Positive Environments and Supports

Positive Environments help all students feel valued and supported. These environments contribute to students achieving the five basic human needs. A positive environment requires readily available reinforcement for everyone. All staff and students are supported in achieving the highest outcomes and quality of life. For students with behavioral challenges, a continuum of supports must be made available by school staff. This is summarized in the document: Addressing Behavior in Educational Settings in California.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA 1997 established that all IEP teams should develop strategies, including positive behavioral interventions, strategies and supports, when students have behaviors that interfere with their learning or that of their peers. We no longer wish to simply attempt to control or manage problem behavior. Rather, we strive to replace problem behavior with positive behaviors that remove the student's need to use the problem behavior to get his/her needs met. To understand the differences between "behavior management and behavior support," see: IDEA Conceptual Underpinnings Shifting Our Understanding of Behavior.

Regional and District Efforts	Individual Support
School Wide Efforts	Paraeducators
Classroom	Family