The Use of a Behavior Support Office Within a System of Positive Behavior Support as an Intervention for Disruptive Behavior in an Approved Private School Setting

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine whether removing disruptive students to a behavior support office (BSO) is an effective intervention in reducing disruptive behaviors in a school exclusively serving students diagnosed with emotional disturbance. The study also examined the effect of the BSO on academic success and school attendance. Staff attitudes toward the BSO were also examined. Finally, demographic categories were evaluated. Archival data from two school years were collected. There were 35 students during the 2007-2008 school year when the BSO was in effect, and 65 students during the 2008-2009 school year when the BSO was not in effect. There was also an evaluation of the 23 students who were present during both years. It was hypothesized that use of the behavior support office would reduce the number and intensity of behavior incidents, and ultimately, reduce the amount of time spent out of class due to those behaviors. The data, however, demonstrated that students exhibited more behavior incidents and spent more time out of the classroom due to those behaviors with the BSO in place. It is believed that this increase was most likely due to the reinforcement of escape motivated behaviors. These behaviors in the BSO were, however, of a lower intensity. This researcher further hypothesized that students would demonstrate higher grade point averages and higher rates of attendance with the behavior support office in place. There was no significant difference in GPA or attendance. School staff were administered the Intervention Rating Profile - 15 to examine levels of staff acceptance for the behavior support office. Teaching staff had the highest level of acceptance for the BSO, while administrators had a lower level of acceptance, and behavior staff had the lowest level of acceptance. The higher level of teaching staff acceptance did not appear to impact the success of the intervention. Finally, demographic information was evaluated. There were no significant effects for age or gender. However, African American students demonstrated a significantly greater decrease than Caucasian students in time out of the classroom due to behavior incidents after the Behavior Support Office was discontinued.