Effective Behaviour Supports
Effective Behaviour Supports (EBS) is a system of school-wide processes and individualized instruction designed to prevent and decrease problem behaviour and to increase and maintain appropriate behaviour. Implementation of EBS in Alberta schools began in the 2001/2002 school year.
Schools implementing EBS in Alberta have successfully reduced the number of expulsions, out of school suspensions and office discipline referrals. EBS is included in Alberta's prevention of bullying in schools strategy.
Components of EBS
- a data collection system that clearly measures the present status of the school with respect to inappropriate behaviours, outlines and identifies areas where improvement is needed, and measures progress over time.
- a list of school-wide expectations (e.g., responsibility, respect, safety) that are directly taught and consistently reinforced throughout the school by all adults.
- direct teaching of social skills and positive behaviours that specifically demonstrate what behaviour expectations look like in each setting or context.
- assessment of problem behaviours to help select or target more intensive interventions for students having difficulty demonstrating desired behaviours.
These components, consistently and simultaneously implemented, lead to improvement of behaviour. The effectiveness of this system depends on:
- knowing what students need to know and be able to do
- teaching new and/or desired behaviours
- selecting effective teaching strategies
- recognizing and rewarding desired behaviours
- consistently applying consequences for inappropriate behaviours
- making programming decisions based on an assessment of the data collected.
For more information about EBS, contact Zone 1 Services at (780)427-5394 (toll free in Alberta 310-0000).
View a webcast on Effective Behaviour Supports (presented October 12th 2007)
