The State of Wyoming Department of Education adopted the Positive Behavioral Supports (PBS) program developed through the University of Oregon as a statewide initiative.   Sweetwater School District #1 is the first district to adopt the program at a K-12 level. Our district had all ready begun to implement Project Reach, which includes the Stop and Think Social Skills,Howieknoff in 2004-2005.  PBS and Project Reach were combined to become a district-wide plan to deal with problem behavior.  The main goal of PBS and Project Reach is to provide more instructional time by reducing time spent with behaviors and discipline.
The behavioral matrix aspect of Project Reach  was finalized through a district consensus process.  The matrix categorizes behaviors into intensity levels.  The behavioral matrix provides a continuum of support for teachers and staff in managing these behaviors. Teachers are responsible for Intensity I and II behavioral consequences.  Teachers utilize their classroom management plans, instructional strategies and “Stop and Think” skills to manage Intensity I and II behaviors. Intensity III and IV behaviors are referred to the administration for disciplinary action.    Any behavior that is chronic, persistent or unresponsive to classroom intervention is raised an intensity level.

INTENSITY 1 – ANNOYING BEHAVIORS
Behavior problems in an educational environment that teachers handle with a minimum of interaction or intervention.

INTENSITY II-DISRUPTIVE OR INTERFERING BEHAVIORS
Behavior problems in an educational environment that teachers handle with a more directed intervention.  (Disruptions in an educational environment, concerns with safety, and disrespect for school property or others.)

INTENSITY III-PERSISTENT, PERVASIVE OR ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIORS
Behavior problems in an educational environment that are so significant or so persistent that they require some of out-of-the educational environment intervention.
(Ongoing disruption of a productive educational environment, concerns with safety, behavior requiring further support from parents or counselor, violation of social norms, and oppositional defiance.)

INTENSITY IV- SEVERE OR DANGEROUS BEHAVIORS
Very severe behavior problems interfering with an educational environment that are addressed in the District’s code of conduct and handled directly by administration.




 INTENSITY I BEHAVIORS:

•  Not listening/not paying attention
•  Passive off-task behavior (e.g. head on desk, staring out the window)
•  Talking out of turn
•  Distracting others
•  Leaving seat without permission
•  Not being in a designated or specified area
•  Not following directions
•  Rocking, tilting, falling out of seat
•  Talking to neighbors/others without permission
•  Tattling

INTENSITY II BEHAVIORS:

•  Continued Intensity I behavior
•  Arguing with the teacher/talking back
•  Calling/shouting/blurting out answers
•  Chronic socializing with peers
•  Horseplay/play-fighting
•  Poor attitude/rudeness
•  Touching things that don’t belong to the student
•  Inappropriate physical contact (no injuries)
•  Inappropriate tone of voice
•  Leaving seat without permission
•  Not being in designated/specified area
•  Not following directions
•  Rocking, tilting, falling out of seat
•  Pushing, poking.  Inappropriate use of hands on another student
•  Spitting on the ground
•  Taunting, teasing, name-calling
•  Running in class
•  Distracting others
•  Lying
•  Swearing
•  Non-speech noises that disrupt the class.

INTENSITY III BEHAVIORS:

•  Bullying/verbally threatening
•  Hazardous behavior/safety issues
•  Inappropriate hand gestures
•  Inappropriate language (e.g. racial, sexual)
•  Not following directions/ significant defiance
•  Physical aggression/fighting with intent to cause bodily harm
•  Physically threatening behavior
•  Sexual harassment
•  Sexually inappropriate behavior (e.g. touching/ showing private parts)
•  Spitting on someone
•  Throwing furniture/dangerous materials
•  Staring as an attempt to intimidate (non-verbal threats)
•  Stealing
•  Vandalism
•  Pushing – hands inappropriately on another student
•  Cheating

INTENSITY IV BEHAVIORS:

•  The use of foul, profane, or abusive language or habitually disruptive behavior, defined as overt behavior willfully initiated by a student causing disruption in the classroom, on school grounds, on school vehicles or at school activities or events, which requires the attention of a teacher or other school personnel, Wyo Stat §.21-4-306(a)(iii)(b).
• ß Possessing, using, manufacturing, or distributing of tobacco, alcohol, controlled substances, drugs, unauthorized medication, look-alike drugs or drug related paraphernalia in violation of Wyoming law, while on school property, in transit to or from school, at a school function, or while a participant in any activities sponsored, sanctioned or controlled by the school or the Wyoming High School Activities Association, whether on or off school  property as defined in Policy JFCI.
•  Knowingly aiding, abetting or assisting another student in concealing the possession, use, manufacturing, or distribution of any tobacco, alcohol, controlled substances, drugs.
•  Stealing or attempting to steal property.
•  Cheating, forging, falsifying school documents, and/or plagiarism.
•  Gambling and/or extortion.
•  Harassment or violence as defined in Policy JFCL.
•  Making bomb threats, making terroristic threats or making false fire or other emergency alarms.
•  Displaying profane or obscene gestures or wearing profane or obscene clothing or apparel.
•  Using or threatening to use objects intended for other purposes to inflict bodily harm or to intimidate as defined in Policy JFCJ.
•  Torturing, tormenting or abusing a pupil in any way, maltreating a pupil or a teacher with physical violence.  Wyo. Stat.§.21-4-306.
•  Possession, use, transfer, carrying a deadly weapon as defined under Wyo. Stat. §6-1-104 within any school bus as defined by Wyo. Stat. §31-7-102(a)(xi) or within the boundaries of real property used by the District primarily for the education of students in grades kindergarten through twelve (12) as defined in Policy JFCJ.

•  Continued willful disobedience or open defiance of the authority of school personnel. Wyo. Stat.§21-4-306(a)(ii).
•  Willful destruction or defacing of school property during the school year or any recess or vacation. Wyo. Stat.§21-4-306(a)(ii).
•  Any behavior which in the judgment of the board of trustees is clearly detrimental to the education, welfare, safety or morals of other pupils.

If you have any questions regarding Project REACH you may contact one of our PBS team members by clicking their name or calling the school 352-3474.
Cindy Lane
Helen O'Jack
Madeleine Pitsch