Eleven Ferguson-Florissant Schools Recognized for Positive Behavior Support

Eleven schools in the Ferguson-Florissant School District have been recognized for excellence in implementation of Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support (SW-PBS). Eight elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school received awards.

SW-PBS is a prevention-oriented approach for encouraging positive student behavior and school climate used by educators nationwide. The program assists schools and districts in establishing and maintaining school environments in which the social culture and behavioral support needed to be an effective learning environment is in place for all students.

The following Ferguson-Florissant schools received awards:

Combs Elementary School and Halls Ferry Elementary School received the Gold Award.

Holman Elementary School, McCluer High School, and Wedgwood Elementary School received the Silver Award. Central Elementary School, Commons Lane Elementary School, Bronze Award, Cross Keys Middle School, Ferguson Middle School, Johnson-Wabash Elementary School, and Vogt Elementary School received the Bronze Award.

“We know that students succeed when a positive school culture is promoted through helpful feedback, emphasis on academic success and acknowledgment of positive behavior,” said Lawrence Larrew, acting superintendent of the Ferguson-Florissant School District. “Our schools are committed to these practices, and we are proud to have more schools than ever before recognized for their efforts.”

According to the Missouri Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support initiative’s website, the bar is intentionally set high for a school to achieve any one of the award levels. Typically, it is a two-to-four-year process for a school to achieve bronze, a three-to-six-year process to achieve silver, and a five-to-eight-year process to achieve gold. The number of years it takes to achieve each is lengthy because it involves true systems change, sustaining that change each year, and implementing processes to support students and staff across multiple indicators.

SW-PBS is a national and international initiative that is currently being implemented in over 10,000 schools. DEA that Works. The Missouri initiative is actively supported through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Division of Effective Practices.  (Story provided by Ferguson-Florissant District)

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