The Pre-Service Focus Area of Study in Positive Behavior Support
(PBS Focus Area)

Offered by the Special Education Program, Department of Special & Counselor Education at Portland State University

Coordinator: Chris Borgmeier, PhD

In recent years, there have been substantial advances in the practices and strategies for educating students with emotional and behavioral disorders, primarily from the field of Positive Behavior Support (PBS). Federal law (IDEA 1997) has placed increasing responsibility on schools to educate and implement behavioral supports for students with significant problem behavior in the least restrictive educational environment. In keeping with the law and “best practices”, schools are being required to take a more proactive and positive approach to behavior management with decreasing emphasis on reactive disciplinary methods (i.e. suspension, detention, and punitive consequences) that have proven to be of limited effectiveness with students with significant behavioral concerns.
To effectively serve all students, including those with significant behavioral challenges, and keep up with recent advances in practice and the law, schools will need special educators and leaders with expertise in Positive Behavior Support.

The PBS Focus Area will provide study and practice in proven behavior management and instructional practices leading to effective classroom environments and behavioral interventions. In addition, the Focus Area will examine the benefits of school-wide systems of behavior support as a first level of prevention for student behavior problems. Finally, we will examine the role of district, school-wide, and program structures, policies, and practices on serving students with significant behavioral concerns.