[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 23317-23318]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    INTRODUCTION OF THE POSITIVE BEHAVIOR FOR EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. PHIL HARE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 3, 2007

  Mr. HARE. Madam Speaker, educators and the general public cite 
disciplinary problems as the greatest challenge facing schools. Often 
schools respond to problem behavior with suspensions and expulsions, or 
by removing persistent troublemakers from the school. But research 
shows that punitive approaches to discipline do not work, and further, 
that they disproportionately harm students of color and students with 
disabilities.
  One effective approach now being adopted by education agencies around 
the country is schoolwide Positive Behavior Supports (PBS). Research 
shows that schools implementing PBS can experience anywhere from a 20 
to 60 percent reduction in disciplinary problems, an improved social 
climate, and increases in reading and math scores on standardized 
tests.
  This Congress I toured Monmouth-Roseville Junior High, a PBS school 
in my Illinois Congressional district. I was amazed by how effectively 
the school decreased the number of expulsions and suspensions, and 
increased student attendance, classroom instructional time, and 
academic engagement. Even more impressive, there was an overall sense 
of shared responsibility for the success of the school.
  Madam Speaker, today I am proud to introduce the Positive Behavior 
for Effective Schools Act.
  This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to 
provide the flexibility and technical assistance schools need to expand 
the use of positive behavior supports and other early intervening 
services to create a school climate that is highly conducive to 
learning, reduces discipline referrals, and improves academic outcomes. 
Specifically, this bill:
  Allows State and Local Education Agencies to use Title I funding to 
implement schoolwide PBS.
  Supports Safe and Drug Free Schools' programs that improve the whole 
school climate, prevent disciplinary problems, violence, illegal use of 
alcohol, tobacco, and drugs, and that involve parents and communities 
in school programs and activities.
  Trains teachers in the behavioral learning of kids and in methods 
that improve school climate.
  Establishes an office of specialized instructional support services 
in the Department of Education to administer and coordinate support 
services in schools.
  I urge my colleagues to look at the proven results of PBS and the 
positive impact it has on the entire school. Not only are we finding 
safer school climates in schools where PBS is implemented, but we are 
also seeing a decrease in dropout rates, a more accurate classification 
of special education students, improved test scores, home and family 
life, and more productive students who are better prepared to enter the 
professional world after graduation.

[[Page 23318]]

  Additionally, PBS assists education agencies with the challenges they 
face in meeting the requirements of No Child Left Behind, ultimately 
leading to a better educational experience for our kids. Educators, 
parents, mental health experts and academics all agree that positive 
behavior supports are good for schools, good for teachers and good for 
students.
  This legislation is endorsed by the Advocacy Institute; American 
Counseling Association; American Music Therapy Association; American 
Occupational Therapy Association; American Psychological Association; 
American School Counselor Association; The Arc of the United States; 
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law; Center for Behavioral Education & 
Research in the UConn Neag School of Education; Children and Adults 
with Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder; Council for Children 
with Behavioral Disorders; Learning Disabilities Association of 
America; Illinois PBIS Network; Mental Health America; National 
Alliance on Mental Illness; National Association for Children's 
Behavioral Health; National Association of State Directors of Special 
Education; National Down Syndrome Congress; School Social Work 
Association of America (SSWAA); and United Cerebral Palsy.
  Madam Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to enter into the Record a 
letter of support from these organizations.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting positive 
behavior in schools by cosponsoring the Positive Behavior for Effective 
Schools Act, and work with me to advance this important piece of 
legislation.

                                                   August 3, 2007.
     Hon. Phil Hare,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Hare: The undersigned national 
     organizations are pleased to offer our strong support for the 
     Positive Behavior for Effective Schools Act of 2007. We share 
     your goals of enhancing student outcomes and improving school 
     climate through the promotion of school wide positive 
     behavior supports (PBS). The legislation provides a welcomed 
     opportunity to strengthen the education system by helping 
     address student's social and emotional barriers to learning.
       As you well know, school wide positive behavior support 
     initiatives help reshape school climates into more conducive 
     learning environments appreciated by students, staff and 
     school personnel. School wide positive behavior supports help 
     reduce discipline problems as well as improve academic 
     outcomes, including test scores. Your home state of Illinois 
     is a pioneer in creating a statewide comprehensive PBS 
     initiative, with implementation in about 600 public schools 
     and research demonstrating its support for school success.
       The Positive Behavior for Effective Schools Act will go a 
     long way towards fostering effective learning environments. 
     It gives schools the tools and opportunity to change how 
     schools respond to students, reinforce desired behaviors and 
     eliminate inadvertent reinforcements for problem behavior to 
     help realize the goals of academic and social success for all 
     students. Specifically, the legislation allows and encourages 
     schools and localities to support PBS as well as supports 
     research, technical assistance and related school reform 
     activities that improve school climate. Additionally, the 
     legislation would establish a new office within the 
     Department of Education that would help coordinate and 
     administer activities assisting specialized instructional 
     support personnel who provide a critical role in the link 
     between social and academic outcomes for students.
       Once again we applaud you for introducing this important 
     legislation and look forward to working with you to secure 
     its enactment.
           Sincerely,
         American Counseling Association, American Music Therapy 
           Association, American Occupational Therapy Association, 
           American Psychological Association, American School 
           Counselor Association, The Arc of the United States, 
           Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, Children and 
           Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, 
           Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders, 
           Learning Disabilities Association of America, Mental 
           Health America, National Alliance on Mental Illness, 
           National Association for Children's Behavioral Health, 
           National Association of State Directors of Special 
           Education, National Down Syndrome Congress, School 
           Social Work Association of America, United Cerebral 
           Palsy.

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