Facilitating school improvement through a university partnership: one school’s SWPBIS journey from exploration to sustainability

The authors of this case study explored a five-year partnership between a university and Title I elementary school to address low teacher morale, school discipline, and academic achievement. The partnership facilitated school improvement through School-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS). Findings highlight how SWPBIS school improvement planning leveraged a continuum of support for teachers and students as the school progressed through Fixsen’s stages of implementation. In year three, the school experienced a significant decrease in office discipline referrals, suspension rates, and an increase in academic achievement. By year four the school was awarded state recognition as gold-level model school for systematic implantation across all three tiers of SWPBIS. Connections between coaching and technical assistance, social validity, fidelity of implementation and student outcomes are discussed.