How To Get Involved

"The most accurate predictor of a student's achievement in school is not income or social status, but the extent to which that student's family....

creates a home environment that encourages learning,
expresses high expectations for their children's achievement and future careers,
becomes involved in their children's education at school and in the community."

(Henderson, A.T., & Berla, N., (Eds.). 1997. “A new generation of evidence: The family is critical to student achievement.” Washington DC: Center for Law and Education.)

Family/Community Network Meetings

For more information, please see the Family/Community Network Meetings page.

Family/Community Network Meetings, held within the district or region, are network meetings designed to support Family and Community Representatives who participate on school or district PBIS leadership teams, or would like more information about becoming involved on a team. These events provide opportunities for family and community team representatives to gain tips and strategies for effective teaming, share ideas and network with each other, and learn more about PBIS.

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Family Involvement in School-wide PBIS

Students are more likely to demonstrate appropriate school behavior when there is consistency in expectations between home and school.

When a child has challenging behavior at school, a strong partnership between the school and family is important. Family involvement is a key feature when developing positive behavior support plans for students with special needs. School-wide positive behavioral interventions and support is a school-wide approach to helping all children learn to self-manage behaviors. However, parent involvement is really important in all aspects of PBIS.

When parents are involved, outcomes for children are better.

In addition to volunteering as a chaperone on a school field trip or helping out in the classroom, parents can also participate in PBIS activities and planning. The following suggestions are more ways that parents can be involved in their child's school.

School-Wide

- Learn about PBIS
  - - - Read materials offered by your child’s school related to PBIS
      - Learn about the school’s PBIS model
      - Learn the expectations that have been implemented at the school
        remind your children about them each day,
        and create consistency by enforcing them at home.
- Participate in PBIS planning
  - - - Join the PBIS Leadership Team at your child’s school.
      - Help the school to understand family priorities and issues
      - Help the school understand community cultural values, beliefs and practices
      - Participate in discussions to build family and school agreement on school-wide expectations for behavior
- Use PBIS strategies in home and community environments
  - - - Teach behavior expectations to your children
      - Remind your children about the school expectations each day
      - Post school and home expectations on your refrigerator
      - Use and reinforce PBIS strategies at home and in the community
- Help build parent participation in school-wide PBIS
  - - - Help other families understand PBIS
      - Encourage other parents and family members to take an active role in PBIS
      - Link with and support other school families
- Help get community involved
  - - - Link with community resources and actively engage community supports for the school’s efforts. (i.e. Search for donations and free resources in the community for PBIS reinforcement programs.)
- Be an active member of your child's individualized school planning, if appropriate/necessary
  - - - Participate on your child’s individual behavior support team, if he or she has one
      - Share your child’s strengths and needs in order to develop a behavior plan
      - Help the team to understand strategies that are most acceptable to you
      - Advocate for your child’s needs with other team members
      - Review outcome data to determine if the behavior plan is effective

(adapted from http://www.pacer.org/pbis/infoforparents.asp)

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PBIS in Illinois Schools

For more information on PBIS in Illinois Schools, visit our home page: http://www.pbisillinois.org/home