Building SWPBIS Capacity in Rural Schools through Building-Based Coaching: Early Findings from a District-Based Model

Abstract

School-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) is a widely used framework for supporting student social and academic behavior. Implementation science indicates that one effective way to implement and scale-up practices, such as SWPBIS, is through coaching; thus, there is a need for efficient, cost-effective methods to develop and support SWPBIS coaches. Using the literature of implementation science and SWPBIS, we developed and implemented a coaching curriculum to increase and support building-based capacity with SWPBIS. In this article, we present a district-based model for training school personnel to become SWPBIS coaches. Data on initial training outcomes and school outcomes are presented. Findings suggest that the training of school-based coaches in rural schools resulted in improved knowledge of SWPBIS and supported fidelity of SWPBIS implementation in local schools. Lessons learned, as well as implications for practice and research, are discussed.