Discipline
To maintain discipline and maximize learning time for students, Louisiana has adopted a proactive, prevention model known as Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. Often, approaches to discipline focus primarily on reactive, aversive methods including punishment such as suspension and expulsion. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports is an alternative approach that focuses on preventing discipline challenges. Based on research, the strategy has significantly reduced the occurrence of problem behaviors in school, which provides a safe environment for students to learn and achieve.
Under this program, schools clearly define the behavior that is expected of students and use multiple strategies to positively reinforce these behaviors. Students are taught explicitly what it means to behave in alignment with these expectations, they are rewarded for adhering to the expectations in multiple ways and the expectations are revisited constantly over the course of the year.
The Louisiana Department of Education supports eight regional consortiums that help school districts implement Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.