Scaling Up Tier 2 and 3 Behavior Supports Within School Districts

Positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) is a multitiered approach to school-wide behavior support implemented in over 27,000 schools in the U.S. Although Tier 1 (universal behavior supports for all students) is widely scaled up within districts, districts often struggle to implement and scale up Tiers 2 and 3 (targeted or intensive supports for students with or at risk for behavioral disorders). In this paper, we propose that Tier 2 and 3 practices are less likely to be implemented with fidelity, and scaled up within districts, because schools and districts too often launch Tier 2 and 3 practices without the organizational systems needed for high-fidelity implementation. From an implementation science perspective, personnel preparation training in the practices associated with Tiers 2 and 3 too often occurs without completing the Exploration and Installation stages of effective implementation. Recommendations are offered for investing in the infrastructure needed to implement Tier 2 and Tier 3 practices within schools and to scale up these practices across schools within districts.