A Study on School Adaptive Behavior Changes of Middle School Students At-Risk through the Universal Positive Behavior Support Program in an Alternative School

The purposes of this study were to investigate the impact of universal positive behavior support program connected with teaching desirable expected behaviors in all school environments on School Adaptive Behavior changes of middle school students at-risk in an alternative school. Two students at-risk in age range from 13 to 14 years who were enrolled in a metropolitan-area alternative school were participated in this study. Utilizing qualitative research method, individual growth documents and teacher interview data were analyzed by extracting and categorizing appropriate contents on School Adaptive Behavior changes. In addition, pretest-posttest data on participants' School Adaptive Behavior scores were compared using a school adaptive behavior scale developed by Lee and Kim(2008). Qualitative and quantitative results of this study indicated that two participants at risk in the alternative school were changed positively their School Adaptive Behaviors(i.e., school study behavior, peer and teacher relationship, school life adjustment) following the implementation of universal positive behavior support programs which were consisted of teaching appropriate behaviors according to expected behaviors, changing the school environment desirably, and proving the reinforcement on students' behaviors. Based on these findings, to promote ideally School Adaptive Behavior changes on middle school students at risk in the alternative school, I discussed educational implications to develop the components of universal positive behavior support program.