A Longitudinal Study on the Effect of the Texas Behavior Support Initiative on Rural Middle School Students

  • Alberto Ruiz Texas A&M University - Kingsville
  • Grace V. Ruiz J. S. Gillett Intermediate School, Kingsville Independent School District
  • Nestor W. Sherman Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of a school wide positive behavior initiative designed to improve student behavior. Researchers analyzed the last 3 years (2005-2008) of student discipline referral data for grades 7 and 8. Implementation resulted in a significant reduction in the number of discipline referrals. Data revealed a decrease of 23% in the number (2239 vs. 1723) of discipline referrals from year one to year two and a decrease of 22% in the number (1723 vs.1340) of discipline referrals from year two to year three. Results obtained from the analysis indicate that the TBSI was effective in improving student behavior in a rural middle school.  

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Author Biographies

Alberto Ruiz, Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Alberto Ruiz, Ed. D., is Dean for the College of Education and Professor of Kinesiology at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. His areas of research interest are educational issues, youth fitness, and sports coaching and officiating.
Grace V. Ruiz, J. S. Gillett Intermediate School, Kingsville Independent School District

Grace V. Ruiz, Ed. D., is an Elementary Principal with Kingsville Independent School District. She has been a public educator for 21 years teaching in El Paso ISD and Cotulla ISD. She coached for 16 years and has been an
administrator for 5 years. Her areas of research interest are educational issues.

Nestor W. Sherman, Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Nestor W. Sherman, Ed. D., FACSM is a Professor in the Department of Health and Kinesiology at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. His research interests include youth fitness, energy expenditure, and statistical modeling.  
Published
2018-11-19
How to Cite
Ruiz, A., Ruiz, G. V., & Sherman, N. W. (2018). A Longitudinal Study on the Effect of the Texas Behavior Support Initiative on Rural Middle School Students. The Rural Educator, 33(2). https://doi.org/10.35608/ruraled.v33i2.413
Section
Front Matter