathematics Achievement outcomes—Substantively important positive effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Percentage of students proficient in math

Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports vs. Business as usual

Four school years

Grade 5;
37 students

N/A

N/A

No

--

Percentage of students proficient in math

Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports vs. Business as usual

Four school years

Grade 3;
37 students

N/A

N/A

No

--
Reading achievement outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Percentage of students proficient in reading

Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports vs. Business as usual

Four school years

Grade 3;
37 students

N/A

N/A

No

--

Percentage of students proficient in reading

Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports vs. Business as usual

Four school years

Grade 5,;
37 students

N/A

N/A

No

--
Social outcomes outcomes—Statistically significant negative effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Prosocial behaviors

Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports vs. Business as usual

Four school years

Grades 3-5;
11,738 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

-7
 
 


Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.

Characteristics of study sample as reported by study author.


  • Rural, Suburban
    • B
    • A
    • C
    • D
    • E
    • F
    • G
    • I
    • H
    • J
    • K
    • L
    • P
    • M
    • N
    • O
    • Q
    • R
    • S
    • V
    • U
    • T
    • W
    • X
    • Z
    • Y
    • a
    • h
    • i
    • b
    • d
    • e
    • f
    • c
    • g
    • j
    • k
    • l
    • m
    • n
    • o
    • p
    • q
    • r
    • s
    • t
    • u
    • x
    • w
    • y

    Maryland
  • Race
    White
    60%
 

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