Recognition of Hugo Schmidt Elementary School as a Model School (Gold Level) by Florida's Positive Behavior Support (PBS): Response to Intervention for Behavior Project at the University of South Florida (Student Services and Federal Programs Division )

Positive Behavior Support (PBS) is being implemented in 15 Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS). It is a collaborative, educative, proactive, and functional process to developing effective interventions for problem behavior. It is not a packaged program with a set script, but rather a process that is individualized to meet the specific needs of each school. PBS relies on accurate and reliable discipline referral data to understand the behaviors occurring across campus. An analysis of the data allows a school team to identify the problem areas, brainstorm interventions such as where and what to teach, reward students exhibiting the expected behavior, and communicate findings to the staff, students, and families. The PBS process is a team-based approach that relies on a strong collaboration between families and professionals from a variety of disciplines.

As a PBS model school (Gold level), Schmidt Elementary has demonstrated the highest level of implementation fidelity and provided evidence of visibility of strategies across all tiers of PBS (universal, supplemental, and intensive).

* Demonstrate "best practices" in all aspects of safety including students, employees, visitors, facilities, transportation, and health

The Children’s Board, Success 4 Kids and Families, and the Florida PBS project, provide funding support ($1,000 per school) to assist with materials (e.g., rewards, posters, printing costs, etc.) utilized in implementing PBS. Psychological Services staff supports PBS schools as a portion of their assignment.

Evaluation of PBS outcome is determined by the rate of discipline referrals and surveys completed by the leadership team.