Some help with terminology…
School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SW-PBIS) refers to the implementation of a multi-tiered approach to social, emotional and behavior support within schools. Like SW-PBIS, the Pyramid Model is a multi-tiered framework comprised of a continuum of evidence-based practices that are organized in three-tiered continuum of promotion, prevention, and intervention. However, the Pyramid Model is uniquely designed to address the needs and contexts of programs serving infants, toddlers and preschoolers including children in public school early childhood classrooms and early childhood care and education programs in the community.
The implementation of the Pyramid Model within early childhood programs is often referred to as Early Childhood Program-Wide Positive Behavior Support (PW-PBS) or Program-Wide Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PW-PBIS). When schools are implementing PBIS and want to include preschool classrooms, they may use the Pyramid Model to define the practices appropriate for use with young children and their families.
The bottom line…
The Pyramid Model provides the framework of practices for the implementation of PBIS within early childhood classrooms and programs.
When schools are implementing PBIS, the Pyramid Model is used within early education classrooms to guide the implementation of promotion, prevention, and intervention practices.
Related Resources
A brief that describes the research supporting the implementation of Pyramid Model practices in preschool and kindergarten classrooms.
In November 2024, the US Department of Education released guidance titled, “Using Functional Behavioral Assessments to Create Supportive Learning Environments.” In this video, we’ll hear from some voices from the field about how FBAs impact their teaching practices.
This article offers tips ensuring that preschool classrooms are part of the implementation of SW-PBIS.
The purpose of this document is to provide a brief description of the similarities and differences between two variations of multi-tiered positive behavior support systems.
A brief article that defines and explains terms related to Positive Behavior Support (PBS), Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and the Pyramid Model and a discussion of the key areas of similarity and difference between preschool and school-age implementation of a PBS-based multi-tiered systems.
