A Level System for Managing Problem Behaviors in a High School Resource Program

Abstract

Although the use of level systems as a behavior management technique has been described for at least 20 years, few reports have described the use of a level system in a resource setting, and fewer yet have provided supporting efficacy data for the level system. This paper describes two variations of a level system for a high school resource program for behaviorally disordered adolescents, and provides results of an evaluation of this program. Participating in the first level system that was instituted during a resource English class were 15 behaviorally disordered and learning disabled students, while 4 behaviorally disordered and learning disabled students participated in the second variation. Evaluation data indicates a decrease in disruptive and off-task behaviors and an increase in task completion during implementation of the level system. Implications for wider use of level systems within resource rooms in public schools are discussed.