What is the term for the physical arrangement of furniture and materials in a classroom?

A key element of the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework is teaching and reinforcing expected behaviors school-wide. PBIS is a proactive, preventative, and evidence-based approach designed to improve school climate and student outcomes by establishing clear behavioral expectations and consistently teaching and reinforcing them across all school settings.

Instead of focusing purely on punitive discipline, PBIS emphasizes:

• Defining clear expectations: Schools collaboratively identify 3-5 positive behavioral expectations (e.g., "Be Respectful," "Be Responsible," "Be Safe").
• Teaching expectations: Students are explicitly taught what these behaviors look like in different school contexts (classroom, hallway, cafeteria).
• Reinforcing positive behaviors: Students are regularly acknowledged and rewarded for demonstrating expected behaviors.
• Data-driven decision making: Schools use data to monitor effectiveness and make adjustments.

This multi-tiered system aims to create a positive and predictable learning environment, reducing disciplinary incidents and improving academic engagement for all students, moving away from reactive, exclusionary practices like frequent suspensions.