The long-term goal of this project is to support rural schools in implementing practices that can improve student safety and social-emotional outcomes, through the use of Schoolwide Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (SWPBIS). Rural schools experience challenges in implementing systems-changes, and the Idaho Rural Implementation Model (I-RIM) is an approach specifically designed to improve SWPBIS implementation in rural schools through strategies such as capacity-building, regional coordination, online learning modules, and technical assistance. These approaches are all designed to meet the unique challenges and strengths of schools in rural settings.~The study uses a cluster randomized design to allocate 40 schools to one of two conditions: control or intervention. Schools in the control condition will receive basic SWPBIS training. Schools in the intervention condition will receive the basic SWPBIS training plus additional I-RIM supports. This trial is designed to address several aims:~Aim 1: To test the impact of the I-RIM intervention on student-level outcomes, including behavioral outcomes, academic test scores, and perceived safety/climate.~Aim 2. To examine whether changes in student outcomes are mediated by school-level improvements in the speed and fidelity with which SWPBIS is implemented.~Aim 3. To identify school-level factors that are associated with SWPBIS implementation (moderators of intervention effectiveness).~At all schools, baseline data collection will begin in early 2019. The intervention will begin in the spring of 2019 with selected elements of the I-RIM intervention (regional meetings, and a coaching institute) for schools in the intervention condition. All schools will begin SWPBIS implementation in the 2019-20 school year, which will continue through the 2020-2021 school year. Data collection points will be identical for schools in both conditions. Primary student outcome measures include data that are already gathered by schools, including: behavioral outcomes including office disciplinary referrals, suspensions, and expulsions; academic test scores; and perceived climate.
This project will examine the scale-up of Schoolwide Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (SWPBIS), specifically focusing on rural schools in Idaho. The Idaho Rural Implementation Model (I-RIM) is an approach designed to improve SWPBIS implementation in rural schools, via strategies such as capacity-building, regional coordination, online learning modules, and technical assistance. The study uses a cluster randomized design to allocate 40 schools to one of two conditions: control and intervention. Schools in the control condition will receive basic SWPBIS training. Schools in the intervention condition will receive the basic SWPBIS training plus additional I-RIM supports. To assess SWPBIS implementation and outcomes, process and outcome measures will be collected. Outcomes will include school implementation observations, and teacher and staff implementation measures. Student-level outcomes will include behavior, perceived climate, and academic achievement as measured by the standardized state test. Student-level data include those that are part of standard data collection by schools (such as academic outcomes) and will be de-identified by school officials before sending to the researchers for analysis.