Why Behavior Matters

 

Problem Statement: 

Effective student support  focuses on achievement and the barriers which may exist. A focus on achievement considers the gaps in achievement outcomes and prepares remediation using correlated data. Positive behavior interventions increase the educational outcomes and narrow the achievement and opportunity gaps in high minority context.

The impact of behavior in academics is often overlooked when considering educational outcomes. As a teacher in a title school comprised of forty-seven schools, eight of which are high schools, behavior MATTERS! My school district is growing rapidly and a recent census reports that nearly 70,000 students are enrolled in one of our schools. Our diverse district has representation from over a hundred different countries and students speak more than a 100 different languages. As of yesterday, our school boast over a 90% graduation rate - significantly above the state average - and definitely making us one of the highest scoring among title scores in the state. All positive right? 

 The story of this perceived success has only just begun. Our high school has a recovering history steeped in behavioral difficulties. Our administrative team has prioritized issues in behavior and found that immediate remediation is key. To describe our school as "perfect" is a gross overstatement. The reality is that behavior impacts academics. If students do not feel safe, they do not learn. If students are not held accountable, they do not become accountable. Simply put - behavior matters. Stay tuned for more on our journey to better behavior!